Arizona Summer Wildcat

After three national championships, 861 career victories and 24 years as Arizona's baseball head coach, legend Jerry Kindall is retiring.

On May 21, Kindall announced his retirement, effective August 1.

"It was a surprise, but not a total shock," said UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood. "I thought he might go one more year."

Since 1915, the UA has had only four head baseball coaches - Kindall, J.F. "Pop" McKale, Frank Sancet and W.A. Porter.

In addition to his duties as coach, Kindall was also the driving force behind the construction of the stadium complex at Frank Sancet Field, where the Wildcats have won over 600 home games during Kindall's career.

Kindall started his college baseball career in 1954 while playing shortstop at Minnesota, where he earned All-America honors in 1956. That year, he led the Gophers to the College World Series title with a 12-1 victory over Arizona.

Kindall has been inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame.

Making it into the major leagues, Kindall continued to play baseball after college, playing eight years for the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. In 1965, he played for the American League Champion Minnesota Twins.

Kindall remembers his proudest moment as a player.

"I will never forget walking into Yankee Stadium on Easter weekend in 1962. I was playing for the Cubs, but I loved the Yankees since I was a boy. It was the greatest feeling in the world. I thought I had died and gone to heaven."

Kindall returned to the University of Minnesota in 1966 as an assistant basketball and baseball coach. In 1972, he was hired as head baseball coach for the University of Arizona.

The proudest moment as a coach for Kindall was being a part of the teams that won three National Championships.

"I feel proud to be a part of a team that has had such great players and staff. I got all of the credit for winning the three titles, but the credit goes to my associates and the players. They were a good part of it," Kindall said. "It was a privilege to be around coach Mark Johnson (1973-76) and assistant head coach Jerry Stitt, who has been my associate for many years."

But the last three seasons have been disappointing for Kindall, and he feels very satisfied with his decision to retire.

"I feel that we could have done better," he said. "I am not unhappy with my career. The positive aspects of coaching such a great team took over."

Kindall said he loves to win and was disappointed with the 59-107-1 record the past three seasons.

"I was hired to win a National championship under high standards. We won three national championships, and I did the best I could. I could not have been happier," Kindall said.

He said his retirement as baseball coach is best characterized through the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:13: "That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God."

"I regard my 24 years here as a great personal privilege and truly a gift from a loving God. But now it is time to step aside and entrust the baseball program to new hands."

Kindall will not play a significant role in choosing a new baseball coach to replace him, but the final candidates for the position will be brought to his attention.

He will help in any way he can.

"This is the best position in the world with great fans and a great conference," Kindall said. "I feel that Jerry Stitt would be a great candidate for the head coach position. He would be my vote. He is very loyal and the players love him."

The impact Kindall has left on the players he coached has been tremendous.

One hundred and twenty eight players who played for the UA while Kindall was coach have signed professional contracts. This list includes players such as Kenny Lofton, Gil Heredia, J.T. Snow, Scott Erickson and Joe Magrane, who play in the Major League.

"I love being a part of the players lives. I was involved with their personal lives and I worked with them through life's lessons, helping them form values and ideals. Personal interaction has been the most rewarding part of this job."

But what is the most important thing that Kindall has taught his players?

"To be responsible citizens, gentlemen, husbands and fathers," said Kindall.

This impact is easy to see in his players. Last season's co-captain John Powers had this to say about Kindall.

"Coach Kindall has changed my life and my outlook on things. He taught me personal responsibility and mental toughness. I will remember Kindall for his integrity. He made me believe in myself and made me realize that mental toughness is an important part of everyday life. If I fail a test, I know that next I will do better. I have this attitude about life because of Kindall." Powers said he feels sad that Kindall is retiring, but also feels guilty about the team not reaching their goals the past few years.

Those disappointments also showed Kindall that right now is the time to retire.

"I felt that this was the right time to retire. This year was a big disappointment and I do not feel as though I can help the players do better."

Kindall hopes that the players and staff felt that he was here to serve them.

"I wanted to serve them. Even though I was coach, I did not want to be their master," he said.

Kindall admits that he thought about retiring 12 years ago, when his first grandchild was born.

Now, after nine grandchildren, and one on the way in August, Kindall wants to be a full time grandfather. Since all but one of his children are out of state, he and his wife want to see more of them and be a more significant part of their lives.

"I want to be with my wife, children and grandchildren since I never saw them as much as I wanted to when I was coaching. My wife and I are in great condition and are eager to travel and visit family more often."

One of the most important things that Kindall has learned about life after coaching for 24 years is that there is more to life than baseball.

"There are more important things than baseball. I try to live by scriptural principles. Life is brief and is a transitory thing. The essence of life is to seek and find God," Kindall said.

He is not seeking another job at this time, but Kindall is very motivated to find new challenges.

A Christian since childhood, Kindall feels at peace with his decision and wants to "obey God's will."

"I'm confident the Arizona baseball program will prosper in the future because of the resources available, particularly the people who surround the program - the players, coaches, administrators and fans," Kindall said. "Each of them has blessed my life and I am so thankful to have been a part of Wildcat baseball these many years."