Croft retires after 30 years as baseball coach

Published 10:35 pm Tuesday, May 9, 2006

MOULTRIE — After wearing jersey No. 44 for 30 seasons as the Packers head baseball coach, Jerry Croft announced his retirement on Monday.

Croft, who said he plans to return to teach again the next school year, first moved into the dugout for Moultrie High School in 1977 and became Colquitt County High’s coach in its first year of existence in 1979.

He led the Packers to state championships in Georgia’s highest classification in both 1997 and 2003 and to state Final Four appearances in 1996 and 1998.

Croft finishes with a career record of 459 wins, 268 losses and two ties. His postseason record is even more impressive: 31-14.

Schools Superintendent Leonard McCoy said the job will be advertised.

Colquitt County High Principal Bob Jones said he would “take his time” while seeking Croft’s replacement, but added that he hoped to have one on board as soon as possible. Jones said he had talked to the team’s assistant coaches to ensure that summer work would continue.

Originally hopeful of coaching one more season at the new baseball field at Packer Park scheduled to be ready for the 2007 season opener, Croft decided after the current season ended on Friday — with an 8-16-1 record —that he was ready to give it up.

“I did, in a way,” Croft said about wanting to coach at the new field. “And I anguished over it all weekend.

“But I’m OK with it. I’ve had 30 great years. I didn’t want to go out like we did, but that is just one of those things. It’s time. It’s time to let someone else start a new legacy at the new field.”

Croft said it has been an honor to serve as head coach at the high school he attended.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to the Colquitt County School System for allowing me to pursue my dream of coaching the great game of baseball for the past 30 years, especially at my alma mater,” he said. “I would like to thank the hundreds of players and my assistant coaches for contributing to the success we have achieved over the years.”

Colquitt County School Superintendent Leonard McCoy said “There is a great deal of respect for Jerry Croft in the school system. And from me.

“I’ve been in awe of his career, its longevity and success.”

Jones said Croft’s “perseverance has helped to achieve the vision held by many and accomplished by few — and that is to not only play for, but win two state championships.

“His legacy will stand as a benchmark for coaches and players who come through the Packer baseball program in the years to come.”

McCoy has offered Croft the opportunity to work with architects and maintenance personnel in the final stages of the development of the fields at Packer Park.

“He’ll be able to provide so much in making sure Packer Park is a quality place,” Jones said.

Croft’s first Packers team went 7-10 in 1977 and after his first four seasons, the Packers were four games under .500.

But he went on to lead Colquitt County to six seasons with 20 or more victories.

The first came in 1982 when Colquitt went 20-7 and lost to Valdosta in the Region 1-AAAA playoffs.

The program began its longest period of continued success in 1996, just one year after the Packers finished 13-14.

Led by two-time Region 1-AAAA Player of the Year and future Auburn University star Hayden Gliemmo, the Packers went 24-6 and reached the Final Four, where they were defeated by eventual state champion Parkview.

The following season, with Gliemmo back, the Packers won their first state championship, defeating Lassiter 11-3 in the deciding game of the finals series at Ike Aultman Field.

In 1998 the Packers went 24-9 and reached the Final Four again before being eliminated by the Corey Patterson-led Harrison High Hoyas.

Over the next three years, the Packers were 41-38, but in 2002, Colquitt went 20-9.

The next season, the Packers won their second state championship, knocking off East Coweta 6-3 to take the finals series, again in front of the home fans at Ike Aultman Field.

The last three seasons have been struggles, however.

Colquitt fell to 11-15 in 2004, the year after the state championship.

After winning the first eight games of the 2005 season, the Packers finished 15-10.

This year, Colquitt finished 8-17-1. The eight victories were the fewest since the 1987 team went 7-12-1.

Croft began his coaching career at Doerun, where he was the Deers varsity basketball coach for six seasons.

The first two years he coached baseball at Moultrie High, he was also the basketball coach, and was teaching, at Doerun.

Croft also was an assistant to Colquitt County High basketball coach James Stancil to for two seasons and was an assistant football coach under Roy Saturday on the Colquitt County junior high football team for a number of years.

Croft got his 449th career victory last Thursday when the Packers defeated Bainbridge 8-4 in the final game played at Ike Aultman Field. He is the only coach the Packers had during the 25 years they played at the field behind the high school.

Two of Croft’s assistant coaches have gone on to success head coaching careers of their own.

Rob Williams has been the coach at Lee County for a number of years and took the Trojans to the state finals last year.

Tony Kirkland, an assistant on both of the Packers state championship teams, has been the head coach at South Effingham the last three seasons. In 2004, the Mustangs won 25 game. Last year, they won 25.

South Effingham is 19-4 and has a region championship in hand as it prepares for its first-round state championship series at home against Mary Persons beginning Friday.

A number of Croft’s former players went on to outstanding careers.

Dennis Powell pitched in the major leagues for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers.

Muzzy Jackson played one season of minor league baseball before going into administration. He is now the assistant general manager of the Kansas City Royals.

Gliemmo went on to fine career at Auburn; Tony DeRosso played several years of minor league baseball; Christopher McCranie played baseball at the University of Georgia; Jackson, Bill Fallin, Bucky Goff, Jon Buckner, Matt Parker and Ty Megahee played at Mercer. Parker also played minor league baseball.

Will Southwell and Aaron Eubanks, members of the 2003 state championship team, are currently playing at Georgia Southern. Adam Anderson played last season at Valdosta State. Greg Connell also played for the Blazers.

Former Packer Eric McCranie went into high school coaching, leading Clarke Central’s program for several years.

Among Croft’s players was son Jared, a member of the 1997 state championship team. Of his current coaching staff of Keith Croft, Marlon Daniels and Will Stuckey, both Keith Croft and Stuckey are former players.

“I want everything to be upbeat and positive,” Croft said. “There is nothing negative at all. I hope the guy who comes in will have as long a run as I did.

“I’m going to miss the camaraderie with the players and other coaches. But I’ve got no regrets. It’s been a great ride. This has been a passion for me for a long time.”

And while Croft said baseball was his passion, he said the love of his life is Gwen, his wife of 26 years, who has dealt with the ups and downs and long hours of being a coach’s spouse.

“I owe her a lot,” Croft said.