Your baseball coach short list?...

[dawgstudent]

It's pretty evident if things play out like they seem to be - we will be in the hunt for a new baseball coach. 3 out of 4 seasons with no postseason is unacceptable. He would have been fired after 23 if not for the national championship. So who is on your list?

 

[GloryDawg]

He probably would have been fired after 23 if Cohen was still AD.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

The best Oklahoma assistant coach available. **

 

[GloryDawg]

The best Oklahoma assistant coach available. **

Don't joke we might get one of their Grad Assistant as our new coach.

 

[maroontide06]

Avalon consistently wins at an extremely high level, even winning the 2022 JUCO National Championship. He's not one to overlook.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Larussa.

 

[Baddog11]

This position is actually the one time that Mississippi State is the best job in the country. You can have anybody you want. No need to go after assistants or scraps.

 

[HailStout]

Showalter

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

 

[17itdawg]

I'll throw out some actual names just to get the discussion going. I have listed them in no particular order othan than I think these will be coaches we would at least kick the tires on.

Head Coaches:
- Butch Thompson, Auburn
- Chris Pollard, Duke
- Lane Burroughs, LA Tech
- Nick Mingione, Kentucky
- Justin Haire, Ohio State
- Christian Ostrander, USM
- Wes Johnson, UGA (I don't think he'd even entertain it, but you never know...)
- Mitch Canham, Oregon State (He's an OSU guy, and pretty much only been in the PNW. But, with all the stuff going on for them with PAC 10/12 going away, I think you have to at least make an approach. Most likely a very, very LONG shot.)

Assistant Coaches:
- Josh Elander, Tennessee
- Will Coggin, Georgia
- Chuck Jeroloman, Florida

This is just off the top of my head.

Of the sitting head coaches, I think if Johnson would take it, you'd be crazy not to hire him. Otherwise I'd probably prefer Ostrander or Burroughs. Ostrander has spent most of his career in MS. I think he would get those dirt bag type guys we've historically had and mixing them with the upper end talent that we're supposedly currently getting. With Burroughs, he played a huge role in turning the program around in those early Cohen years then winning the SEC tourney in 2012. He left after the 2012 season, but the 2013 World Series team had his finger prints all over it from a recruiting prospective. We'd definitely get back to playing tough hard nosed baseball under him.

Of the assistants, none of them particularly excite me. I guess Elander would probably be the best option. Coggin would be interesting in that he helped Mingione turn the UK program around culminating in their CWS appearance last year. He had left for UGA before last season, but he was the recruiting coordinator for a few years leading up to it. Neither are particularly exciting options, but I suppose State could do worse.

Now all you 17 heads can rip this list to pieces, and tell me why I'm a 17ing dubmass.

 

[TheBannerM]

This position is actually the one time that Mississippi State is the best job in the country. You can have anybody you want. No need to go after assistants or scraps.

That's delusional. You can look back at recent hires if you want proof - Cannizaro, 3-year assistant @ LSU; Lemonis, zero CWS or SR appearances as head coach @ IU.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

I realize it’s kind of a running joke with Selmon but you kinda have to consider Skip Johnson a possibility. Don’t love the idea of hiring him at 58, but there are worse options.

 

[17itdawg]

That's delusional. You can look back at recent hires if you want proof - Cannizaro, 3-year assistant @ LSU; Lemonis, zero CWS or SR appearances as head coach @ IU.

Yeah, I love State baseball, but best job in the country is a massive stretch at best.

 

[HailStout]

That's delusional. You can look back at recent hires if you want proof - Cannizaro, 3-year assistant @ LSU; Lemonis, zero CWS or SR appearances as head coach @ IU.

Agreed. State fans saying we are the premier job is like Nebraska fans saying their football job is the best in the country

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

You can’t be the best job in the country when you have one conference championship in 35 years.

 

[POTUS]

This position is actually the one time that Mississippi State is the best job in the country. You can have anybody you want. No need to go after assistants or scraps.

Whatever you're on, don't hog it. That's some good stuff.

 

[HuntDawg]

yeah a lot more go into being the best job in the country other than the LFL and the stadium.

Lots of stadiums are plenty good enough right now. Other places pay more... and of course the NIL is a big factor.

 

[patdog]

I realize it’s kind of a running joke with Selmon but you kinda have to consider Skip Johnson a possibility. Don’t love the idea of hiring him at 58, but there are worse options.

I'm a heck of a lot more concerned with whether a guy can coach than his age. 58 is NOT old. He's got at least 7 more good years left in him, conservatively. Of course, he's not going to leave Oklahoma to come to Mississippi State anyway.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

I love your list. But we'd have to pay a ---- ton of money to get any of those head coaches here. He'll be unable to compete with the NIL dollars of other SEC schools - including OM. You can only coach 'em up so much. Got to get the players and we're at a tremendous disadvantage.

Pretty gloomy.

 

[patdog]

Head Coaches:
- Butch Thompson, Auburn - Not good enough
- Chris Pollard, Duke - Good hire and he would probably take it.
- Lane Burroughs, LA Tech - Good hire and he would definitely take it.
- Nick Mingione, Kentucky - Doubt he'd take the job, but worth checking interest
- Justin Haire, Ohio State - Nope
- Christian Ostrander, USM - Fallback option, but not bad. He'd definitely take it.
- Wes Johnson, UGA (I don't think he'd even entertain it, but you never know...) - No way he leaves UGA for MSU.
- Mitch Canham, Oregon State (He's an OSU guy, and pretty much only been in the PNW. But, with all the stuff going on for them with PAC 10/12 going away, I think you have to at least make an approach. Most likely a very, very LONG shot.) - I agree, long shot but worth checking interest

Assistant Coaches:
- Josh Elander, Tennessee
- Will Coggin, Georgia
- Chuck Jeroloman, Florida

My comments. Dont' know anything about the assistants, but probably all would be good choices.

 

[Perd Hapley]

We’re not the best job in the country, or anywhere near as high on that list as many think.

However - this upcoming cycle for college baseball hiring is going to be very interesting. With the drastically changing landscape in college athletics with the revenue sharing model, you’re definitely going to have some very, very good proven coaches at smaller schools that are likely to be looking for the first train out of town….even if they hadn’t previously shown any interest in leaving their current spots.

Think about Godwin at ECU or Heefner at Dallas Baptist. There’s a pretty strong chance those programs will be either totally gone in 5 years or less, still there but dropped down to Division II, or still in Divsion I but now with absolutely zero chance of ever winning a national title or likely even making the CWS. Plenty of other guys in similar circumstances. This is a one time deal with some low hanging fruit that are readily available if we are even just a Top 3 or 4 opening. We don’t even have to be the best one. Anyone in our tier or below that is even slightly concerned about their current coach would be wise to go ahead and pull the trigger now, because these types of windows don’t open very often.

 

[ETK99]

Avalon consistently wins at an extremely high level, even winning the 2022 JUCO National Championship. He's not one to overlook.

Good lord

 

[leeinator]

TAMU in about a year to two years will have the best college baseball stadium in the nation. Spending 80 million just to spruce up an already top 10 stadium is insane. Tennessee is also redoing their stadium, but don't think it will surpass Dudy Noble. It will however be way more than Vitello needs to continue getting the cream of the crop. I think they are spending around 30-40 million.

 

[Dawgg]

This position is actually the one time that Mississippi State is the best job in the country. You can have anybody you want. No need to go after assistants or scraps.

You misspelled “Louisiana State”.

 

[615dawg]

We aren't the best job in the nation.

Its a middle of the pack job in the SEC. My unpopular opinion has always been that our fanbase thinks too highly of our baseball program.

11 out of the 16 SEC baseball programs have won a national title since 1990. Four have won multiple titles, three have lost the national championship series and another one has two national championship losses.

We are undoubtedly better than Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri. Alabama has two title game losses and is looking better, but we are a better program.

Georgia has a natty and a runner up, but we are probably better than them. Tennessee is rolling, we aren't better right now but maybe historically. Ole Miss has a more recent natty than us. Oklahoma has a title and a recent runner up.

Arkansas and Texas A&M haven't won a natty, but have been a finalist in the last seven years and have great facilities. I'm not sure we are a better program than them.

LSU, South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt are all better than us historically.

We are 5th, 6th in the SEC at best.

 

[Perd Hapley]

We aren't the best job in the nation.

Its a middle of the pack job in the SEC. My unpopular opinion has always been that our fanbase thinks too highly of our baseball program.

11 out of the 16 SEC baseball programs have won a national title since 1990. Four have won multiple titles, three have lost the national championship series and another one has two national championship losses.

We are undoubtedly better than Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri. Alabama has two title game losses and is looking better, but we are a better program.

Georgia has a natty and a runner up, but we are probably better than them. Tennessee is rolling, we aren't better right now but maybe historically. Ole Miss has a more recent natty than us. Oklahoma has a title and a recent runner up.

Arkansas and Texas A&M haven't won a natty, but have been a finalist in the last seven years and have great facilities. I'm not sure we are a better program than them.

LSU, South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt are all better than us historically.

We are 5th, 6th in the SEC at best.

Agree with all that. But, 5th or 6th in the SEC is still undoubtedly a Top 10 job in the country. And that means you’re just about guaranteed to be the best job or second best job on the market in any given year that you are on the market….provided that its not Thanksgiving and your coach didn’t just quit after fall camp to become the athletic director. And we’re now not only that, we’re one of only 25 or so jobs that are going to be relevant at all moving forward. So, there will be interest.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

When talking short baseball coaches lists, Bianco and Corbin have to be on the list. Maybe 5' 7" or 5'8" ish? Earl Weaver was short as hell and his fuse was even shorter.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Avalon consistently wins at an extremely high level, even winning the 2022 JUCO National Championship. He's not one to overlook.

Jesus Christ....State isn't hiring a ******* JUCO coach

 

[615dawg]

They'll be interest, but not as much as our fans think. There's a reason we had to go to Indiana to get the last one.

I think a realistic list looks like this:

Burroughs at Louisiana Tech (MS native, coached under Cohen)
Heefner at Dallas Baptist (DBU may have to drop to D2 soon)
Nolan Cain, top assistant at Texas (former LSU pitcher, coached at A&M with Schloss as well)
Walter at Wake Forest (no SEC experience, but no ties to Wake either)
Meade at Troy (was top assistant at South Carolina for a while)

Has Burroughs done well enough at Tech to be considered? Three regionals in four years, but it took him five years to get to his first.

Heefner is interesting, but others have called before and he likes DBU. But if DBU has to drop to D2 like the rest of their sports, he may be looking for an exit.

Cain is an assistant for one of the best coaches in the nation and has been at three SEC schools. He would be worth a shot, but if LSU came calling, he's gone.

Walter coached at UNO before Wake. He's probably not interested in coming but worth a look.

Meade would jump at the opportunity. Might be the best young coach out there. 40 years old, played at Louisville, coached at South Carolina

 

[Maroon Eagle]

We aren't the best job in the nation.

Its a middle of the pack job in the SEC. My unpopular opinion has always been that our fanbase thinks too highly of our baseball program.

…

We are 5th, 6th in the SEC at best.

Agree with all that. But, 5th or 6th in the SEC is still undoubtedly a Top 10 job in the country. And that means you’re just about guaranteed to be the best job or second best job on the market in any given year that you are on the market….provided that its not Thanksgiving and your coach didn’t just quit after fall camp to become the athletic director. And we’re now not only that, we’re one of only 25 or so jobs that are going to be relevant at all moving forward. So, there will be interest.

Exactly. When compared to football and basketball, MSU fans have the right to think very highly of our baseball program.

We likely will not get the coaches we ask for but we’re in a position where it’s not necessarily an inconceivable question.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

They'll be interest, but not as much as our fans think. There's a reason we had to go to Indiana to get the last one.

Yeah, State decided to shoot for the moon first. It never hurts to ask if coaches are interested.

And no matter what people can say about his hire, Lemonis coached MSU to the Natty.

No one else can say that.

I think a realistic list looks like this:

Burroughs at Louisiana Tech
Heefner at Dallas Baptist (DBU may have to drop to D2 soon)
Nolan Cain, top assistant at Texas
Walter at Wake Forest
Meade at Troy

DBU’s coach? Really?

Are they having funding issues re: a D1 team at a D2 school?

 

[ronpolk]

A name I don’t believe I’ve seen listed but I’d certainly kick the tires is Erik Bakich at Clemson. Clemson is a good job, so no idea if he’d even be interested in leaving that job, but I’d ask.

 

[Bullldawg78]

The best Oklahoma assistant coach available. **

Beat me to it!

 

[El Perro Grande]

We're getting Schloss. He's no more loyal to Texas than he was to aTm.

 

[Bullldawg78]

I'll throw out some actual names just to get the discussion going. I have listed them in no particular order othan than I think these will be coaches we would at least kick the tires on.

Head Coaches:
- Butch Thompson, Auburn
- Chris Pollard, Duke
- Lane Burroughs, LA Tech
- Nick Mingione, Kentucky
- Justin Haire, Ohio State
- Christian Ostrander, USM
- Wes Johnson, UGA (I don't think he'd even entertain it, but you never know...)
- Mitch Canham, Oregon State (He's an OSU guy, and pretty much only been in the PNW. But, with all the stuff going on for them with PAC 10/12 going away, I think you have to at least make an approach. Most likely a very, very LONG shot.)

Assistant Coaches:
- Josh Elander, Tennessee
- Will Coggin, Georgia
- Chuck Jeroloman, Florida

This is just off the top of my head.

Of the sitting head coaches, I think if Johnson would take it, you'd be crazy not to hire him. Otherwise I'd probably prefer Ostrander or Burroughs. Ostrander has spent most of his career in MS. I think he would get those dirt bag type guys we've historically had and mixing them with the upper end talent that we're supposedly currently getting. With Burroughs, he played a huge role in turning the program around in those early Cohen years then winning the SEC tourney in 2012. He left after the 2012 season, but the 2013 World Series team had his finger prints all over it from a recruiting prospective. We'd definitely get back to playing tough hard nosed baseball under him.

Of the assistants, none of them particularly excite me. I guess Elander would probably be the best option. Coggin would be interesting in that he helped Mingione turn the UK program around culminating in their CWS appearance last year. He had left for UGA before last season, but he was the recruiting coordinator for a few years leading up to it. Neither are particularly exciting options, but I suppose State could do worse.

Now all you 17 heads can rip this list to pieces, and tell me why I'm a 17ing dubmass.

Mingione I really like a high quality coach and his players love him. I think he would jump at the option to steer this ship lost at sea!

 

[maroontide06]

Good lord

JUCO's have to rebuild every single year. You can laugh all you want, but when State whiffs on all the so called "big" names out there, where are you going to turn to? Wasn't Jans a JUCO coach? Wasn't Ostrander a JUCO coach? If State hires Ostrander, it's essentially equivalent, but he just has some D1 experience that Avalon doesn't.

 

[8dog]

I’d look hard at Elander. I think I’d hire the janitor at TN at this point. Sadly I don’t even really care. Just someone who tries really hard.

 

[GloryDawg]

Jesus Christ....State isn't hiring a ******* JUCO coach

What does Jesus have to do with this. Can he still not hit a curve ball? ****

 

[615dawg]

DBU’s coach? Really?

Are they having funding issues re: a D1 team at a D2 school?

Dallas Baptist is a D2 school that sponsors D1 baseball. The NCAA does not allow that to happen anymore, but they are grandfathered in. Small private schools are feeling the pinch (see Mississippi College dropping football) and DBU is no different. With the roster expansion (and subsequent scholarship expansion), there are questions on whether DBU can continue this model. The school has 2800 students and a total endowment less than what SEC schools would spend on a parking garage.

The most recent numbers available show that DBU is breaking even on athletics as a whole, so they don't have the problem that schools like Mississippi College had. But being a private college in a conference with all public schools is becoming a competitive issue.

They do have another choice - moving the rest of the sports to D1. The Missouri Valley Conference or C-USA would welcome them in all sports I assume, but it will be a situation where they would have to take some beatdowns for years before they would be competitive.

 

[Amacomo]

Erik Bakich-Clemson. Has ties to the south and is from the Corbin and O'connel tree. Went to the CWS at Michigan. Been at Clemson 2 years and has had outstanding results.

Tom Walter-Wake Forest. Has ties to the south as he was head coach at New Orleans. Has had one of the strongest programs in the country the last couple years. Another guy like Bakich who I'd like to see with even more advantages than he currently has. Think he has a pretty high ceiling. Has been a head coach at multiple spots with success everywhere.

Mark Wasikowski-Oregon. Has ties to the south as he was an assistant at Florida for 3 years. Really has recruiting connections from coast to coast as well as very important ties to southern california, which he's had to recruit extensively as the head coach at Oregon.

I think we can pull any of these guys as our head coach and would be happy with that.