Migl Announces Retirement After Successful Career

After spending 40 years on the staff at St. Mary's University as both a baseball coach and athletics director, Charlie Migl is hanging up his jersey today for the final time.
 
"I have loved my time here," Migl said. "I've gotten to meet so many people who have helped me and who I have tried to help through mutual work relationships. I've really been blessed to be at St. Mary's so long — I went to school here, played here and then coached here."
 
Migl's lasting impact goes far beyond his victories on the diamond.
 
"Throughout Coach Migl's career, Charlie has not only been a hugely successful baseball coach, but also an important mentor to scores of young men, his players — whose lives have been transformed because of Charlie's genuine care and concern for their development into leaders," said St. Mary's University President Thomas M. Mengler, J.D.
 
St. Mary's University Executive Director of Athletics Robert Coleman said Migl's significant contributions would be remembered.
 
"Charlie is a St. Mary's legend for his success and commitment to excellence," Coleman said. "He set a standard for excellence for not only our Baseball program, but for the entire athletic program. There is little doubt he has made an impact on so many lives. He will always be remembered for his tremendous efforts."
 
In his 35 years as the head Baseball coach, Migl is the active leader in NCAA Division II with 1,246 victories — a total that also ranks fourth all-time in NCAA history. Migl has had 33 winning seasons in those 35 years, with the club becoming NCAA Division II national champions in 2001. Migl's teams have won 15 conference titles, appeared in seven NCAA Regionals and three NAIA World Series.
 
Migl's 1,246 wins also rank 30th all-time, regardless of division, and are fifth among all active NCAA coaches. He was inducted into the Heartland Conference Hall of Fame in the league's final year of existence and has earned 14 conference coach of the year awards — seven in the Heartland Conference, five in the Heart of Texas Conference and two in the Big State Conference. He also earned National Coach of the Year honors in both 2001 and 2012.
 
"He is such a personal, honest, and caring person," said St. Mary's softball coach and Senior Woman's Administrator Donna Fields. "Charlie has a way to make you feel special and important. … His time is your time. He has always been so supportive of all the athletes and the athletic teams. He did things well, with love, respect and integrity. He is winner both on and off the field in all aspects of his life. I appreciate all that he has done for me throughout my career and I wish him all the happiness in his retirement."
 
Migl was a four-year letter-winner at St. Mary's in Baseball while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 1978. After two years as a teacher at Harlandale High School, Migl was hired in 1982 to be an assistant Baseball coach and took over the reins five seasons later, spending 35 seasons at the helm of the Baseball program. In addition, Migl also spent time working with the Men's and Women's Tennis and Men's Soccer programs while he was an assistant Baseball coach.
 
Migl's tenure as the director of athletics from 2001 to 2013 was one of the most successful eras in StMU history, with the Rattlers winning four of their six national championships and all four of their NCAA national championships (including the academic title for Men's Golf) during that span. The Baseball team won its first-ever national title in 2001 with Migl as head coach and athletics director, and the next year the Softball team followed with its second national championship and first in NCAA play. In 2006, Jamie Amoretti won the Rattlers' first-ever individual national championship at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship. The 2008-2009 Men's Golf team was named academic national champions by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
 
"Everybody in life ought to have a passion and, clearly, Charlie's passion has been St. Mary's Baseball," said Dave Dickson (B.B.A. '68), for whom the St. Mary's baseball stadium is named. "He is a man of extraordinary integrity, who was committed to doing the right things for the student-athletes."
 
News of Migl's retirement  began to echo throughout the world of college baseball, where longtime friends and opponents recollected on what Migl has meant to the sport. 
 
"I've been blessed to be able to compete against Charlie Migl's teams since I first started coaching," said Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks, a longtime competitor against Migl. "I have always valued his friendship and consider him one of the greatest coaches of all-time in college baseball.  Charlie's teams have always competed very hard and always did things the right way.  There is not a better person in the world of coaching than Charlie.  His ability to maintain the high standard of excellence he set speaks to what a great coach and man he is.  He's simply one of the best."
 
Added Central Missouri baseball coach Kyle Crookes: "Charlie is truly a wonderful human being — genuine, caring and thoughtful. When I was an assistant (at Central Missouri) and met him for the first time, he was welcoming and open, as if we had known each other for a long time already. His teams have always played hard, fundamentally sound baseball, and have been at a championship standard for baseball at any level. There isn't enough time or line space to list all the good that Coach Migl is. I am better for having competed against him and his teams."
 
In addition to all the victories and team success, Migl was fortunate enough to see all three of his children compete in athletics for the Rattlers – including coaching his own sons, Tyler and Jason, on the diamond, while watching his daughter Katy frustrate opposing hitters on the volleyball court as one of the best defensive specialists to ever suit up in the Gold and Blue. And his bride, Mary, has been by his side throughout his career with the Rattlers. 
 
Now, the pair will work on spoiling their grandchildren and spending time together away from the diamond. Migl's father's homestead lies between San Antonio and Houston, and the pair love spending time there working on projects alongside Migl's brother.
 
"I'm so grateful for all the players I've been able to coach," Migl continued. "It's very satisfying to watch them struggle sometimes and then be successful. To have them come back and apologize for the way they behaved sometimes, but to have them thank you for what you've done with them – that's what makes coaching such a great profession. I feel very lucky to have been able to do that for so long."

Migl has been fortunate to have many amazing assistant coaches work with him throughout his tenure including long-time associate head coach Chris Ermis, who has been with him for 25 of his 35 seasons and assistant Ryan Femath, who has been on staff for 14 years.
 
"Charlie has obviously been a huge influence on my life both professionally and personally," Ermis said. "He's worn many hats that have had positive effects and helped shape me through the years - Coach, Boss, Mentor, Big Brother, and most importantly, friend. The thought of following such an accomplished head college baseball coach of Charlie's stature can be overwhelming as well as intimidating."
 
Migl was hired by Buddy Meyer in 1982 to be Elmer Kosub's assistant and took over the reins five seasons later, spending 35 seasons at the helm of the baseball program. In addition, Migl also spent time working with the men's and women's tennis and men's soccer programs while he was an assistant baseball coach. 
 
"When I think of 40 years I can't imagine the number of students, faculty, and staff who Charlie has encountered," Coleman added. "And how his influence has shaped and molded those people in the ideals of faith, knowledge and service. His influence over Athletics during this period is unparalleled with endless examples of success, not only with baseball, but across all sports and people he worked with. His legacy of support to those people will endure for years to come."
 
Migl retires among the winningest coaches in college baseball history and leaves a legacy not soon to be forgotten.