Newsstand: Michigan A.D. Warde Manuel speaks on Mel Pearson situation
Tweets Of The Day
Michigan Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel, speaking at a board of regents meeting, discussed head hockey coach Mel Pearson‘s situation. Pearson’s contract expired but he’s still serving as the head coach. An investigation into the program made the situation murky, but Manuel expects Pearson to remain in Ann Arbor.
Michigan baseball coach Erik Bakich was hired away by Clemson after 10 seasons in Ann Arbor. Bakich took the Maize and Blue to five NCAA Tournaments and the College World Series Final in 2019, and is regarded as one of the top coaches in the game
Manuel said he’s “sorry to see Bakich go.”
“He left us much better than he found us,” Manuel added.
Bakich had some classy words for Michigan following his departure, when speaking with reporters at his Clemson introductory press conference.
“To the University of Michigan athletic department, all of our players — past and present — their families, seven decades of alumni that joined our team in Omaha, all the fans, I have the deepest appreciation and gratitude for what we were able to accomplish over the last 10 years, so thank you for an incredible ride,” he said.
Bakich went on to explain that he wants to keep close relationships with his Michigan players, past and present, even though he’s entering a new chapter in his career. He shared part of his message to the players when he met with them to break the news.
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“I told them I loved them, and the one thing I told them was that relationships transcend geography and location,” Bakich explained. “And just because I’m in a different state or maybe wearing a different logo, it doesn’t mean I love them any less and I won’t continue to be in their lives.
“I’ll always be a coach and a mentor to them, and just because I’m not there doesn’t mean that I’m not with them or speaking to them or involved with them. I told them all, I hope to be at all their weddings some day and continue to maintain a very strong relationship.
“That’s the hardest part of leaving, the players that you are leaving and the relationships that you have, so it’s important for me to continue those.”
Bakich also received a significant raise. He made $400,000 in base salary plus $200,000 in supplemental compensation at Michigan, and will get up to $1.1 million in his final year of his new deal with the Tigers.
Quote Of The Day
“Coach Harbaugh was a 14-year veteran. The quarterback position is the hardest position to play. If you haven’t played it, you don’t really know what it’s like, so it’s great to have Coach Harbaugh there. Michigan is a great school. It was my first time up there, and I really enjoyed it.”
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• EJ Holland, The Wolverine: Elite 2024 QB Jadyn Davis goes in-depth on Michigan, recent visit
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: What Erik Bakich said about Michigan in Clemson press conference
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: What exactly is Rick Minter’s role with Michigan football?
