(This story was updated to add new information.)
Indian River State College and its athletic community has lost one of its largest pillars after former Pioneers baseball head coach Mike Easom passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 78.
Taking over the program in the summer of 1975, Easom coached at IRSC for 31 years, leading the team to four FCCAA State Championships and two trips to the Junior College World Series.
Two days after Easom’s passing, IRSC president Timothy Moore and athletics director Scott Kimmelman released the following joint statement:
“On behalf of Indian River State College, we mourn the loss of Coach Mike Easom, a legendary baseball coach whose profound impact transcended the sport. For 31 remarkable years, Coach Easom was the heart and soul of our baseball program, transforming countless young athletes’ lives and establishing Indian River State College as a collegiate baseball powerhouse.
Coach Easom’s legacy is defined by not only extraordinary achievements—1,036 wins, nine Southern Conference Championships, and four FCCAA State Championships—but also the generations of student-athletes he mentored, supported, and inspired. His commitment to developing not only skilled players, but also exceptional young men, will forever be remembered.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Coach Easom’s wife Linda, their children, and the entire family. Coach Easom was more than a baseball coach; he was a mentor, a leader, and a pivotal figure in Indian River State College’s history. His memory will continue to motivate and guide our athletic program for generations to come.”
Indian River State College will hold a public memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 from the school’s baseball field that was renamed in his honor back in 2022.
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Easom enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Florida State. He was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 23rd round of the 1969 MLB June Amateur Draft. He played two years with the club at the Single-A level before joining the Montreal Expos organization for a season at Double A.
Shortly after starting a stint as a Florida State graduate assistant in 1972, Easom landed in Fort Pierce where he would leave a lasting imprint.
He produced an overall record of 1,036-500 at IRSC. Easom guided the team to nine Southern Conference Championships and state titles in 1979, 1993, 1995 and 1996. He was also named FCCAA Coach of the Year during each of those seasons.
In total, 160 players who played under Easom moved onto professional playing careers, with 14 enjoying Major League Baseball careers. Easom’s No. 4 jersey is retired by Indian River State College.
Easom left IRSC in 2006 and became the head baseball coach at John Carroll High School, leading the program to multiple state-playoff berths.
Public Memorial Service for IRSC Baseball Coach Mike Easom
DATE: Saturday, December 7, 2024
TIME: 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Indian River State College, Mike Easom Field, 3209 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 (Entrance from South 35th St)
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
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