UNC Baseball: Mike Fox retires after 22 seasons at North Carolina

UNC baseball coach Mike Fox retires after 22 seasons with Tar Heels

Mike Fox, head coach of the North Carolina baseball program for the past 22 seasons, announced his retirement from the school on Friday morning. UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham released a statement on Fox’s retirement on Friday, as well as the promotion of former associate head coach Scott Forbes.

"“From playing in the College World Series as a Tar Heel senior, to winning a Division III national championship at N.C. Wesleyan, to leading Carolina to Omaha seven times as the Tar Heels’ head coach, Mike’s impact on college baseball has been legendary,” Cunningham said. “He has connected generations of players and fans to Carolina baseball, and his commitment to his students in and out of the dugout is highlighted by the scores of players who have returned to Chapel Hill after professional careers to earn their degrees. “The sign of a great leader also is building an outstanding staff,” says Cunningham. “Scott Forbes is a talented recruiter, a strong communicator and has been instrumental in developing multiple facets of the program during his 20 years at Carolina. As head coach, he will continue to build on all that our baseball team has accomplished.”"

Fox amassed nearly 1,500 victories over 37 years in coaching with North Carolina Wesleyan (1983-1998) and North Carolina (1979, 1999-2020). His record of 1,487-547-5 — a winning percentage of .731 — made him the winningest active coach in college baseball. He’s seventh all-time in total wins, and 15th in win percentage.

He posted a record of 948-406-1 with the Tar Heels, won ACC championships in 2007, 2013 and 2018, and advanced to the College World Series in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2018. He reached the championship round in postseason play on two occasions (2006, 2007).

Fox cited a yearning for more time with his family as the biggest reason for his retirement amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He was Baseball America’s National Coach of the Year in 2008, and ACC Coach of the year in 2018. A 2017 inductee into the North Carolina Sport Hall-of-Fame, Fox averaged nearly 45 wins per season since 1999, and compiled five seasons of 50 or more victories.

Scott Forbes takes the reins in his 24th season as a college baseball coach, and 20th on the North Carolina baseball staff. He’s been in a number of roles on the UNC coaching staff including batting coach, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

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