Brock Remembered as a Pioneer : Arizona St. Baseball Coach Left His Mark on Colleagues

Jim Brock, one of the winningest coaches in college baseball history, was remembered by colleagues Monday as an important influence on his sport.

Brock, who led Arizona State to two national championships and 13 College World Series appearances in his 23 seasons with the Sun Devils, died Sunday after a yearlong battle with liver and colon cancer. He was 57.

“Jim was part of a very elite group that includes (former USC Coach) Rod Dedeaux and (Texas Coach) Cliff Gustafson,” Cal State Fullerton Coach Augie Garrido said. “Because of them, college baseball continued to grow. Because of them, there is a much larger group of elite programs in the country today.”

A memorial service was scheduled for Wednesday in Tempe.

Brock, whose teams won national titles in 1977 and ‘81, is seventh on the career victory list with a 1,110-440 record. He had most of his liver and part of his colon removed after last year’s College World Series appearance, and struggled with his health throughout this season.

“He had the sharpest wit of anybody I’ve known,” Gustafson said. “He seemed to bring out the best in people by keeping things upbeat.”

Arizona Coach Jerry Kindall called Brock a good friend. “On the field we were adversaries, but we were loyal adversaries, loyal to one another,” he said. “I learned a great deal from him.”