July 6, 2007

By Douglas Kroll

CSTV.com

	DOUG KROLL Doug Kroll is an editor for CSTV.com, focusing on baseball. E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- BASEBALL 1/17: So Cool In SoCal 1/10: Starting With Not Such A Clean Slate 1/3: Closing the Gap 12/27: For Starters 12/20: Second Is Just Fine 12/13: Not Short On Talent 12/06: Stars In The Outfield 11/29: Staying Hot On The Hot Corner 11/23: First Thing Is First 11/16: Best Backstops 11/08: Engineering Perfection 11/01: Up The Coast 10/25: Sun Devils Best In Fall 10/18: Taking The Plunge 10/11: Tourney Time 10/4: Red Raider Savior 9/27: Not Fooling Around 9/20: Continuing To Right The Ship 9/13: Flying Back With The Ducks? 9/6: Same Faces, New Places 8/30: More And More Like MLB 8/23: Laying Down A Full House 8/16: No Hitch At Deadline 8/9: College Homerun Kings 8/2: Bringing The Tradition Back 7/23: Cape Cod Update - All-Star Edition 7/19: Bringing The Quack Back 7/17: Summer League Update - Week 5 7/6: A Ride On A Carousel 7/2: Summer League Update - Week 3 6/28: Omaha In Review 6/26: Summer League Update - Week 2 6/25: Second Time As Good As First 6/21: Back In The Saddle 6/20: Series On The Line 6/19: Expect the Unexpected 6/19: Planting Seeds...Again 6/18: Cape Cod Summer League Update 6/18: Cards On Their Heels 6/17: Pac-10 Showdown 6/17: Is It April Or June? 6/16: Seeds of Success 6/16: Sunday, Bloody Sunday 6/15: Final Chapter For Price 6/13: Omaha in the Cards 6/7: Big Blue Oaks 6/7: The Right Price 5/31: Go Johnnies Go 5/17: Not So Mid Anymore 5/10: In And Out 5/6: On the Road With ECU: Day Three 5/5: On the Road With ECU: Day Two 5/3: On the Road With ECU: Day One 5/3: Staying True to the Family 4/26: Having Fun With Two 4/19: Pitching Is Name Of The Game 4/12: Going Coastal 4/5: Right On Key 4/3: April Schedule Planner 3/29: Northern Exposure 3/22: East Carolina Set To Make Waves 3/8: Shedding The Blues 3/1: March Baseball Schedule Planner 2/25: Seawolves Swept in Carolina 2/24: A Loss Is, Well, A Loss 2/23: On the Road With The Brook 2/15: Florida Looks To Chomp Out Of Rut 2/9: Winthrop Winning The Tough Way 1/29: February Baseball Schedule Planner 1/28: Same Game, New Team, No Year Off 1/21: The Real All-Americans 1/19: Just One Of Those Weeks FOOTBALL 8/24: When Is A Win, A Win? 8/21: Topping Harlon's Hill Twice 8/2: Mid-American Conference Preview 8/2: Thunder and Lightning in Kalamazoo 8/2: Showing Flashes 12/16: Sweet Home Alabama 12/15: Humble Woodhead Wins Harlon Hill 12/14: Familiar Foes, Only On The Biggest Stage 12/7: Blooming in Bloomsberg 11/30: Grand Valley To Face One And Only Rival 11/15: Something New, For Newberry 11/1: Chadron's On The Map 10/28: What Can Brown Do For U-Conn 10/23: Asserting Identity 10/11: Leaf Fits Right in at West Texas 10/4: Pioneers Post Impressive Feats 9/27: Bible Belt Clash 9/20: Regaining Respect at Ashland 9/13: It's the GLFC, Not the GLIAC 9/7: Four Horse Race At Valdosta State BASKETBALL 10/23: Jayhawks, Longhorns Top Big 12 10/19: Memphis The Class Of C-USA 1/8: In The Zone, Hofstra Goes To It 12/28: Sweet Stroke For Stokes 12/05: Hofstra Wins Battle Of Long Island 11/30: Despite Loss, Great Day For Sea Wolves 10/17: CSTV's Top Five Games 10/16: Shiny Pearl in Knoxville 10/13: FSU's Thornton Still Blossoming W. VOLLEYBALL 8/23: Cardinal Comeback 8/21: Pavan Paves Her Way 8/21: Rock Stars In Diguise 8/20: Nebraska's Staying On Top M. WATER POLO 9/5: West Is The Best 9/3: 2007 Men's Water Polo Preview

The 2007 season has been behind us now for almost two weeks, but the baseball coaching carousel has been in motion for a couple of months.

Having two SEC jobs open in the same off-season is certainly the biggest story of them all. Throw in Turtle Thomas getting another head coaching job in the city of Miami, and it's not so quiet. 

Some of the coaches that will not be back in 2008 have been the head coach for nearly two decades. 

Here's a look at the jobs that have been filled, and the ones that are still looking for a suitor, just in case you would like to dust off those spikes to turn around your school's program.

Campbell

Out: Chip Smith (Resigned)                                                             

In: Greg Goff

The Camels lost their head coach back in January when Chip Smith resigned. They bring in a head coach in Greg Goff who has found a ton of success in his last stop at Division II powerhouse Montevallo. In the last four seasons, Goff guided Montevallo to a 152-84 (.644) record, including a 90-35 (.720) mark over the past two seasons. His 2006 Falcons won the South Central Region championship and advanced to the Division II College World Series after setting a school record for wins. In 2007, Montevallo again reached the South Central regional championship game and broke the one-year-old school victories mark.

Goff also has an impressive background at the Division I level as well. In four seasons at Kentucky, Goff helped guide the collegiate careers of future major leaguers Brandon Webb and Joe Blanton as the pitching coach. 

Key Quote: "I really feel that Campbell University sits in a great location within a great baseball state," said Goff at his introduction as Campbell head coach.  "My goal is to try and find the right student-athletes who fit within the mission and purpose of Campbell University, but also play baseball at a high level. I'll stress to our guys that every day we are going to work just like we're playing for a championship. This is an opportunity for a team to come together and compete for one goal - to win a championship at Campbell."

Dallas Baptist

Out: Eric Newman (to Nebraska as Assistant)                          

In: Not Filled

Newman has spent the last five seasons at Dallas Baptist, and three of those were as the head coach. It's not that often that you see someone go from the head coaching ranks to the assistant ranks on the same level, but pitching coach at Nebraska is a tough thing to pass up. 

Newman's ability to recruit in Texas and the Big 12 region is the top reason why head coach Mike Anderson brought him to Lincoln.

Key Quote: "I pursued Coach Newman for this opening because of his ability to work with pitchers and his ability to recruit high-level student-athletes," Anderson said. "In talking to people around the country, some of my closest friends in the coaching ranks were the ones who gave Coach Newman their highest recommendations. The thing that sold me on him after talking to him was the character he adds to our program."

Florida

Out: Pat McMahon (Fired)                                        

In: Kevin O'Sullivan

For Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, it took only a week to find his next baseball head coach.  Pat McMahon certainly had an interesting tenure in Gators.  He was named the Coach of the Year in 2005 after leading Florida to the College World Series Championship Series.  But after two subpar finishes in a row since, it was time for a change. 

Foley found perhaps the best recruiter in the country, prying Kevin O'Sullivan away from Clemson to take over the helm.  It is considered a huge loss for the Tigers and head coach Jack Leggett, because of the job O'Sullivan was able to do with the Tigers' pitching staffs year after year.  There's no question that Florida will be right back near the top in a couple of years, especially with the facilities they have in place.

Key Quote: "I am coming from, in my estimation, one of the best programs in the country, and I worked for one of the best head coaches in the country in Jack Leggett," O'Sullivan said at his press conference.  "I come from a great background, and I'm ready to hit the road running. I'm actually going out on the road to recruit tonight, and I'm trying to get my staff together as soon as I can. I can't wait to get started."

Florida International

Out: Mike Price (Fired)                                                                 

In: Turtle Thomas

Turtle Thomas is back in Miami, except this time, as a head coach and across town from where he left under some scrutiny with the Hurricanes back in 1999. Thomas took the job while still coaching at Arizona State during the College World Series this year. He's got one of the best backgrounds of anyone in the nation, starting back in 1979 as an assistant with Clemson.  He's also made stops at Georgia Tech, Miami, LSU and Arizona State but this stint with FIU will be his first head coaching job. 

Price was fired after the Golden Panthers staggered the last couple of years and ended up with the worst APR in the nation for any baseball team, losing a scholarship because of it. That makes Thomas' job a little tougher, but he's regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country and has ties in South Florida from his days with the Hurricanes. Eventually, Thomas could be giving Miami head coach Jim Morris a run for his money with the crop of talent in the area.

Key Quote: "After 30 years of coaching college baseball, I'm very excited to lead the FIU baseball program," Thomas said. "I'm very appreciative of President Maidique and Pete Garcia, that those two gentlemen have given me this opportunity. We look forward to making the FIU community excited about baseball again and we're looking forward to the challenge."

La Salle

Out: Lee Saverio (Fired)                                                                       

In: Mike Lake

Mike Lake takes over the La Salle program, as he moves down the hall from the assistant coach's office to the head coach's. Lake will take over an Explorers team that was just 17-32 in 2007. The 1982 graduate of La Salle has been the top assistant for the last four years and before that was the head coach at Archbishop Ryan High School, where he led a very successful program from 1991-2001. 

Lake won a Catholic League Championship in 1998 while at the helm.

Liberty

Out: Matt Royer (Resigned)                                                               

In: Jim Toman

Liberty picked up a big catch when South Carolina assistant Jim Toman left Columbia to become the head coach of the Flames. Toman was the associate head coach with the Gamecocks and had been with head coach Ray Tanner's staff for the last 11 years. 

Toman will take over a Liberty team that was 36-25 this season, and like a couple of the new head coaches that were hired recently, Toman is also considered to be one of the top recruiters in the nation. 

Key Quote: "I have enjoyed my 11 years at the University of South Carolina and take away many fond memories," Toman said. "I appreciate the opportunity Ray Tanner gave me to be a member of his staff. I am ready to get started on putting a quality staff together and continuing to move the program forward, having success in both the conference and nationally."

McNeese State

Out: Chad Clement (Resigned)                                                    

In: Terry Burrows

McNeese State brings in a fine high school coach in Louisiana as Terry Burrows comes in from St. Louis High School in Lake Charles, La. Burrows is certainly used to McNeese State and the college ranks, having played for the Cowboys and having been an assistant coach there and also at Louisiana-Monroe.

While the assistant coach at McNeese St., Burrows guided a pitching staff that won the Southland Tournament and made an NCAA Regional appearance.

Key Quote: "This is the job I wanted," Burrows said. "This is my home. I could have probably gone anywhere after my professional career but this is where I wanted to be."

Morehead State

Out: John Jarnagin (Not Resigned)                                                      

In: Jay Sorg

Like McNeese State, the Eagles bring in a former player to takeover their baseball team. Jay Sorg has had an impressive resume in a short period of time. After playing professional ball with the Cincinnati Reds, Sorg was a manager in the Reds organization as he reached the Triple-A level as a bench coach with the Louisville Bats.

Sorg takes over a program that really struggled in 2007, going just 16-36.

Key Quote: "This university has always been tradition-rich in baseball," Sorg said. "We are committed to continuing the legacy that has been built by so many and have a vision for an exciting future."

New Mexico

Out: Rich Alday (Resigned)                                                      

In: Ray Birmingham

It's been a long time since New Mexico has had to look for a baseball coach, with Rich Alday the head coach for the Lobos the last 18 seasons. In comes Ray Birmingham, who has been one of the most successful baseball head coaches at any level over the last couple of decades. 

With New Mexico Junior College for the last 18 seasons, he compiled a 765-255-2 (.750) record, winning a national title in 2005 and finishing second in 2007.

Key Quote: "There is a lot of responsibility in this job; to the University of New Mexico, to the city of Albuquerque and to the state of New Mexico," said Birmingham. "I'm proud to accept that responsibility and begin a new era in UNM baseball. We'll put together a great staff. Lobo baseball will become an exciting program, but it will take the help of a lot of people throughout the state to make it happen. I want to build one big team with all of us involved."

North Dakota State

Out: Mitch McLeod (Resigned)                                                           

In: Tod Brown

After being the head coach with the Bison for the last 15 seasons, Mitch McLeod called it quits at the end of June. As for his replacement, Tod Brown comes from Bowling Green where he was an assistant since 2000. Brown takes over a program that will be in a Division I conference for the first time, as they will be in the Summit League in 2008, a year after going 16-31 as an independent.

Over 50 candidates applied for the NDSU job, as the Bison continue to mold into a Division I school.

Oakland

Out: Dylan Putnam (Resigned)                                                              

In: Not Filled

Dylan Putnam took over the Oakland baseball team only two years ago, but he's already out as the head coach. In two seasons in charge, Putnam was only 40-72, although he took the Grizzlies to the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament for the first time in four years when he did so during his first year in 2006. 

Oakland is still searching for a replacement.

Radford: Lew Kent (Resigned)                                                             

In: Not Filled

Kent has been at Radford for what seems like a very long time. He took the head coach's job in 1995 after being an assistant in 1993 and 1994, but the Highlanders will be under the direction of someone new in 2008. 

Radford has yet to name a replacement for Kent.

Saint Louis

Out: Bob Hughes (Resigned)                                              

In: Darin Hendrickson

Darin Hendrickson comes aboard after four seasons at Central Missouri State in which he compiled a 209-46 record. Hendrickson had to replace some big shoes, though. Bob Hughes had been the head coach of Saint Louis for the last 19 seasons, and although his record was only 361-635-1, he was well-liked in the baseball community before resigning due to health reasons. 

Key Quote: "We are delighted to have Darin join our coaching staff," Saint Louis Athletic Director Cheryl L. Levick said. "He brings over 10 years of experience to the position and a vast knowledge of the game. As a St. Louis native, he has an extensive recruiting network already in place in this area. We believe he can develop our baseball program into one that is annually in contention for an Atlantic 10 title."

Tennessee

Out: Rod Delmonico (Fired)                                                            

In: Todd Raleigh

Another head coach that was at his post for 18 seasons was let go after this year. Another disappointing year in Knoxville was one too many for the Vols, as Delmonico was fired after Tennessee missed out on the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee then made a move to bring in one of the best young coaching talents in the country, as they pried Western Carolina head coach, Todd Raleigh, away from the Catamounts to Knoxville.

As the head coach with WCU, Raleigh had two 30-win seasons and two 40-win seasons and even led the Catamounts to two Regional finals, including this season at North Carolina. Raleigh certainly had a lot of talent in Knoxville and it shouldn't be long until the Vols are right back up in college baseball's elite.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Out: Hector Salinas (Resigned)                                                    

In: Scott Malone

The founder of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi program left during last summer, but only an interim was named for this past season. Salinas left after seven seasons with a losing overall record but was named the 2005 Independent Coach of the Year. 

Scott Malone is a Texas native that played his college baseball at TCU, and for the last three seasons, was an assistant coach at UNLV. 

Key Quote: "My goal is to make this program as successful as it can possibly be," said Malone. "This is a dream job for me and I am fully committed to seeing Islander Baseball rise to the next level."

Western Carolina

Out: Todd Raleigh (to Tennessee)                                                        

In: Not Filled

The loss of Todd Raleigh is a big blow to the Catamounts. Raleigh had built a very successful program in his eight years as head coach. WCU will look at in-house candidates such as Eric Filipek as well as some other assistants from around the nation to fill the position. 

Western Carolina made it to the Regional final this past year against North Carolina, as the Catamounts have had a couple of 30-win and 40-win seasons under Raleigh's tutelage.

Wofford

Out: Steve Traylor (Retired)                                                   

In: Todd Interdonato

After eight seasons in charge of the Terriers, Traylor retired with a 145-274 record at Wofford. In his final year as head coach, Traylor led the Terriers to the SoCon championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the school's first ever. 

Interdonato takes over after being an assistant the last two seasons under Traylor. He played at UNC-Asheville and got his first coaching stint at UNCA. 

Key Quote: "We would like to continue to build on the success that we enjoyed this past season and work to take Wofford baseball to the next level," Interdonato said. "I am thankful for the responsibility that Coach Traylor has given me over the last two years and that will play a key role in the coaching transition."