CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Former Austin Peay State
University head softball coach Jim Perrin passed away Monday afternoon after a
long battle with lung cancer.
Perrin, a 1970 graduate of Austin Peay, returned to his alma as a volunteer
assistant coach for the softball program in the Spring 2004 before being
elevated to the head coaching slot in June of the same year.
He would record an overall record of 75-136-2 in
his four years directing the program, including a 28-30 mark in 2007, which
earned the team a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference post-season tournament.
Under his watch, the Lady Govs would have one first-team All-OVC member
(Daniella Hooper, 2007) and two players earn second-team nods (Brianna Venable
in 2005-06, Natasha Anderson 2007). Anderson was also named to the All-OVC
tournament team in 2007.
Hooper also was named to the All-Newcomer team (2007) along with Tiffany Smith
the following year.
Prior to his return to Austin Peay, Perrin spent
more than 30 years coaching six different sports at Christian County High
School, in Hopkinsville, Ky., which included capturing a state title (1988) and
two runner-up (1985-86) efforts as head coach of the wrestling program.
But it was softball where he enjoyed the most success with a 633-147 mark over
20 seasons, including three slow-pitch state titles and a fast-pitch
championship in 1996 after the state high school association changed the sport
over to fast pitch after the 1995 season. He also won 19 district championships
and eight region titles.
Perrin produced 32 all-state players while at Christian County and
was named Kentucky Coach of the Year four times. He is also a member of the
Kentucky Fast Pitch Hall of Fame, as well as an inductee into the 25th
class of the Dawahares/Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame
this past April.
After leaving Austin Peay, Perrin became athletics director at Trigg County
High School (Cadiz, Ky.) and coached the softball team during the 2009 season.
He returned to Christian County High School as softball coach in July 2011.
-AP-
