Lamar University Athletics

A coaching legend who walked the LU dugout as both player and coach, Jim Gilligan has been a fixture of Cardinals baseball for more than 40 years. A six-time conference coach of the year, Gilligan retired from the sport following the 2016 campaign but his accomplishments on the field will be etched in the LU record books forever. During his tenure, Gilligan guided Big Red fans to more than 1,300 victory celebrations as he posted 1,355 career wins – a mark that ranks 13th all-time in NCAA history. In addition to the wins Gilligan also led the Cardinals to 12 conference titles and 12 NCAA Regional appearances.

The Cardinals produced an astounding 30 30-win seasons, eight 40-win seasons and a 50-win season under Gilligan’s direction. The 50-win campaign came in 1981 when the Cards won a school record 54 games.

During his time in the dugout, Gilligan has produced a staggering 138 all-conference selections, 81 major league draftees, six major leaguers and four All-Americans. He has also coached a Southland Player of the Year, five hitters of the year and nine pitchers of the year.

A member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Southland Hall of Honor, Gilligan is so loved by the Beaumont community that in 2010 it voted to unanimously rename a stretch of Florida Avenue running adjacent to Vincent-Beck Stadium to Jim Gilligan Way. When Gilligan retired, he did so as the program’s and Southland Conference’s all-time winningest coach.

Gilligan, and the Cardinals, provided LU fans with numerous memories during his final season. The Red and White won a season-high 15 consecutive games to crack the top 25 poll. In addition, LU also rattled off consecutive wins over top 25 programs Arizona and LSU in Beaumont, including a rally from eight runs down to defeat No. 7 LSU. In a special presentation for Gilligan during the final series of 2016 campaign, the conference honored Gilligan by renaming the trophy for the league’s regular-season champion the Jim Gilligan Trophy.