Retiring SHSU Coach Lauds Southland teams
5/28/2011 12:39:00 PM | Baseball
A Southwestern baseball legend, Johnson had just coached his final game. The 44th man to post more than 1,,000 victories as an NCAA Division I head baseball coach, Johnson now begins his retirement.
"I don't have a lot of reflection right now," Johnson said. "It was nice that TyHarrington sent the guys over. That was a nice touch. But we still have to get back home and meet with the guys and turn in equipment and meet individually with them. So there are still some things ahead of me. I haven't really reflected out on walking out here for the last time. I'll still be going to ballparks, so it won't be the last ball game I see."
Johnson totaled 1,043 victories in his 21 years at Texas A&M and five seasons at Sam Houston State. Johnson took a Bearkat program that had made only one Southland post-season appearance in the eight years between 1999 and 2006 and turned the event into what many called the "Mark Johnson Invitational."
From 2007 to 2009, Sam Houston went 12-0 at the event, winning three tournament trophies to become the only Southland program to earn three consecutive NCAA Division I regional berths by winning the Southland post-season title.
The Kats' 12-0 run-rule victory over No. 4 seed Southeastern Louisiana in Wednesday's first round stretched SHSU's league record tournament winning streak to 13. However, Sam Houston fell to No. 8 seed Nicholls 4-1 and Texas State 13-2.
"I wish we could have played better in our final two games" Johnson said. "I feel for our team right now. Texas State played very well. Everything they hit fell in, they pitched well,they played good defense. So it's time for us to hang it up and put in our equipment. It's been fun to be at the tournament."
Johnson has enjoyed his five seasons coaching in the Southland Conference and believes the league is on the way up.
"I think our conference is really, really good this year and I hope the NCAA will recognize that," Johnson said. "We had a lot of parity. I think the top five teams had 34 or 35 wins each. I don't think a lot of people were excited to play the Southland Conference in those Tuesday and Wednesday mid-week games. The league started racking up some good victories against some really good opponents in different conferences that will help with our RPI. I would really be disappointed if we didn't get two teams in. Now,
we're beating each other up right now. But, you know,that's what the Southeastern Conference and Pac 10 and all of them claim they do.
"We're in a spot right now that we have so many good teams and good coaches and good facilities that we're attracting a lot of good players. I think there are some outstanding players out here. We had a lot of scouts come in and they think the same way I do. I hope we can get two teams into
regional play."
The finals of the Southland Conference baseball tournament will be played in San Marcos Saturday night. The NCAA will announce the 2011 tournament field Monday at 11:30 a.m.
