'Coach D's day': Norm DeBriyn steps down as UA head baseball coach
BY NATE ALLEN -Northwest Arkansas Times
After 33 years of taking the University of Arkansas' baseball program from a stepchild independent to a nationally recognized champion in both the Southwest and Southeastern Conferences, Norm DeBriyn has stepped down as coach of the Razorbacks.

DeBriyn, 60, announced his retirement Tuesday, just two days after his underdog Razorbacks battled nationally second-seeded Clemson to the wire in the best 2 of 3 Super Regional in Clemson, S.C., that advanced Clemson to the College World Series and concluded Arkansas' season.

Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles announced at DeBriyn's retirement press conference that DeBriyn retires from coaching but not from the UA. DeBriyn will be involved in fund-raising either in an athletic department position or with the Razorback Foundation.

DeBriyn said he is eager to continue serving at the UA but that he's grappled for "about a year" on whether to retire.

"At my age," DeBriyn said, "and being through what I've been through, it seems the losses get tougher and the wins not quite as enjoyable. So I've made a decision to step aside. I talked to Coach Broyles about it. I probably decided definitely about a week ago."

DeBriyn said he told his wife, Caroline, he was retiring as they drove home June 3 from the Regional at Wichita, Kan., where the Razorbacks had beaten Oklahoma, Oral Roberts and ORU again to advance to the Super Regionals.

"There is a time for everything," DeBriyn said, "and I think the time is right for me to step aside. I'm 60 years old and it's a 365 24-7 business."

Leading candidates to succeed DeBriyn appear to be Nebraska coach Dave Van Horn and Arkansas assistant coaches Doug Clark and Tim Montez.

Van Horn, taking Nebraska to the College World Series for the second straight year, is a former All-Southwest Conference Razorback second baseman for DeBriyn in 1982 and also was a former Razorback graduate assistant coach.

Clark has been Arkansas' hitting coach, and DeBriyn's top assistant since 1978.

Montez has been Arkansas' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator the past five years.

Clark and Montez both deferred commenting on being candidates to succeed the Razorbacks' baseball coaching icon.

"This is Norm's day," Clark said, "and we should be talking about memories. Obviously, I would love to have the job but that shouldn't be the focus today. That will all take care of itself."

Montez all but dittoed Clark's comments.

"Today is Coach D's day," Montez said. "I don't feel comfortable talking about it. Whatever happens, I will be flattered if I'm considered."

Van Horn was one of many coaches and former Razorbacks that Arkansas' sports information department quoted in the press release announcing DeBriyn's retirement.

"There is not a person I respect more than Norm DeBriyn," Van Horn was quoted. "He has been my mentor and friend and in many ways has been a second father to me."

Broyles, choking up at the press conference, lavished praise on the coach who compiled a 1,161-650 record and coached the Razorbacks to all 15 of their postseason NCAA Regional appearances including four trips to the College World Series in 1979, '85, '87 and '89.

DeBriyn's worth to the UA and college baseball went well beyond his record, Broyles said.

"When you have been on the job 33 years," Broyles said, "and you have built relationships with people everywhere and are loved, admired and respected for everything you've done on the field, off the field and with his players, you know how much he has meant to this athletic program and to the State of Arkansas. He has led the program with an emphasis on academics and integrity."

Broyles said the Razorbacks would never have built Baum Stadium in 1996 without the community support afforded DeBriyn.

"Baum Stadium is a direct result of Norm's relationships with Charlie Baum and Nadine Baum and the (Willard and Pat) Walker family," Broyles said, citing the stadium's benefactors. "It would not have been built except for Norm's relationships."

Tom Pagnozzi, the Razorback DeBriyn converted from a third baseman to catcher in one year before going on to a 12-year career catching for the St. Louis Cardinals, has given over $200,000 to the Razorback program and has done charity work that benefits Northwest Arkansas.

"I never would have gotten to the point I've gotten," Pagnozzi, the retired Cardinal catcher, said, "without the extra time he spent with me and all the things we did in practice. I attribute so much of my success to him."

Former Razorback ex-Major Leaguers Tim Lollar, the UA's first baseball All-American in 1978, Johnny Ray, Kevin McReynolds and their Little Rock-born agent, Tom Selakovich, donated $37,500 in 1985 to light George Cole Field. The lights were moved to light Baum Stadium.

"We would have never put up the money," Selakovich said, "for those lights if it wasn't for Coach DeBriyn. Thirty-seven thousand and five-hundred dollars was a lot of money back then, but Coach DeBriyn was such a tremendous man that we decided we all are going to do this for him. He meant so much to us a man."

Lollar, now a golf pro and instructor at Lakview, Colo., said Tuesday, "I'm glad he's retiring on his terms. Just a class guy. He was a huge influence on all of us and made Arkansas a recognized place to go."

A native of Ashland, Wisc., DeBriyn came to Arkansas in 1969 as a 28-year-old with five years high school coaching experience and one year as freshman coach at Northern Colorado. On that resume he was hired, starting with the 1970 season, as head baseball coach, along with being an instructor in the P.E. department. The baseball program was unaffiliated with a conference and played on the Fairgrounds field and then an American Legion field.

The Hogs were still an independent playing at Legion Field in 1973 when DeBriyn coached them to a 23-7 record and their first postseason appearance at NCAA Regionals.

The Razorback baseball program joined the Southwest Conference in 1974 and moved to the newly built George Cole Field in 1975.

DeBriyn's program peaked from 1979-90, with the four CWS appearances, a Southwest Conference championship and SWC Tournament championship, resurged to win the SEC championship in 1999, and after two off years overcame a poor start in 2002 to finish with a flourish as one of the Sweet Sixteen at Super Regionals.

DeBriyn ranks 14th in all-time career wins among college coaches and has been inducted both into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor.

His final team said they were saddened but proud to be his last squad.

"It was a privilege," freshman left fielder Kirk McConnell of Magnolia said, "to play for Coach D."

UA players glad DeBriyn went out on winning note
BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON -Northwest Arkansas Times
While Norm DeBriyn's players expressed surprise that the University of Arkansas baseball coach retired after a glorious 33-year run on Monday, most of them were pleased they sent him out with a successful end of the season run.

That would be a stirring six-game run through the NCAA Tournament that left the Razorbacks (35-28) just one win shy of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

"We feel read good that we were able to get him out on top," junior outfielder Ryan Fox said. "That's how he should go out because he is a great man and a great coach. Of course, even as emotional as it was and as disappointing as it was to lose at Clemson on Sunday, it is even harder now. One more win and he would have gone out in Omaha, but at least we gave him our all."

Sophomore pitcher Scott Roehl said the team was stunned Monday night when DeBriyn, who had been the coach of the Baseball Razorbacks since 1970 and won 1,161 games, told them of his decision to retire.

"We came into the locker room for an end-of-the-year team meeting and we certainly didn't know it was going to happen," Roehl said. "He told us and nobody knew how to take it. Everybody was quiet, but looking back now and how we went out -- one game from Omaha -- it turned into a great year and we got in and won a (NCAA) Regional and almost won a Super Regional.

"It was a great way for him to go out. He's a winner and is going out a winner."

Freshman shortstop Scott Hode got to play for the 60-year-old DeBriyn only one year, but says he will cherish that experience playing for someone who led the Razorbacks to four College World Series appearances, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Southwest Conference titles and one Southeastern Conference title in 1999.

"Just in this one year I have realized how much Coach DeBriyn is loved and respected by this state and this University," Hode said. "When he told me Monday night, I just told him what an honor that it had been to play for him."

Fox said DeBriyn proved his worth once again by rallying a team from an 8-13 league mark to grab the SEC Tournament's last berth, getting a surprise NCAA Tournament berth and making the most of it.

"Like he said, this team was unbelievable the way we came together and scrapped and gave it our all and beat the odds and that is a great tribute to him," Fox said. "He did a great job keeping our younger players relaxed."

The team will now look toward next year and a new skipper.

"We may have been young, but we were confident coming down the stretch and had confidence in everybody we put out there and it is going to be the same way next year no matter who is the coach, who is pitching, who is playing third, who is playing short and so on," Roehl said. "We are going to come back all fired up and ready to build on this season and a new coach is just going to benefit from that and I think we will handle it very well."

Who that coach will be won't be determined for a while, according to UA athletic director Frank Broyles, who notes current Razorback assistants Doug Clark and Tim Montez will both be interviewed.

"We always considered the assistants that are there and I will interview them, talk to them and look at the whole field," Broyles said. "We will do like we have in the past and hire the best person available to take this post to the national championship."

Broyles did say that the list will not be limited to just head baseball coaches.

"Every head coach was once an assistant who got that opportunity," Broyles said. "At the right time and the right place, an assistant coach could come in and do the job and that is what I will take into consideration -- whether this is the right time for an assistant coach to take over the system in place. You have to have a system in place for an assistant to come in and get the job done immediately."

One name that will be prominently mentioned is former UA player and current Nebraska head coach David Van Horn, who has led the Cornhuskers to the last two College World Series.

"I think it would be inappropriate for me to mention any names until I talk to athletic directors and get permission and you have to wait until the end of the season to do that," Broyles said. "But we are going to seek the best and most successful coach that we can attract to this job and we think we have the system all in place to attract most any coach in the nation."

DeBriyn departs UA dugout
BY RICK FIRES -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles paused for several seconds and was already choked up when he began to talk about the retirement of Arkansas baseball Coach Norm DeBriyn.

It was that kind of an emotional day as DeBriyn, 60, announced his retirement Tuesday after 33 years at Arkansas. Only Broyles, who is in his 45th year at Arkansas, has a longer tenure among current Arkansas athletic department employees.

"Norm is the consummate coach, friend and associate," Broyles said, with tears welling from his eyes. "He has led the Razorback program with an emphasis on academics and integrity. His coaching record speaks for itself. But, perhaps his greatest contribution has been the lasting relationships with his players and coaches that have bonded them not only to their coach, but to the University of Arkansas."

Broyles said DeBriyn will remain involved in Arkansas athletics in some capacity, likely in a fund-raising role with the athletic department or the Razorback Foundation.

"We want Norm around," Broyles said. "We want to take advantage of his knowledge and experience."

DeBriyn ranks 14th all time in career victories among NCAA Division I head coaches with a career record of 1,161-650-6. He guided Arkansas to 4 College World Series appearances, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, 2 Southwest Conference championships and 1 SEC title.

Arkansas' best finish was in 1979 as runner-up to Cal State-Fullerton in the College World Series.

"There is a time for everything and the time is right for me to step aside," said DeBriyn, whose Arkansas coaching career spanned four decades after he was hired in 1969. "I like my decision and where the program is headed."

DeBriyn's departure as Arkansas' baseball coach came two days after the Razorbacks were eliminated by Clemson on the final day of their NCAA super regional. The announcement came as a surprise to many. DeBriyn had said repeatedly late in the season he was looking forward to coaching again next year.

DeBriyn broke the news to his players and staff Monday during a meeting at Baum Stadium. Even Doug Clark, DeBriyn's assistant for 26 years at Arkansas, was surprised by the announcement.

"He had talked about it every once in a while, then he said he was energized and ready to go," Clark said. "But obviously he hit the wall and felt now was the time."

DeBriyn said he's thought about retiring for the past year, but began to seriously consider it while the Razorbacks were playing at Clemson, S.C. Arkansas (35-28) won the first game 9-6 before Clemson came back 8-7 and 7-4 victories to end the Razorbacks' season and DeBriyn's coaching career.

Arkansas won its first SEC championship in 1999, only to fade badly and not make the SEC Tournament for two consecutive seasons. Arkansas also played poorly for much of this season, fueling rumors that DeBriyn might be forced out.

"I hear the rumors and I can understand, considering my age and the fact we haven't done too well recently," DeBriyn said toward the end of the season.

Broyles said Tuesday that DeBriyn was never in any serious danger of being replaced.

"It was his call, and it's always been his call," Broyles said.

Arkansas qualified for the SEC Tournament on the last day of the regular season then finished 1-2 in the tournament at Birmingham, Ala. DeBriyn expressed doubts Arkansas would be invited to the NCAA Tournament, but the Razorbacks were selected and sent to the Wichita (Kan.) Regional.

Arkansas won the regional with three consecutive victories. The Razorbacks then extended their postseason winning streak to four consecutive games with its 9-6 victory over Clemson in the opener of the super regional.

"I will miss coaching," DeBriyn said. "I talked to [former Auburn Coach] Hal Baird about stepping aside and he said once you make that decision, don't look back."

Arkansas had its best finish since 1989, when the Razorbacks went to the College World Series. The Razorbacks also went to Omaha, Neb., in 1979, 1985 and 1987.

"We had a club this year that reminded me a lot of the 1979 team," DeBriyn said. "When I talked to the players individually [Monday] I realized how close they were and how well they bonded. That's the reason we finished strong and made as good a run as we did."

Pitcher Charlie Isaacson, a member of Arkansas' last senior class under DeBriyn, also paid tribute to his former coach before leaving to begin his professional baseball career. Isaacson came to Arkansas after he turned down the New York Yankees in 1998 when he was drafted in the 13th round. He was selected again by the Yankees in the 29th round this season and will report to minicamp in Florida on Thursday to begin his professional career.

"Coach DeBriyn and I had the usual coach-player relationship but there was also a lot of friendship there," said Isaacson, who was born in 1980 when DeBriyn was in his 11th year at Arkansas. "I want to wish him the best of luck. If I can end up being half the man he is, I'm going to have a wonderful life ahead of me."

Players share emotional farewell
BY RICKY HARVEY -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE -- When Arkansas players were called in to Baum Stadium for a team meeting Monday night, none thought anything unusual about it.

"We all just thought it was the end-of-the-year team meeting like we always have," junior pitcher Gary Hogan Jr. said. "We were all just expecting the same 'ol, same 'ol end of the season stuff where we go over things one-on-one."

What they got was what many players called one of the most emotional moments they've ever been a part of.

Norm DeBriyn did meet with players individually Monday, but before those one-on-one sessions, the Arkansas coach of 33 years told the team as a group he had decided it was time to step down. The news came as a surprise, players said.

"It was probably as shocked as I've ever been in my life when he told us," junior Ryan Fox said. "He wanted everyone together and he then started to tell us and got all choked up. When he did that, we all just looked at each other with disbelief on our faces. We knew what was coming."

Breaking the news was certainly not easy.

"It was harder than I thought it would be," DeBriyn said of the team meeting. "It was the toughest thing I've done."

DeBriyn said he's known for about a week he was going to retire, but players said all indication were that DeBriyn would be back for season No. 34.

"There were no signs, nothing, that this was going to happen," Hogan said. "We thought after the year we had that he would definitely be coming back because we've got a good chance of being really good next year."

But DeBriyn's announcement will have an impact on whether Hogan is even a Razorback next season. The North Little Rock native was drafted last week in the 32nd round of the amateur draft by the Texas Rangers and said Tuesday that DeBriyn's retirement will be a big factor in his final decision on whether to return to Arkansas for his senior season.

"I don't really want to play for some new coach that comes in here," Hogan said. "I'm hoping that [pitching] coach [Tim] Montez gets this job. If he gets the job, there's a real good chance I'm coming back. But if they bring in some new guys in here, I don't know.

"If they bring in someone new I might just want to get started with my life and get started with pro ball."

Arkansas should be an improved team next season, whether Hogan returns or not. The Razorbacks will return the nucleus of the team that finished one victory away from the College World Series, including four starting freshmen.

"I'm sad to see him leave, but I'm glad he's able to leave on his terms and leave on top," Fox said. "No one knew it was coming, especially after how we finished and what we have coming back, but this is what Coach wants to do, so I'm happy for him."

Sophomore Cody Clark, son of longtime assistant coach Doug Clark, had to hold back emotions when describing how he felt when he heard DeBriyn was retiring.

"It's kind of funny to think about Arkansas baseball without Norm DeBriyn," Cody Clark said. "It's just really a sad day. It's sad to see it come to an end."

Just like it was sad to see the season come to an end Sunday with a 7-4 loss to Clemson in the deciding game of the Super Regionals. Knowing what they know now, the players said that loss is a little harder to accept.

"It's real nice that we made the run like we did, especially since this is it for Coach," Fox said. "But as upset as we were Sunday -- as close as we were to going to Omaha -- it hurts even more now to know we could have gotten Coach DeBriyn to Omaha in his last season here.

"That makes it hurt even more because he deserved to get to go."

Former Razorbacks recall DeBriyn's loyalty
BY BOB HOLT -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE -- Nearly 20 years later, Tom Pagnozzi can still see Norm DeBriyn's red truck sliding backward down Razorback Road.

It was the spring of 1983, Pagnozzi's only baseball season at Arkansas, and as the Razorbacks stretched in the outfield at George Cole Field, they saw DeBriyn driving up the road and heard his voice making nearly as much noise as the truck's engine.

"We had a guy who hadn't been going to class -- a definite no-no -- and Norm was yelling about it as he drove up to the field," Pagnozzi said. "He was so upset that when he got out of the truck, he forgot to put on the parking brake.

"As he was walking towards us, we could see the truck rolling down the hill -- it finally stopped when it hit a fence that went around the track -- but Norm didn't pay any attention because he was so focused on what he was yelling about.

"That's how intense he was about coaching and about his players. That's my favorite Norm story."

Former Razorbacks told a lot of stories about DeBriyn on Tuesday, when he announced he was retiring as Arkansas' baseball coach after 33 seasons and 1,161 victories.

DeBriyn inspired fierce loyalty in his players, even one such as Pagnozzi who spent only one season in Fayetteville after transferring from an Arizona junior college before turning pro as a 10th-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pagnozzi made some nice money in 12 seasons as a major-league catcher from 1987-99, and he has given generously to the Arkansas baseball program, crediting DeBriyn for much of his success.

"Norm invested in me," said Pagnozzi, who lives in Paradise Valley, Ariz. "Over the years, I've made sure to return it."

Ronn Reynolds, an All-American catcher at Arkansas in 1979, has a son, Jason, who plays for the Razorbacks.

"I encouraged him to go to Arkansas, not only because it's a good area and good university, but primarily because Norm was there and I knew he was a good baseball man and he was going to teach my kid discipline and the right way to do things on and off the field," said Reynolds, who played in the major leagues from 1982-90 with the New York Mets, Philadelphia, Houston and San Diego and now lives in Wichita, Kan. "Norm has been a father figure to a lot of players. He was always tough, but at the same time he showed love."

Former Razorbacks kept talking about DeBriyn's sincerity and loyalty.

"You can try and look for something wrong with him, but you can't find anything bad to say about Norm DeBriyn," said Kevin Campbell, who lives in Cabot after pitching for the Razorbacks from 1984-86 and in the major leagues for Oakland and Minnesota in 1991-94. "He always has stood behind his players."

Like it is: UA coach goes out as he should -- a winner
BY WALLY HALL -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Norm DeBriyn is the most liked coach at the University of Arkansas. Maybe the most popular in the state.

Over the course of time, DeBriyn was always available. He was never rude. He was never crude.

DeBriyn's attitude always came across that he was just happy to be a part of the UA.

Appreciative comes to mind when you think of DeBriyn, who became Arkansas' baseball coach in 1969.

He was known to show up for home football games and stand quietly in the back of the press box, just glad to be there.

And he usually had a positive comment for all those who stopped to speak.

DeBriyn was just an unassuming and nice guy.

Oh, maybe early in his career he broke a bat or two. Smashed a window or three. But that was when he was young and impetuous.

Always a fiery competitor, he is remembered fondly by all his players, maybe especially those in the early years.

Gerald Hannahs, his first player to be drafted, remembered the day DeBriyn called the entire team together in the outfield and told them to take a knee.

"The day before we had played a game and he had finally talked George Cole into coming to the game, and it was cold, and I had a bad problem with control that day," Hannahs recalled. "So the next day we're together and he's telling us good effort and stuff like that, and suddenly he goes, 'You're lucky I didn't see it, Hannahs, I'd have killed you.'

"Then he says he still might and takes a couple of steps at me, and I jump up and start to run and he hits me in the back with a fungo [bat].

"You know what, I deserved it. I flipped off the other team after they shelled me in the fourth or fifth inning.

"Norm didn't, and shouldn't, allow that type of behavior. I loved him then, and I love him more now. He's going to be missed more than anyone knows."

There were other stories, such as how DeBriyn wouldn't allow long hair or facial hair back in the early days.

Only, Keith Cochran tricked him. He had long hair, but he bought a short-haired wig and duct-taped it inside his hat and made sure he had that hat on when he was around DeBriyn.

Until the night he slid into second and a hard tag sent the hat and wig flying.

"Norm was running around yelling, 'You better put that hair back on, you better put that hair back on,' " Hannahs said, laughing. "The next day Keith got a haircut, and Norm probably drove him to the barber shop."

Throughout this season, which was hurt when some of his better recruits were drafted and opted for professional baseball, there was speculation about DeBriyn's future.

It was a foregone conclusion he would be back for a farewell parade next season and then retire.

He had some really talented players committed to joining the team next year, and he would go out on top.

Only DeBriyn had his own timetable.

From the time he barely made the SEC baseball tournament until Sunday afternoon, DeBriyn laughed in the face of defeat.

He rallied his troops against all odds and made it into the NCAA Tournament field as one of the final at-large teams.

Then the Razorbacks swept through the regional in Wichita, Kan., and scared the dickens out of Clemson, the No. 2 team in the nation, before finally slipping in the last game of the super regional Sunday.

DeBriyn and the Razorbacks returned home as heroes.

Monday night, as has been his custom, DeBriyn called a final team meeting. Usually he tells the team how proud he was to have gotten to coach them, and then he spends a few minutes talking about next season.

This time, when it got to the part about the future, he told them he was going to retire.

No one was happy, but in the end, like all his former players, they will be happy for him because Norm DeBriyn went out the way he coached, a winner.

Stories copyright Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com 2002

All stories from 6-12-02