Clemson baseball zeroing in on Michigan coach Erik Bakich?

Michigan would love to keep baseball coach Erik Bakich, and word has it the Wolverines will do what it can to keep him — within reason. But U-M probably wouldn’t match the salary Clemson would give the coach, and that’s where it gets dicey.

Like most coaching searches, Clemson’s has taken several twists and turns since coach Monte Lee was fired. He missed the NCAA Tournament the last two years — unacceptable at a place like Clemson that holds its program in high regard.

“I knew that the way the season ended, that it could be a possibility,” he told The State. “And so when I was let go, I understood. I think that’s the best way that I would put it. I understood, just because I know the business that we’re in, and I know the expectations at a school like Clemson.”

Bakich, of course, has more than put Michigan back on the map. Though northern schools are generally an afterthought in college baseball, he has had incredible success leading the Wolverines. He was even within a game of capturing the national championship in 2019. The Wolverines took heavily favored Vanderbilt to three games before losing in the final.

But the Michigan coach has ties to Clemson, having served as an assistant there in 2002. He also worked for Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, also a former Clemson assistant, and turned the Maryland program around.

With better pitching this year — the team had a 7.01 ERA heading into the postseason — the Wolverines might have made an even deeper run. They almost did, anyway, before a controversial ending cost them a regional win against Louisville and potential trip to the super regionals.

Clemson reportedly has two candidates on top, including Michigan coach Bakich

According to ClemsonSports.com’s Matt Connolly, the Tigers are back to making Bakich a priority, and he expects it to “end soon.” Bakich and East Carolina coach Cliff Godwin have emerged as the two favorites, according to his sources, and an announcement could come mid-week.

“Clemson Sports has long believed Bakich was the favorite to land the job,” Connolly wrote. “However, we got word over the weekend that an unnamed candidate could be the guy ahead of Bakich and that the Michigan coach was unlikely to end up at Clemson.

“Since then, we have spoken with other sources, and we once again believe Bakich to be the favorite. The potential candidate who could have been at the top of the list over the weekend is no longer an option, according to our intel.”

If Bakich is hired as the head coach at Clemson, they added, he’ll be looking for a new pitching coach. It’s the same at Michigan if he decides to stay.

“Bakich fired his pitching coach at Michigan at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Bakich was calling pitches late in the year after the Wolverines struggled on the mound for most of the season,” Connolly noted. “Clemson would provide Bakich the resources necessary to hire an outstanding staff, including a very good pitching coach, according to sources.”

Sources have said Michigan would likely be willing to offer an extension and more facilities upgrades, but wouldn’t be able to match Clemson’s money. The Tigers are expected to dole out big money for the right guy.

Whether that’s Bakich remains to be seen. The coach has spurned other offers before, and he was given a raise and an extension in 2019.

“Quick note to say thank you to Michigan, [athletic director] Warde Manuel, [senior associate athletic director] Bitsy Ritt, our coaches, staff, and players for allowing me to continue to wear the block ‘M’,” Bakich wrote and put in a tweet at the time. “It is an honor and privilege to serve as the head baseball coach. We have so much to be proud of in our 151 year tradition rich program and the future continues to be extremely bright. Those who stay will be champions. Thank you and Go Blue!”

He was given a five-year contract extension with a significant raise, including a $200,000 signing bonus. However, Clemson is thought to be offering well over $1 million — perhaps up to $1.3 million — which could make it tough to keep him.