Fast on the heels of tonight’s honor, Jim Gilligan was recently named as the 2004 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings South Central Region Coach of the Year.

In 27 years as the coach of his alma mater, Coach Gilligan has guided Lamar University to 11 conference championships, 11 NCAA Regional appearances and 4 conference tournament titles. He has a career record of 962–601 (.615), ranking him as the 16th active and 33rd all-time winningest coach in NCAA history.

Gilligan, who has been named Southland Conference coach of the year in each of the last three seasons and five times in his career, became the 37th coach in NCAA history to reach the 900-win plateau in 2003.

As the manager of the Salt Lake Trappers in 1987, Gilligan’s club broke a 68-year-old professional baseball record by winning 29 straight games. In recognition of this remarkable streak, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. created a permanent display featuring Gilligan’s jersey.

Jim’s promising professional playing career with the Detroit Tigers was cut short by an arm injury. As things go, it was to the benefit of all the fine young men of Lamar baseball who have since passed through the life of this fine gentleman and superb teacher.

Jim Gilligan and his beautiful wife and partner in giving, LaVerne, reside in Beaumont.