MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Johnson, Polk, Fillingane, Barnett, Berry, Carter, McCaughn, Robinson, Seymour, Sparks, Younger
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE FOR THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI BASEBALL COACH SCOTT BERRY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER SEVEN-STRAIGHT 40-VICTORY SEASONS, NINE STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES AND TWO STRAIGHT SUPER REGIONALS.
WHEREAS, we join the players, faculty and fans of The University of Southern Mississippi in honoring legendary Baseball Coach Scott Berry on the occasion of his retirement at age 60 following 14 seasons at the helm of the Southern Mississippi baseball program, leading the Golden Eagles to unprecedented levels of success as the team moved to the Sun Belt Conference; and
WHEREAS, under Berry's tutelage, Southern Miss has captured five Conference regular season titles, registered five league tournament crowns, obtained nine NCAA Tournament appearances, and the Golden Eagle head coach has won the league's "Coach of the Year" award four times; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, he oversaw a squad that tied for the second-most victories at the school with a 47-19 mark, won a regional on its home field – defeating LSU two out of three games at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field, and played host to its first-ever NCAA Super Regional. His squad also became the fourth school since the NCAA that went to a Super Regional format to host a league tournament, NCAA Regional, and NCAA Super Regional in the same season; and
WHEREAS, in the final year of Conference, Berry led the Golden Eagles to a regular season title and enjoyed the school's fourth Ferriss Trophy in Tanner Hall for the "Top Collegiate Player in the State of Mississippi." He also captured the C-USA "Coach of the Year" award. The Golden Eagles registered their sixth-straight 40-win season, the most currently held by any Division I program, and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth-straight year and 18th time overall. Southern Miss finished as high as No. 11 in the final polls. This team saw five players earn C-USA postseason honors, while enjoying two All-Americans and one Freshman All-America pick; and
WHEREAS, Coach Berry played two years at Crowder College, a junior college in Missouri. After two all-region seasons as a catcher, he was forced to give up baseball due to back issues. He transferred to Southwest Missouri State where he completed his degree and became a student assistant coach. In 1991, Berry was named an assistant at Meridian Community College, serving under Corky Palmer who would precede him at Southern Miss. After six seasons as an assistant coach, which included Meridian's first-ever JUCO World Series appearance in 1993 in Grand Junction, Colorado, Berry became head coach at Meridian, Mississippi, where he remained for four seasons, earning numerous "Coach of the Year" awards. His teams were ranked in the top 10 all four years he was at the helm, and placed 25 players at Division I schools and coached nine future professional players; and
WHEREAS, Coach Berry rejoined Palmer with the Golden Eagles, accepting an assistant coaching position at Southern Miss. Berry worked in a number of roles, including hitting coach, pitching coach, and associate head coach prior to becoming head coach in 2010. While a hitting coach, the Golden Eagles hit over .300 as a team after batting .279 the previous season, with seven players batting over .300. As a pitching coach, USM posted the lowest ERA in Conference and produced four players who earned seven All-America awards, including one in four consecutive years. In 2009, the Golden Eagles made their first trip to the College World Series after defeating Florida in Gainesville in the Super Regional round. Berry ran USM's streak of NCAA appearances to nine with trips in 2010 and 2011, including a 2010 Conference baseball tournament title and a share of the 2011 regular season conference title; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Berry earned C-USA "Coach of the Year" Honors as he led the program to its ninth-consecutive NCAA postseason as Southern Miss captured a share of the Conference regular season title en route to a 39-19 mark and a berth in the 2011 NCAA Atlanta Regional. The 2011 season produced many awards for Berry's team. Outfielder Tyler Koelling became the school's first recipient of the Ferriss Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate baseball player in the State of Mississippi, and was one of four Golden Eagles to earn First-Team All-Conference Honors; and
WHEREAS, at Coach Berry's final Super Regional in 2023, a chant went up from the third base side of Pete Taylor Park. "Berry! Berry! Berry!" they shouted. As that faded, a chant began from the stands on the first-base side. "Thank you, 40! Thank you, 40! Thank you, 40!" they boomed in unison. (Berry's jersey number is 40.) Scott Berry, retiring at age 60, stood, his eyes glistening, and soaked it in. Then he turned to the crowd, took off the trademark batting helmet, placed it over his heart, and waved to the crowd; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we honor the legacy of a champion baseball coach who has left his mark on the sport he loved, on The University of Southern Mississippi and on the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Senate for the remarkable career of University of Southern Mississippi Baseball Coach Scott Berry on the occasion of his retirement after seven-straight 40-victory seasons, nine-straight NCAA regional appearances and two straight Super Regionals, and extend the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate to Coach Berry and his family for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Scott Berry and USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.