HATTIESBURG – Southern Miss baseball coach Corky Palmer said Thursday that he is retiring as head baseball coach, effective at the end of the season.

Palmer will continue to work with the athletics department in a part-time role in an effort to raise money for not only the baseball program, but other projects as assigned by athletics director Richard Giannini.

“I want to be the first to congratulate Corky on his retirement and compliment him on the outstanding record he has complied as the head coach of Southern Miss baseball for the past 12 years,” said Giannini. “Corky will go down in the record books as one of the most successful coaches in any sport at Southern Miss. More importantly, is the quality, integrity and character of this man.  He has been a great mentor and friend to countless student-athletes, assistant baseball coaches, other sports coaches and administrative staff members.”

Palmer, who has compiled a 445-272 record as the top coach for the Southern Miss baseball program over the last 12 seasons, has led the Golden Eagles to seven NCAA tournament appearances including a current streak of six straight berths. His win total at the school ranks second-best on the school’s all-time victory chart. Palmer ascended to the top job for the Golden Eagles in 1998, replacing long-time head coach Hill Denson.

The Hattiesburg native finishes his 31st year of coaching this spring and has made stops at the prep level at Lee (1979-80) and Columbia high schools (1983-84) before moving on to Southern Miss as an assistant coach for two seasons (1985-86).