USC's baseball skipper

Two years ago, he was named the head coach of the All-Time College World Series team.

His name is Rod Dedeaux.

And now, the former University of Southern California baseball coach has been given an honor that proves he is truly one of the best coaches at any level: the NCAA Division I Baseball Coach of the Century.

"I'm thrilled," Dedeaux said of the honor. "I never realized there was such an award. But I've been given encouragement because I won't be replaced for another 100 years."

The award was a landslide selection, as no other college baseball coach came close.

He is responsible for the 11 national championship flags (six more than any other school) that are hanging in center field at USC's Dedeaux Field.

In his 45 years with USC, Dedeaux also won 28 Pacific 10 Conference titles and posted a 1,332-571-11 overall record.

A rundown of some of Dedeaux's notable accomplishments:

• Along with Co-Head Coach Sam Barry, he led USC to its first-ever national championship, beating Yale in the last three games of the 1948 College World Series.

• Won seven NCAA titles from 1968 to 1978, including five consecutive national championships from 1970 to 1974.

• Had winning seasons in 41 of his 45 years and went 37 years without a losing season in one stretch.

• His 1,332 wins are the second-most than any other Division I coach in history, after Texas' Cliff Gustafson became the leader in 1994.

Several of Dedeaux's players have gone on to big league success, including Tom Seaver, Fred Lynn and Mark McGwire.