A state-of-the-art facility honoring former University of Mount Olive head baseball coach Carl Lancaster sits outside Scarborough Field. (Contributed photo)
Long-time supporters Jimmie Williams, left, and Kenney Moore, right, were instrumental in helping get the Carl Lancaster Training Facility become reality to honor former head coach Carl Lancaster. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Former University of Mount Olive head baseball coach Carl Lancaster, left, talks with George Whitfield before the dedication ceremony began Saturday morning. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
University of Mount Olive President Dr. H. Edward Croom, right, presents a framed print of the Carl Lancaster Training Facility to former baseball coach Carl Lancaster. Lancaster collected 1,137 victories during his 31 seasons in the dugout. (Contributed photo)
Armed with glistening eyes, a large smile and a warm handshake, Carl Lancaster greeted old friends and former players during homecoming weekend on the University of Mount Olive campus.
But there was more to this day.
The all-time winningest coach in any UMO sport in program history, the former head Trojans baseball coach received — in his words — “a humbling honor.”
Scissors easily cut through the purple ribbon and applause erupted throughout the Carl Lancaster Training Facility. Lancaster and UMO President Dr. Ed Croom shook hands as cameras clicked to freeze the moment in time.
“This is pretty awesome … so humbled, grateful … I don’t have the words to express how I feel today,” Lancaster said. “It’s a beautiful day and I’ve truly been blessed, way beyond what I deserve. I thank everybody for being here and if you contributed, I thank you for that as well.”
Two large graphics detailing Lancaster’s legendary career grace one side of the 5,850 square-foot indoor facility, which is aimed at improving player development.
The building features three full-length retractable batting cages, pitching mounds, performance turf, upgraded equipment storage and data-driven metrics to provide hitters and pitchers with instant feedback.
Current head coach Rob Watt and his staff feel the facility will help attract and retain students who wish to compete at the highest level of competition.
UMO claimed the 2023 Conference Carolinas tournament crown last spring and advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
“What a good day, gosh, great day for our program, a great day for our school,” Watt said. “Having a facility like this for our guys is unbelievable. Having the opportunity to honor Carl … even better. Anybody who donated one red cent to this place, it’s pretty symbolic, to be honest.
“It happened a in typical amount of fashion. We’re a family and that’s what keeps us together here. The best part about today, we’re going to have this long after me and you are gone. Every guy that puts on a Trojan uniform will know what you [Lancaster] did here.”
Croom recognized nearly 30 significant contributors, who received a baseball to commemorate the occasion.
“[The keepsake] is appreciation to you for your generosity and support of our baseball and program and our university,” Croom said. “This has been a great way to celebrate Carl’s legacy, to showcase our new facility and to visit with friends.”
How it happened
Just weeks after he guided Eastern Wayne to its only NC High School Athletic Association state 4A baseball championship in 1985, Lancaster and Jimmie Williams rode through campus on a summer afternoon.
The two discussed the UMO program, which was between coaches.
Lancaster assumed Williams wanted a recommendation for a good coaching prospect. The two discussed a potential salary and Lancaster offered a figure.
The two later met with then-President Dr. Burkette Raper and talked about the program’s future. While they talked, Dr. Raper’s secretary placed a piece of paper on his desk.
Dr. Raper looked Lancaster square in the eye.“Isn’t that the amount you told Jimmy?” he asked.
“He said that to me and I wasn’t telling him I was going to take the job,” Lancaster recounted. “The contract had my name on it. I got to thinking on it.”
“If you’re not a man of your word, then you’re not the guy for the job,” Dr. Raper replied.
Lancaster signed the contract.
He told his friends at Eastern Wayne and his family of his decision.
Staunch supporters
Williams spearheaded the fund-raising campaign on the facility, which sits on what used to be a corn and tobacco field when Dr. Raper guided what was then a two-year college.
Entrepreneur Kenney Moore, who donned a Trojan baseball uniform, has provided unprecedented support to his alma mater. Walter Ray Williams gifted the university in memory of his son Brandon, who died at seven years old.
Lancaster couldn’t forget his late friend, George Kornegay.
A fixture at every game, Kornegay also provided financial assistance and advice. He was instrumental in getting lights for Scarborough Field, which allowed UMO to host NCAA regionals.
“We can’t keep doing this, we can’t keep playing [regionals] on someone else’s field,” Kornegay told Lancaster.
“Yeah, I know,” Lancaster said.
One morning, Kornegay met Lancaster before he reached his office door. The two drove to meet someone about getting lights.
“Here we go,” Lancaster chuckled. “I’m sitting in some guy’s office that I’ve never seen in my life who was obviously financially secure. George went on about me developing the program and that we’ve got to do some improvements.
“He [George] would say, ‘I’m going to give you the opportunity to do something good for young people. He did it every single time and somehow he got money every day.”
Brilliant career
Then an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program, the Trojans began to gain traction in the old Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and on the regional scenes.
UMO advanced to the 1992 NAIA World Series.
Three years later, the program transitioned into what has become a historic and precedent-setting NCAA Division II era.
During his 31-year campaign, Lancaster compiled a 1,134-485-2 record on the diamond. The victories are seventh-best all-time among active and inactive Division II baseball coaches, according to NCAA statistics.
The Trojans won 16 regular-season league championships, 15 conference tournament crowns and made 16 NCAA tournament appearances.
UMO emerged as the Division II College World Series champ in 2008.
Lancaster earned 12 coach-of-the-year honors among his conference peers, had three Division II national players of the year and had more than 40 players appear in the professional baseball ranks.
Former players stay in touch with Lancaster through emails, phone calls and fishing trips.
“This is a wonderful place to be, a wonderful place to grow and be the man that I am now and know that your players understand to have gone on and been successful in raising their families,” Lancaster said. “I came here for 31 years and today driving on campus, and every time I drive on campus, it’s a wonderful day. It really is. It was a passion for me, fell in love with it and even slept with it.”
And left a legacy, too.
