James Madison coach Spanky McFarland announced Thursday that he
will retire after the 2015 season.
McFarland, who is entering his 18th season as guiding the Dukes,
has led JMU to three NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2008,
2011) in going 503-450-4. He also won 143 games as coach of
Northern Illinois, where he coached from 1991-97 and started the
program back up after its discontinuation in 1982.
“This spring will be my
38th season of coaching college baseball, and it will be my
last, as I plan to retire at the conclusion of what will be my
18theason at JMU,” McFarland said in a statement
released by the school. "After coaching at eight colleges in
five different states, Deb and I are ready to get off the roller
coaster ride that is college athletics and plan to devote time
to mutual interests. The list is long of things put on hold due
to the year round commitment of our jobs and we are ready and
excited to start the next phase of our lives. We would love to
travel, including more mission work, and explore different
opportunities and adventures. We trust that God will put us
where he needs us, just as he did when we came to JMU 17 years
ago.”
McFarland started his
coaching career at his alma mater, Hillsdale College, in 1977
and made stops at Kellogg (Mich.) Community College (his first
head coaching job), Appalahian State, Florida State, Georgia
Tech and USF.
