Cole Memorial Scholarship Recipient To Be Honored This Weekend
5/7/2026 10:45:00 AM | Baseball, Athletics Department
MACON – Mercer baseball student assistant coach Andrew McMurry, a former scholar-athlete for the Bears, will be honored as part of the 11th Annual Malcolm Cole, Jr. Memorial Fish Fry on Saturday when the Bears take on Southern Conference rival VMI at OrthoGeorgia Park.
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The annual fundraising event has logged more than $125,000 for an endowment that funds an annual scholarship to a walk-on student-athlete who exhibits an exemplary work ethic both on the field and in the classroom. The scholarship is named in honor of the father of Mercer athletics director Jim Cole.
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Malcolm Cole, Jr. was an avid hunter and fisherman, and his love of the outdoors was only equaled by his passion for the game of baseball. He was a member of the New York Giants baseball organization before being called to active service in the United States Army.
"It's an honor for my mother and I to have been able to present this scholarship to Murph for the last three years," said Jim Cole. "I wish my dad was here to see that Murph represents all of the values that he stood for – hard work, dedication, and commitment. Those values are the foundational qualities that drove my father's success and achievements, and I see those same characteristics in Murph every time that I have the opportunity to interact with him."
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McMurry, who has earned the scholarship for three-straight years, joined the Bears as a middle infielder in time for the 2023 season after closing out a standout prep career for head coach Stuart Chester at Buford (Ga.) High School. He helped lead his team to championship honors at the 2021 Perfect Game High School showdown championship. He also starred for the East Cobb Yankees and Devine Baseball summer organizations and logged nearly 20 all-tournament team nods across his pre-college career.
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Following his lone season as a player, McMurry opted for a spot as a student assistant on the MU coaching staff and has been a regular in the first base coach's box over the last two seasons. The Bears have logged more than 130 victories with McMurry on staff.
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The annual fundraising event has logged more than $125,000 for an endowment that funds an annual scholarship to a walk-on student-athlete who exhibits an exemplary work ethic both on the field and in the classroom. The scholarship is named in honor of the father of Mercer athletics director Jim Cole.
Â
Malcolm Cole, Jr. was an avid hunter and fisherman, and his love of the outdoors was only equaled by his passion for the game of baseball. He was a member of the New York Giants baseball organization before being called to active service in the United States Army.
"It's an honor for my mother and I to have been able to present this scholarship to Murph for the last three years," said Jim Cole. "I wish my dad was here to see that Murph represents all of the values that he stood for – hard work, dedication, and commitment. Those values are the foundational qualities that drove my father's success and achievements, and I see those same characteristics in Murph every time that I have the opportunity to interact with him."
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McMurry, who has earned the scholarship for three-straight years, joined the Bears as a middle infielder in time for the 2023 season after closing out a standout prep career for head coach Stuart Chester at Buford (Ga.) High School. He helped lead his team to championship honors at the 2021 Perfect Game High School showdown championship. He also starred for the East Cobb Yankees and Devine Baseball summer organizations and logged nearly 20 all-tournament team nods across his pre-college career.
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Following his lone season as a player, McMurry opted for a spot as a student assistant on the MU coaching staff and has been a regular in the first base coach's box over the last two seasons. The Bears have logged more than 130 victories with McMurry on staff.
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