Grisham, Ferriss, Cleveland

John Grisham, Dave "Boo" Ferriss and Rick Cleveland sign copies of Cleveland's book "Boo," a Life in Baseball, Well Lived" in the Lemuria Bookstore in Jackson

About Coach Ferriss -

Most people simply know him as Boo. He is Dave Boo Ferriss, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and legendary coach of the Delta State University Statesmen. Ferriss retired following the completion of the 1988 season, but he continues to be a tireless supporter at all levels of baseball throughout the state and especially his beloved Statesmen.

The Shaw, Miss., native spent 46 years in baseball on the collegiate and professional levels, including 26 seasons at Delta State. A legend in national collegiate baseball coaching circles, Ferriss was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988 in Atlanta, Ga. Ferriss compiled a 639-387-8 record, all at Delta State and his coaching record ranks him among all-time national coaching leaders at the NCAA Division II level. His 1988 team was ranked 9th nationally in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

When Ferriss took over the baseball program in 1960 he started it from the ground level. The Statesmen played many of their games off campus and Ferriss coached without the benefit of an assistant. He directed DSU teams to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in eight of his last 12 years, including three trips to the NCAA Division II championships where the Statesmen finished third, second and third respectively in 1977, 1978 and 1982. Gulf South Conference championships came in 1978, 1979, 1985 and 1988, with the Statesmen finishing second in 1981 and third in 1982. Forty-nine of his players earned All-Gulf South Conference honors.

More: http://www.gostatesmen.com/sports/2008/8/28/GEN_0828080508.aspx?

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