Durham
One day after Duke baseball’s season saw its season end in a 5-4 loss to Murray State in the NCAA Durham Super Regional, head coach Chris Pollard is headed to Charlottesville as Virginia baseball’s next head coach, the school announced Tuesday.
“I am so grateful for my time at Duke,” Pollard said in a statement. “….I am forever appreciative of the opportunity to work at this world class university…I feel truly blessed to coach so many wonderful players and develop relationships with so many truly exceptional people. It has been a blessing for Steph and I to raise our boys in this welcoming community. I am excited for this new adventure at the University of Virginia, but I am leaving a big piece of my heart in Durham.”
Last week, UVA athletic director Carla Williams announced she would conduct a national search after former head coach Brian O’Connor left to become Mississippi State’s coach. O’Connor departed from the Cavaliers after 22 years and the 2015 NCAA championship.This season, Pollard led the Blue Devils to a 41-21 record, an Athens Regional championship and their fourth Super Regional appearance in the past seven NCAA tournaments. Duke earned its first opportunity to host postseason baseball on Jack Coombs Field this past weekend, ultimately ending in falling in Game 3 to the Racers.Pollard posted 420 wins in his career at Duke, making him the winningest coach in program history
