DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Less than one day after its season came to a swift and dramatic end, the Duke University baseball program is now in search of a new coach.
Chris Pollard, who led the Blue Devils to four NCAA Super Regional appearances over the past 12 seasons at the helm, plans to accept the head coaching job at Virginia, according to a news release.
This comes after Duke fell to Murray State in a winner-take-all championship game in the Durham Super Regional on Monday night. The Blue Devils were seeking their first trip to the College World Series since 1961.
Since arriving in Durham in June 2012, Pollard transformed a once-struggling team into a well-respected program on the national stage, guiding Duke to its first NCAA Tournament in over half a century just four years later.
His tenure culminated in an immensely successful run over the last seven years, spearheading the Blue Devils to two ACC championships in 2021 and 2024, as well as the program’s first-ever 40-win seasons in 2018, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Pollard coached 46 Major League Baseball Draft picks, 28 All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, as well as seven All-Americans since arriving in Durham in 2013 during his time at Duke.
He becomes the 16th coach in Virginia baseball history.