·· - ). 'Ml gr~:~ 00 aremore important than ballgames. Relationships with the players and getting them prepared for life is important. All of my players have come out winners in life," said John Prock, head Bison football coach. After 24 years as head coach of the Harding football team, Coach John Prock announced his retirement in December. Prock had been with the team since its origin 28 years ago. In 1964, Prock took the reigns of leadership for the devel·· oping football program after working as assistant coach for four years. Prock, 58, had 24 seasons at Harding and compiled a record of 114-123-7. This year 's Bisons finished the season 6-4, which was only one win short of a berth in the NAIA playoffs. Their conference record of 3-3 put them in Lineup. Daily decisions about lineups and batting orders were on the agenda for every baseball coach . Dick Johnson readies the list each day before practice. - photo by Bill Tripp. 1 r 0 Athletics OQ Retired Coaches a tie for third place in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. " In 1955, I didn't plan on coaching this long," said Prock. But after 30 years of coaching, Prock planned to turn his sights back to full-time teaching. "Now my goal is to be the best teacher I can be at Harding University," pe said. Prock has been a supervisor for students doing their practice teaching. "I expect to have a full load of teaching next year and hope to continue supervising the teachers," he said. Prock was Coach of the Year in NAIA District 17 in 1969, 1972 and 1976. In 1976 a special honor was bestowed upon him as he was one of five coaches in the NAIA to be named Area V Coach of the Year. Larry Richmond , a Harding alumnus, was named as Prock's successor during the fall semester. - Toby Taylor lf ~c1t ~~~~~ son has laced up his spikes and led the Harding Bisons on the baseball diamond. But after the 1988 season, he planned to hang them up permanently. The 63-year old Johnson announced in February that he would take advantage of early retirement at the end of the spring semester and step down as head coach and associate professor of physical education. Johnson's teams enjoyed great success since the Bisons moved to Jerry Moore Memorial Field on campus in 1981. In 1984 the Bisons won the AIC championship and in 1985 and 1986 the NAIA District 17 title. His 1975 squad finished as runner-up in the District 17 tournament. During Johnson's tenure as head coach, the Bisons played on three fields. His first two teams played on a field near Alumni Field, the Retired Coaches football Bisons' home. From there, his teams moved to Berryhill Park in Searcy until 1981, when they initiated Jerry Moore Memorial Field. Johnson said the new field was one of the reasons for the Bisons' success in the mid-1980s. Dr. Steve Smith, chairman of Harding's math department and assistant coach to Johnson the last eight seasons was named as Johnson's successor in February. "I'm delighted that Steve has agreed to take the program after this season," Johnson said. "I wanted to be sure that the program would be in good hands, and I know it will be under Steve." "I'm looking forward to this season, since it will be my last, and I'm excited about the program with Steve leading it," Johnson said in mid-February. "I'm sure I'm going to miss it after it's over but it hasn't hit me quite yet. I'm sure it will when I start packing away my office." - Sheila Underwood
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