FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
LITTLE ROCK – Scott Norwood has announced his immediate resignation as head baseball coach at UALR to pursue other opportunities. Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Chris Marx will serve as interim head coach while a national search begins immediately.
“I appreciate the opportunities that I have been given at UALR,” said Norwood. “I wish UALR success in the future.”
Norwood compiled a 148-178 record and led UALR to two Sun Belt Tournament appearances in six seasons as head coach of the Trojans. UALR is coming off a 2014 campaign that saw the team finish with a 25-29 overall record.
“I want to thank Scott for all of his efforts over the past six years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said UALR Director of Athletics Chris Peterson.
Norwood took the program to unprecedented heights in 2011, leading the team to its first-ever Sun Belt Tournament championship and NCAA Regional. The 2011 squad made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed in conference history to win the tournament title. The Trojans opened the tournament with a 4-2 win over top-seeded Troy in 10 innings before going on to top No. 2 seed FIU by a 7-6 final in the championship game.
Led by All-American Sean Bignall, the 2012 Trojans earned an NCAA statistical championship by tying Eastern Kentucky for the national lead in home runs per game (1.22). The Trojans finished second nationally with 66 home runs, while ranking third in slugging percentage (.477) and sixth in scoring (7.4 runs per game). UALR ranked in the top 25 in the country in a total of eight offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.395) and stolen bases per game (1.65).
After inheriting a team with just 10 returning lettermen and going 16-34 in his first season at UALR, Norwood guided the Trojans to a 29-25 record in 2010. The 11-game improvement placed UALR 11th nationally. UALR’s .537 win percentage was the program’s highest since 2000, while the 29 victories were the most by a UALR team since 2003. The 2010 UALR team’s achievements extended into the classroom, as it was awarded the Sun Belt Conference Academic Award for having the highest team GPA in the league.
Norwood came to UALR after four years at Ouachita Baptist University. In 2008, he led OBU to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II College World Series and was named the NCAA Division II ABCA South Central Region Coach of the Year.
Norwood owns a 437-318 career record in 14 seasons as a head coach.
