GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern legend Jim Mallon's vision became a reality on Friday afternoon as President Edward Burger, Athletics Director Dr. Glada Munt, Jane Mallon, Jarret Mallon and Head Baseball Coach R.J. Thomas cut the ribbon to officially open the new Jim Mallon Baseball Field House.
Dr. Munt kicked off the ceremony with remarks expressing her gratitude to the donors and for the diligence of the alumni contingency, many of which were in attendace at the dedication ceremony.
Click here to see pictures from the event
As Pat Leonard so eloquently stated, Coach Mallon's "fingerprints are everywhere on campus, from facilities to the people you meet and he has magic that eminated from him that continues to impact lives daily."
The new field house features state-of-the-art facilities for the baseball team. The first locker in the room will remain unused and is the #1 Coach Mallon locker, complete with his wooden coaching stool and jersey.
Outside the entrance is a plaque highlighting Coach Mallon's illustrious career. It reads...
"This field house is dedicated to the memory of Coach Jim Mallon, one of the most successful coaches in the history of Southwestern University athletics. Coach Mallon began his collegiate coaching career in 1971 at Southwestern University. Upon his retirement in 2004, he had amassed a record of 1,197 wins verses only 601 losses. He ended his coaching career ranked third all-time in wins for both the NCAA and the NAIA. Over the years, his teams won multiple championships, including a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in 1984—one of the high points of Mallon's career. After Southwestern's transition to NCAA Division III, his teams won five SCAC Championships and advanced to seven NCAA Regional Championships. He was named NAIA District Coach of the Year on five occasions and SCAC Coach of the Year four times. From 1994 to 1999 he had players earn NCAA Division III National Statistical Champion honors six times. Twenty-four of his players earned All-American or Academic All-American honors, and 18 went on to compete in professional baseball with four reaching the major league level. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mallon was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1992, the Southwestern University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Big Country Hall of Fame (posthumously) in 2013. Coach Mallon touched the lives of many people, particularly his student-athletes; gifts from these grateful individuals have helped build the Coach Jim Mallon Baseball Field House in his honor."
The Pirates begin fall practice in October.