CLEVELAND, Miss — An already remarkable career on the diamond added another chapter on Monday, as longtime Delta State baseball coach Mike Kinnison was named the school’s athletic director.

Kinnison, the sixth director of athletics in the school’s history, replaces Ronnie Mayers, who is retiring on Dec. 31 after 42 years of service to university.

Kinnison will remain in his role as Delta State’s baseball coach as well.

“I am honored to accept the opportunity to lead the department of athletics here at Delta State University,” Kinnison said at a press conference on Monday. “My involvement with the (search) committee showed me they had a definite mindset of what they were looking for. They were very committed, very diligent and very thorough in the process. Not that it ended with me being the candidate but just the way they went about their business and taking care of our university’s interest.”

Kinnison has been Delta State’s baseball coach since 1997. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Kinnison has a career record of 939-299-2. He led the Statesmen to the 2004 NCAA Division II national championship, six College World Series appearances, and seven Gulf South Conference titles.

Kinnison also played at Delta State in 1977-78, and spent three seasons as an assistant coach there before ascending to the head coaching position.