HOUSTON — Hall of fame baseball coach Tom Arrington is leaving his post at San Jacinto College.
Arrington, who has more than 1,000 career wins and is a member of the JUCO Baseball Hall of Fame tells KHOU 11's Jason Bristol that he's resigning to focus on his recovery from a back injury which requires his "immediate attention."
The decision was "very difficult," he told Bristol.
KHOU 11 News was the first to report Arrington's resignation.
San Jac, a perennial power in junior college baseball, has been to 15 JUCO World Series during Arrington's tenure, which started in 2001, and has made six appearances in the title game. He was inducted into NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Arrington also served as San Jacinto College's North Campus Athletic Director, a job he's resigning from, as well.
"Coach Arrington led a successful baseball program for San Jacinto College as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Baseball Hall of Fame, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors," the college said in a statement.
An interim coach will be named later this week, the college also said. David Wood will likely be that coach, according to a source with knowledge of the school's plans.
Twenty of Arrington's former players reached the major leagues.
"I've always considered winning to be a byproduct of building relationships," Arrington wrote in a message distributed to players and coaches. "I have no doubt that future teams will continue to achieve great things."