BEAUMONT — Jim Gilligan already had built quite a coaching resume with Lamar in a 14-year span when he returned as head coach in 1992.
Not even then, let alone when he first led the Cardinals in 1973, did he think he would have three days named in his honor by the city of Beaumont, but that’s what happened Tuesday.
“That’s very, very nice of the mayor and the city council to tell everybody they have off for the next three days,” Gilligan joked Tuesday. “Everybody’s got a vacation the next three days.”
The city on Tuesday proclaimed Friday-Sunday as Jim Gilligan Days. Those happen to be the dates of Lamar’s final home series of the season — and the last of Gilligan’s illustrious career — against in-state rival Sam Houston State.
Despite being swept this past weekend against Southland Conference leader Southeastern Louisiana, plenty will still be on the line for Lamar (31-15, 16-8), like control of second place in standings. Sam Houston State (31-18, 19-5) is in second, three games ahead of Lamar.
Still, reality that Gilligan will no longer coach from his Vincent-Beck Stadium dugout after this season is setting in the 69-year-old native New Yorker.
“It’s starting to,” he said. “I’m going to try to not think about it too much. I’m sort of focusing on the importance of the series, which is the fact that it’s the last one [at home]. I’m pretty sure that last out will bring a tear to my eye.”
It’s not the first time the Beaumont city council named anything after Gilligan. A portion of East Florida Avenue running toward Vincent-Beck from Martin Luther King Parkway was renamed Jim Gilligan Way (with a baseball-themed street sign to show for it, no less) in 2010, after the Cardinals’ most recent Southland Conference tournament title.
In 39 seasons at Lamar, Gilligan has amassed a 1,341-881-6 record with 10 conference championships. He also went 10-10 his first season as a head coach at Western New Mexico in 1972 before returning to his alma mater.
Gilligan’s successor-in-waiting and current Lamar third-base coach Will Davis, pitching coach Jim Ishee and senior pitchers Will Davis and Travis Moore were on hand for the proclamation. The seniors reflected on Gilligan’s positivity after difficult defeats.
“My freshman year, I came in with the bases loaded and walked three straight guys,” Moore said. “The next day, he comes up to me — I’m down in the dumps — and he’s just like, ‘Try to be positive. When you go down, go down in flames. Come in and throw strikes, and we’re going to make some adjustments. We’ve done it since, and it’s kind of worked out.”
Saturday’s game of the SHSU-Lamar series includes $1 admission and $1 hot dogs, as well as a bounce house for the kids and free Gilligan-autographed mini-bats and commemorative Gilligan stadium cups, while supplies last. MCT Credit Union sponsor the mini-bats.
“We take one game at a time, but I think it’ll be a good going-away series for us if we can take care of business,” Hibbs said. “We’re going to go out with as much emotion and tenacity as we can to win a series. We’re going to take it all in stride.”
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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews