By Jillian Williams
Pictures of Vance Law on the 1975-1978 baseball teams hang inside the memorabilia cases at Miller Park. His picture is one of many, showing the successes the baseball team has enjoyed over the yearshad.
Next to the memorabilia cases is the coach?s office, and that?s where you?ll find Law most of the time.
The former Major League Base-ball player stands at the head of the cougars as he goes into his eighth season as head coach. Law, a former BYU athlete, followed the footsteps of his father, Cy Young award winner Vernon Law, and played Major League Baseball before returning to BYU to coach.
?I always felt I was very lucky,? Law said.
A childhood full of baseball led Law to the college level, the profes-sional level, and now the coaching level.
?His experiences are greater be-cause of 11 years in the big leagues,? said assistant coach Ryan Roberts. ?The fact coach Law was such a good representative of the church shows you can act the right way and be suc-cessful- it gives him respect from the players.?
Law was once named Utah?s nineteenth greatest athlete of the century by Sports illustrated.
The dual-sport athlete played both basketball and baseball at BYU.
? turning your back on a friend because I spent so much time playing basketball,? Law said about his decision to play professional baseball.
Law made his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1980 and during his 11-year career played for the Chi-cago White Sox, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. He made the All-Star team in 1988 while playing for the Cubs.
After retiring Law became an assistant coach at UVSC for two seasons and the head coach at Provo High School for five years, where he was named 4-A Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a state championship.
The name Law has become a legacy at BYU, and more pictures of Law family members are sure to grace the memorabilia cases at Miller Park, as their athletic abilities con-tinue to benefit the BYU baseball team. Law has coached two of his sons at BYU, including his son An-drew who will return to the team next year when he returns from serving a mission in London, England.