By Jeffrey Baer
Ranking 16th among the most successful coaches in NCAA Division l baseball for wins, having coached for 23 years at BYU and successfully led his team to seven Western Athletic Conference titles, former coach Gary Pullins said he was shocked to be admitted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame last Thursday, because he was not inducted for coaching; he was inducted as a player.
'I was not particularly good,' Pullins said. 'I was never a real major league prospect ... but I spent a lot of time trying to get better at the game.'
He played for a 'Class A' minor league ball-club of the Dodgers for four years and was initially hired on for defensive abilities at shortstop and second base.
'The real honor,' said Pullins, 'was being nominated by Glenn Tuckett. Just the fact that my former coach nominated me as a player was enough, even if didn''t pass the bar so to speak.'
Glen Tuckett has guided Pullins at different stages of life. Tuckett coached Pullins in college. He encouraged Pullins to try out for the minor league team in Orem. He personally invited Pullins to apply for the head coaching position at BYU.
When Pullins became the head coach of the Cougar baseball team, Tuckett oversaw his efforts as the Athletic Director.
' been a mentor, a coach, a friend, an advocate,' Pullins said.
Baseball has been a constant in Pullins'' life.
'All of my friendships came as a result of the game,' he said.
The baseball diamond has been the location for many significant moments of his life. Not only was it there he compiled a 913-462-6 (.663) record as a coach, but it provided a romantic setting for an important decision.
'I proposed to at home plate,' Pullins said.
While many people agonize over the decision of what field of work to enter, Pullins said it was an easy decision from the beginning. He admits to wanting to play football early in life, but as a 103-pound high school freshman, he said he wasn''t quite built for the game.
'Just a deep breath would blow me out of bounds,' he said.
The transition from playing to coaching was also a no-brainer for the coach.
'I love coaching,' Pullins said. 'Everyone knows it that knows me.
Although he enjoyed playing the game, Pullins said he gets more out of being a coach.
'It''s more exciting really to coach then it is to play,' he said, 'When you play you are so wrapped up in yourself. When you coach you are wrapped up in 25 other guys and how they compete.
Your emotions, your excitement and your pride are amplified exponentially because of the guys who could be enjoying success.
'The exciting thing about coaching is to see the players actually execute that which they have practiced and rehearsed so much. When a guy made a play or got a hit they had been working so hard to do ... there is no word that can describe the exhilaration of that moment.
'It''s fun to coach them, teach them, compete with them and see their lives unfold as they move forward with their families,' he said.
While managing has its perks, it also has its downsides.
'When you win you get way too much credit,' Pullins said. 'When you lose you get way too much criticism. The coach ... gets fired if the teams stinkin'' it up. if they win, he''s in the lead car of the parade. He doesn''t deserve either.'
Although his initial justification for going to college was playing baseball, Pullins said he has developed a great love for BYU.
'I was destined to come to BYU and be a cougar,' he said.
He continues to support the school as an assistant athletic director, in charge of the school''s Varsity Club, which deals primarily with former BYU athletes.
'I still coach,' Pullins said. 'I go speak at clinics and coach instructional baseball teams in the Fall when we don''t have home football games.'
Pullins plans to continue to make baseball a part of his busy life. Those trying to reach him over the phone have about a one out of four chance getting a hold of him. If he''s not there, his voice on the answering machine will explain why he''s gone, which says: 'I''m a .250 hitter so I''m out a lot. Leave a message.'