The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Garrido now winningest coach in college baseball history
03.26.2014 | Baseball
Garrido claimed his 1,894th win Tuesday night
By Lauren Giudice, Texas Media Relations
When Augie Garrido joined the Texas baseball program in 1996, he already had three NCAA titles and 1,151 wins under his belt. Since joining the Longhorns, he has compiled seven Big 12 championships, 743 wins and two national titles.
After Texas' 5-1 win over Texas State last night, he can add yet another accomplishment to his resume: Garrido is now the winningest coach at any level in college baseball history.
In 2003, when he captured his 1,428th career victory, he became the winningest coach in Division I baseball. But on Tuesday night he overtook Gordie Gillespie's all-division record of 1,893 wins. Gillespie is the former baseball coach at Lewis University, Ripon College and the University of St. Francis.
"I like what I do," Garrido said. "I look forward to doing it. I like the relationships involved in it. I like the teacher's role that I have in it. That's where all the rewards are for me. They really are."
He is only the second coach in Division I baseball history to tally 1,700 or more career victories. Garrido is also the only coach to win 600 or more games at two different schools (Texas and Cal State Fullerton).
He led both Texas and Cal State Fullerton to national titles, becoming the first coach to win an NCAA baseball championship with two different schools. He also is the first coach to win national titles in four different decades and is only the second coach to win five or more total NCAA titles (1979, 1984, 1995, 2002, 2005).
During his 46 seasons as a coach, he has a 1,894-877-9 record for a .694 winning percentage. He's averaged over 41 victories per season.
Garrido, modest about his achievement, plans to put the game ball in his office. He said the record wasn't on his mind heading into the game and he has already started focusing on Texas' upcoming series against Texas Tech. But he was happy to share his momentous night with his players.
"I think it's something we can all remember for the rest of our lives," Garrido said. "They did something that no one can take away from them. It's pretty cool."
Garrido, who has coached three Golden Spikes Award winners, four National Players of the Year, six College World Series MVPs, 52 All-Americans, 14 All-League MVPs and 119 professional players over his career – maintained the record is a testament to the many players and coaches he has worked with.
"This belongs to everyone," said Garrido. "Baseball is the ultimate team sport, it really is."
As special of a night as it was for Garrido, Texas players also reveled in the opportunity witness first hand such a distinct record.
"It's something that I'm going to be able to tell my kids and my grandkids about when I'm older," said sophomore outfielder Ben Johnson, who hit a home run during the game. "It's pretty cool to say that I got to play for the greatest college baseball coach of all time, especially being out on the field."
Johnson said Garrido is a true competitor and that he wants to win more than any coach he's ever had. He would do anything for his players, according to Johnson.
Garrido's success in the regular season is phenomenal, but his success in the College World Series also sets him apart. He is tied for second all-time with five national crowns, trailing only Rod Dedeaux's 10 at USC. He holds a 38-20 record in Omaha, giving him a .655 winning percentage.
Garrido has been a big part of Texas' storied tradition. In his fourth season at the helm he brought Texas back to the CWS and two years later, in 2002, he led the team to its first-ever Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships as well as its first national title since 1983. In 2005 he led Texas to a 56-16 record and a sixth National Championship — the second-most for one school in NCAA history.
As Garrido's historic game came to a close and "The Eyes of Texas" played over the loudspeakers, fans at Disch-Falk began chanting "AUGIE, AUGIE!" As he entered the locker room, his team echoed the same sentiment.
Though Garrido's name now sits on top of the wins list with 1,894 victories, he credits those around him for his success.
"[This record is] for the coaching staffs, all the guys on the support staff, whether it's the trainers, it doesn't matter what role you have on the team… Everyone is responsible for making their best effort to help the players reach their full potential. The players play the games. The rest of us, we're all supporting the players in different roles that we have."
