Hog Calls

Cheers to DeBriyn's UA service

Former Arkansas baseball coach Norm DeBriyn is recognized prior to a football game between Arkansas and Missouri on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Former Arkansas baseball coach Norm DeBriyn is recognized prior to a football game between Arkansas and Missouri on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- From Monday through Jan. 15, Norm DeBriyn could short-time it to retirement.

He won't, of course. DeBriyn will continue doing what he has always done for the University of Arkansas, putting vastly more into it than he ever received monetarily.

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The interim executive director of the Razorback Foundation since September, DeBriyn will assist in the transition of the foundation's new director, Scott Varady.

DeBriyn has been an integral part of the Razorback Foundation since 2002.

That's just a fraction of DeBriyn's Arkansas tale. Norm virtually from scratch built Razorbacks baseball from 1970-2002.

In mid-January he will build for a church. DeBriyn, a deacon, is volunteering day to day to renovate St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville.

"They have an office downstairs and I already have some things over there," DeBriyn said. "Renovating St. Thomas would really be an accomplishment."

If he invigorates St. Thomas like he invigorated Razorbacks baseball, St. Thomas might have a cathedral to rival St. Patrick's.

Baum Stadium is college baseball's equivalent to an esteemed cathedral. It was built on contributions of folks who loved Norm DeBriyn. They saw the Wisconsin native coach the Razorbacks from a baseball independent playing on an American Legion field when he led them in 1973 to their first NCAA Regional, to a Southwest Conference champion and national runner-up at George Cole Field, and finally to an SEC champion at Baum.

Even more than Norm the coach, they love Norm the human being, the community every man who always has treated everybody with respect that has always reciprocated to the UA's benefit.

DeBriyn compiled a 1,161-650-6 record, took four teams to the College World Series and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.

He set the foundation for Dave Van Horn, his 1982 second baseman and 1985-88 assistant coach who is assuredly bound for the Hall of Fame as well with four College World Series teams since succeeding DeBriyn.

Contrast since retired Athletic Director Frank Broyles hiring Van Horn away from Nebraska for a plus $200,000 package that now exceeds $600,000 to the late athletic director George Cole in December of 1969 choosing for a baseball coach from the physical education department between DeBriyn and golf coach Bob Slusarek.

Back then, Arkansas coaches -- except those in football and basketball -- taught physical education and were two-thirds paid by that department.

Cole chose Slusarek. A day later, DeBriyn recalled, imitating Cole's legendary gravel pit voice, Cole summoned him.

"He said, 'DeBriyn, if you don't mind being second fiddle, we'll give you the job. Slusarek doesn't want it,' " DeBriyn said. "I was in shock. He said. 'Here, you might want this.' He gave me a manila folder. I walked out numb and I look at this manila folder and the whole baseball program is in there."

Suffice to say what Norm began and Van Horn enhances requires bookcases to encompass now.

St. Thomas will find it never had a more humble servant nor a more sincerely able one. The UA certainly did.

Sports on 11/28/2015

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