6/16/06 Omaha. NE University of North Carolina at the 2006 College World Series. (photo by Michelle Bishop/for Prairie Pixel Group)

Mike Fox Letter to the Community: Click Here 

Mike Fox announced his retirement as head coach at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina.

UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham promoted assistant coach Scott Forbes to head coach. Forbes was an assistant for 19 seasons in Chapel Hill.

Fox was the winningest active coach in Division I at the time of his retirement, with a record of 1,487-547-5, a winning percentage of .731. He is seventh all-time in wins and 15th in winning percentage. Fox was first in both categories among active coaches in 2020. He led the Tar Heel baseball program for 22 seasons after 17 years as head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan.

A native of Asheville, N.C., Fox was named head coach of the Tar Heels prior to the 1999 season. His teams at UNC went 948-406-1 and won ACC championships in 2007, 2013 and 2018. Fox took the Tar Heels to the College World Series in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2018. Fox was the first head coach to lead an ACC team to four consecutive trips to the College World Series. UNC reached the championship series in Omaha in 2006 and 2007.

Fox entered UNC in the fall of 1974 as a true walk-on. He made the JV baseball and basketball teams and played in the College World Series as a senior. Fox led NC Wesleyan to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons, eight trips to the Division III College World Series and a national championship in 1989. The Battling Bishops went 539-141-4 under Fox, a winning percentage of .791.

A native of Sanford, N.C., Forbes played at Middle Georgia College and NC Wesleyan. He coached with Fox at NC Wesleyan in 1998. Forbes was an assistant coach at UNC from 1999-2002 and at Winthrop from 2002-05. He returned to UNC in 2006 as pitching coach.