Todd Lumley retires as Peabody's baseball coach

TRENTON — With Peabody's 3-2 loss to Trinity Christian Academy on Monday night, Trenton Peabody head baseball coach Todd Lumley has entered retirement.

The Golden Tide finish the 2019 season with an 19-10 record, coming up one win short of a spot in the Region 7-A semifinals.

"A couple of years ago, I went to part-time," Lumley said. "I have done this for 30 years, and I am to the point in my career, I am done being a head coach. I have a lot of good memories. This is a good time to transition out. We have a good freshman group coming in, and a good junior class that is going to be seniors."

Lumley finishes his career with a 445-317 record, and he spent most of that time at Peabody, minus a five-year stint at Jackson Central-Merry. The Golden Tide have had a 20-win season eight of the last 10 seasons with Lumley in charge.

"The thing that is closest to my heart is that I have a great appreciation for the success that the players and assistant coaches have helped us achieve," Lumley said. "Peabody hasn't always been a baseball school. When I first start, it was difficult to get kids to come out, and it took a number of years before we became competitive. I savor the success because I have seen the other side of it."

Lumley has spent the past 14 season in charge of the Golden Tide. When he took over in 2005, Peabody was 1-18 with seven freshmen starting.

From 2014-17, Peabody won four straight district championships with four consecutive appearances in the Class A sectionals and two trips to the state tournament with a 112-26 record.

"There are so many big games that standout, and I think the thing that turned this program around was when we finished second in the district, and we went up to McKenzie, who had lost one or two games, and we went up there and won," Lumley said. "Then there are the four straight district championships, and that was a testament to four different senior classes that won those."

And there are also the memories of getting to coach his son Todd Edward Lumley.

"Whether coaches want to admit it or not, coaches expect more out of their son than a normal player," Lumley said. "I did enjoy getting to coach him, and I cherish that memory. I wish I could go back and do it a little different because maybe I was a little guilty of expecting a little more out of him."

While Lumley wants to spend time with his wife Tere along with his kids and grandkids with retirement, he is not ready to say that coaching is over.

"I still have a passion for the game," Lumley said. "I am not interested in being a head coach anymore. If the opportunity opens up that I can help at a school or a program, I would certainly be interested. If that doesn't happen, I am prepared to say this is it. You may see me greeting at Wal-Mart though."

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.