GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern University, alumni, friends and family gathered on Saturday morning to honor a legend, Coach Jim Mallon, by unveiling his statue.
In front of a sizable crowd, Southwestern baseball alumni Danny Mickan '84, Wayne Weigelt '99, Pat Leonard '90, Darrell Steffek '83, Scott Neal '84 and Thomas Smith '96 shared stories, memories and lessons learned from "Coach" in a heartfelt tribute to the individual who was not only a game-changer in baseball but a life-changer to those he interacted with.
Jane Mallon, Jeff Mallon, Jarrett Mallon and Shirley Miller unveiled the statue while Mickan read the inscripton on the plaque that accompanies the statue. It reads, "I hope the kids who play for me learn more than how to hit to right field. I want them to have become a better person for having been in our program. I'm not always an easy person to play for, but if you play hard for me and do what's expected, well, I am an easy person to play for."
The quote was pulled from a 1991 Williamson County Sun article and epitomizes Coach Mallon's coaching philosophy.
Coach Mallon was the head baseball coach at Southwestern from 1971-2004, ending his Hall of Fame career with an overall record of 1197-601. At the time of his retirement in 2004 he was ranked third all-time in wins for both the NCAA and the NAIA. After SU's transition to NCAA Division III from NAIA he guided the Pirates to five SCAC Championships and advanced to seven NCAA Regional Championships. Coach Mallon was named NAIA District Coach of the Year five times and SCAC Coach of the Year on four occasions.
Coach Mallon was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1992, Southwestern University Athletics Hall of Fame on October 16, 2010 and passed away on February 27, 2012.
To view the dedication ceremony in its entirety, please click here.
Photos from the ceremony can be viewed here.