Coach Hannah exits the dugout

Bob Hannah, who led the UD baseball program to more than 1,000 wins in a 35-year career with the Blue Hens, retired at the end of the 2000 season.

One of the nation's most respected coaches, Hannah posted a remarkable career record of 1,053-464-6 since taking over as head coach in 1965. He earned the highest honor of his career in 1991 when he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was named a charter member in 1994 of the state of Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Delaware Diamond has been renamed the Bob Hannah Stadium in his honor.

The Blue Hens under Hannah have entered NCAA regional play on 12 occasions, including a trip this May to the four-team NCAA regional playoffs in Oklahoma City. In addition, Hannah has coached 23 All-Americans and 32 Major League draft picks during his career, including pitcher Steve Taylor--who was a No. 1 draft pick of the New York Yankees in 1977--and outfielder Kevin Mench--who was drafted in the fourth round last June by the Texas Rangers.

"Bob is not only the dean of coaches in America East, but one of the true leaders across the country in college baseball," says Neil McPhee, head coach at Northeastern University. "He is one of the most professional individuals I have ever met and a true gentleman. It's been an honor to step on the field with him in the other dugout."

Tripp Keister, head coach at Delaware State University, who was a four-year starter under Hannah at UD from 1989-92, says, "To me, personally, Coach Hannah has always been an outstanding role model. There are times when I am dealing with kids and players and situations and I think to myself, 'What would Coach Hannah do?'"

Hannah lives in Newark with his wife, June.

Jim Sherman, a former All-American outfielder for the Blue Hens and the team's top assistant coach for the past five years, has been named new head coach.