In eight seasons at the University of Georgia, David Perno has guided the Bulldogs to five postseason appearances, more than any other coach in program history. He has taken three Georgia teams to college baseball’s ultimate destination, the College World Series, in his tenure. Most recently, Perno led Georgia to the NCAA Baseball Tournament in 2008 and 2009, the school's first back-to-back trips to the postseason since 2001-02. He also led the 2008 squad to the College World Series Finals, another Southeastern Conference title and a consensus No. 2 final national ranking, the second best finish in school history. He is one of only 12 men in NCAA history to take three teams to the CWS in his first seven years as a head coach.

Perno, 42, has been part of the Bulldog coaching staff for 13 years including the past eight as head coach. Under Perno, Georgia has shown a standard of excellence on and off the field. He has led the Bulldogs to the CWS in 2004, 2006, and 2008. Perno has the distinction of going to the CWS with the Bulldogs as a player (1990 national champions), assistant coach (2001) and three times as a head coach. In school history, the Bulldogs have made only nine NCAA Regionals, and five of those trips have been during Perno’s tenure.

Player development is another highlight in the Perno era. A total of 34 Bulldogs have had the opportunity to play professional baseball after coming to Georgia as non-drafted players. Also, 12 Bulldogs have improved their draft status the next time they were selected. In 2009, Georgia had seven players drafted that were not selected coming out of high school including Rich Poythress, who was drafted in the second round, and Trevor Holder, who was drafted in the third round. Poythress was also an All-American and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.  Since 2006, Georgia has had five players drafted in the first three rounds including a pair of first-rounders, Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields, in 2008.

Under Perno, student-athletes have made the annual SEC Academic Honor Roll 87 times including a record 15 in 2008. More than 30 Bulldogs have signed professional contracts, eight have earned Freshman All-America honors, 10 have been named First Team All-SEC and one has made the USA Baseball National Summer Team.  

In 2009, Perno guided Georgia to a 14-0 start, breaking the 98-year old record for the best start in school history and the program's first No. 1 ranking in the regular season. The Bulldogs led the SEC with a school record 109 home runs and for the second straight year under Perno, Georgia set school records for total attendance and average attendance at Foley Field. In June's MLB Draft, Georgia led the country with a school record 11 players selected.

With the 2008 SEC title, the second in the Perno era, Georgia earned a national seed and served as a host for an NCAA Regional and Super Regional. The Bulldogs set a school record with a 20-9-1 SEC mark, and Perno earned SEC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career.  In 2008, Georgia became the first school in SEC history to sweep the annual league honors as voted on by the coaches with a Bulldog earning SEC Player, Pitcher, Scholar-Athlete and Coach of the Year accolades.

In only his third season at the helm, Perno, an Athens native and Georgia alumnus was honored as the 2004 College Coach of the Year by Baseball America. Perno guided the Bulldogs to a third place finish at the 2004 College World Series, a share of the SEC title and a final national ranking of fourth.  The Bulldogs went 45-23 in 2004, setting school records with a 12-game SEC winning streak, 28 games televised and the highest total attendance and per game average in Foley Field history.

In 2006, the Bulldogs showcased another sizzling second half performance that featured a 13-game winning streak, going 23-7 over their final 30 games. In the SEC, they went 15-5 in their last 20 games to finish second in the Eastern Division and third overall. Georgia eliminated Florida State to win a regional and South Carolina to capture a super regional to punch another ticket to Omaha. The Bulldogs concluded the year 47-23 and ranked sixth nationally. The 47 wins tied for the second most in school history.      

On July 21, 2001, Perno became the 24th baseball coach in school history. He had just completed his fifth year on the Georgia staff including his second under Ron Polk. During his tenure as a Bulldog, Perno’s recruiting efforts helped build the program back to a force in the SEC. Perno’s initial charge as head coach was to sustain the momentum created by the 2001 Bulldogs that captured the SEC title and advanced to the College World Series. Perno guided a youthful squad to the 2002 NCAA Atlanta Regional final and a record of 32-29. It marked the only time in school history that Georgia had made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. Georgia’s 2002 schedule ranked among the toughest in the country, featuring 32 road games.

A 1986 graduate of Clarke Central High School in Athens, Perno lettered in baseball and football and was an All-State selection as a senior. He played running back on the 1985 football state championship team and also played on the 1985 American Legion state championship team. Perno spent one season playing baseball at Middle Georgia and three at the University of Georgia including being a member of the 1990 national championship team. He graduated from Georgia in 1991 with a degree in Marketing Education. He served as an assistant coach at Marshall University for three years. While at Marshall, he received his master’s degree in Athletic and Health Education. Perno was an assistant at Middle Georgia in 1996, returned to Georgia as a member of Robert Sapp’s staff in 1997 and then was retained by Polk before being named head coach in July of 2001. 

Perno is married to the former Melaney Chastain of Athens, Ga. They have two children, Saidee Woodlyn (9) and David Hayes (5).

Perno’s Career Coaching Mark
Year -- School -- Rec. -- NCAA Finish
2002 -- Georgia -- 32-29 -- Atlanta Regional Finalist
2003 -- Georgia -- 29-26 -- --n/a
2004 -- Georgia -- 45-23 -- Athens Regional Champion, Atlanta Super Regional Champion; College World Series: T3rd
2005 -- Georgia -- 30-25 -- --n/a
2006 -- Georgia -- 47-23 -- Athens Regional Champion; Athens Super Regional Champion; College World Series: T7th
2007 -- Georgia -- 23-33 -- --n/a
2008 – Georgia --  45-25-1 – Athens Regional Champion; Athens Super Regional Champion, College World Series: 2nd

2009--Georgia --38-24 --Tallahassee Regional Participant

Total: 289-208-1 (.581)