Perno out as Georgia’s baseball coach

After 12 years running the program and nearly 400 wins, David Perno is out as Georgia’s baseball head coach as athletics director Greg McGarity announced Monday that Perno had resigned his post.

On Sunday, multiple media outlets and a source who confirmed the decision reported McGarity informed Perno he would not be retained as the head coach.

“I have accepted David’s resignation and would like to express our appreciation to him for his numerous contributions to our baseball program over the last two decades as a player, assistant and head coach,” McGarity said in a release. “David was a part of our baseball program when it won a national title and helped Georgia advance to the College World Series five times during his playing and coaching career. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors. He has been a great representative for UGA. We have begun the process of finding the next head coach to lead our program and will do so as quickly as possible.”

Perno served 17 years on the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, including the past 12 as the head coach. During those 12 years, he led the Bulldogs to three College World Series appearances and six total NCAA regional appearances.

Perno finished 390-335-1 and won SEC titles in 2004 and 2008.

“It’s been a privilege to wear the Bulldog uniform and represent the University of Georgia as a player, assistant and head coach,” Perno said. “I love the university, and I’m very appreciative of the many players, coaches and support staff with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work with in Athens. I would like to thank Coach Vince Dooley for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime because it was a dream come true to lead the Georgia program. I’d like to thank Dr. Michael Adams for his support during his tenure. And I’d like to tell all my former and current players that I love them and appreciate all that they have done for this program. Finally, I want to thank the wonderful fans who shared in our success at Foley Field.”

Perno’s teams advanced to the College World Series in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and reached the championship series in 2008. He was a player of Georgia’s 1990 national championship team and was an assistant under Ron Polk when the Bulldogs reached the 2001 College World Series.

An Athens native, Perno was a three-year letterman for the Bulldogs from 1988-91. He returned to the program as an assistant coach in 1996 and was named the head coach in July of 2001.

This story was originally published May 20, 2013 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Perno out as Georgia’s baseball coach ."