In 39 seasons as Michigan State's head coach (1925-1963), John Kobs compiled a 576-377-16 record. He had only four losing seasons, and his 1954 team won the Big Ten Conference championship and finished third in the College World Series.
Kobs served for many years as the secretary of the NCAA baseball rules committee. He was a member and secretary of the United States Olympic Baseball Committee and coached two United States baseball teams in the Pan American Games. Kobs was awarded the ABCA/Wilson Lefty Gomez Award for his contributions to the game globally in 1965.
After his final season as Michigan State's baseball coach, Kobs was honored by the National Rockne Club as the Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year in March 1964.
Kobs was a charter member, past president (1954) and past secretary of the ABCA.
Kobs is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Michigan State University Hall of Fame and Helms Foundation Hall of Fame. In 1969, Michigan State named its baseball field in his honor.
