Muench was class act, solid baseball coach

I was saddened when I learned Sunday that former SEMO baseball coach Palmer Muench had died.

Muench passed away Thursday in Bradenton, Fla., where he had been living since 1995. He was 70.

Muench, who compiled a 10-year record of 235-206-3 as SEMO's coach from 1985 through 1994, handled the daunting task of leading the program into Division I.

Six of Muench's first seven SEMO teams had winning records. He led SEMO to MIAA titles in 1985 and 1987 while being named that league's coach of the year both times.

Muench did not have a winning record in any of his three Division I seasons at SEMO, but that shouldn't detract from the solid job he did with the program.

The soft-spoken Muench was a man of few words until you really got to know him well -- which I did -- after which you discovered his warm, caring personality and sharp sense of humor.

I always thought highly of Muench, who not only led SEMO baseball into Division I with class and dignity but always carried himself that way. He will be missed.