Augie Garrido Steps Down

RJM posted:

Pierce may be a good choice. But what does it say about the current state of the Texas program they couldn't get one of the top tier coaches and several turned them down? It's not what Texas expects to happen when they recruit coaches. Or does it say something about so many other programs having become great places to stay?

By the raises the prospective coaches received from their current schools, they must be a great place to stay.  UT will be just fine with Pierce.  Lots of recruiting prowess in Texas and Louisiana.

My favorite UT story....

Older son was a freshman pitcher at Stanford - down to Austin they/we went for a series.  Parents all placed together near the top of the stadium.  Place is rocking.

Man in front of us in burnt orange, hootin' and hollerin' - Stanford parent asks if his son is down there.  "Yeah - thats my boy down there!"

"Who?  The catcher?"

"No, the home plate ump!" 

Stanford got swept.

Lot of coaches got big raises over the last 3 weeks.   I think baseball coaches like to stay in one place for the most part,  you dont see the big moves like in football.    Look at the tenure of some of the top coaches.  

UT hires David Pierce. ex Tulane, Sam Houston, Rice. I know some folks that know him and say its a great hire even though some big names turned them down. 

http://kxan.com/2016/06/29/ut-...head-baseball-coach/

I think the biggest mistake was going after coaches before their seasons ended.  However, throwing out names helped the coaches mentioned secure big raises.

I think the biggest mistake was going after coaches before their seasons ended.  However, throwing out names helped the coaches mentioned secure big raises.

As I mentioned befoe, it makes sense hiring a coach within the geographical area.

This is great news for Longhorn fans, Big 12 fans and anyone who keeps up with college baseball in this area.  I was watching Tulane play Texas this year ( I'm thinking Tulane won the series) and the TV announcers had nothing but high respect towards David and what he has done through out his career. I just hate seeing Skip headed to Oklahoma... Really liked him in burnt orange.

Nice article by Mike Finger on the new UT baseball coach and the selection process.

   AUSTIN — During the 30 days Texas spent looking for a head coach, the national college baseball economy experienced one of its biggest upticks in ages. Some potential candidates signed extensions. Others received raises. At least one got a promise of new facilities. 

   And after a month of helping the greater good, the Longhorns finally snagged a coach of their own. 

   David Pierce, a 53-year-old Texan who attended Houston, served as an assistant at Rice and spent the last two seasons turning Tulane into a national power, was announced Wednesday as the Longhorns’ new coach. 

   Pierce replaces Augie Garrido, whose 20-year tenure ended when he was reassigned May 30. Pierce becomes just the fourth Longhorns head coach of the past 70 years, following Garrido, Cliff Gustafson (1968-96) and Bibb Falk (1946-67). 

   “As a kid growing up in Texas, I dreamed of being a Longhorn and wearing the burnt orange,” Pierce said in a statement released Wednesday by UT. “Today that dream is coming true.” 

   Local roots 

   Pierce, who spent three seasons as coach at Sam Houston State before the last two at Tulane, interviewed for the UT job almost two weeks ago. But Longhorns athletic director Mike Perrin waited to make a decision as he continued to consider coaches involved in the College World Series. 

   TCU’s Jim Schlossnagle, Louisville’s Dan McDonnell, LSU’s Paul Mainieri and Oregon State’s Pat Casey were among the candidates who reportedly signed or agreed to new deals after Garrido was reassigned. Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan reportedly received assurances the Gators will upgrade their baseball infrastructure. 

   So that brought the Longhorns back to Pierce, long well-regarded as a versatile, energetic coach who’s been in charge of both pitchers and hitters during his career. 

   Pierce will be introduced as the Longhorns’ coach at a news conference Thursday Terms of his contract were not immediately available, but his predecessor, Garrido, was one of the nation’s top-paid baseball coaches at $1 million per year. 

   “David has deep roots in Texas and has strong recruiting connections throughout our state and surrounding states,” Perrin said in UT’s official release. “But beyond that, he is a great man who has a passion for leading and developing young men in all aspects of life.” 

   A graduate of Houston’s St. Pius X High School, Pierce began as an assistant at his alma mater in 1989. His longest stint came as an assistant under Rice’s Wayne Graham from 2003-2011, a stretch that included a national championship and three other College World Series appearances. 

   Return to prominence 

   In five seasons as a head coach, Pierce is 197-109, including a 41-21 mark at Tulane this season. Although he hasn’t made it to the super regionals as a head coach, he did lift the Green Wave into the national top 15 at one point in 2016. 

   The brother-in-law of Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, Pierce inherits a UT program that has won six national championships but has struggled in recent seasons. This season, the Longhorns (25-32) tied a school record for losses and missed the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years. 

   Garrido, now a special assistant to Perrin, issued a statement hailing Pierce as “a very fine choice.” 

   “He takes great pride in his work,” Garrido said. “He’s knowledgeable and passionate about what he’s doing and who he’s doing it for. He’s a heart-and-soul Texan who will make every effort for this program.” mfinger@express-news.net">mfinger@express-news.net  twitter.com/mikefinger  

the Texas AD said he was amazed at how many coaches were saying the decided to stay and signing big raises when they never once contacted them,  and in the cases of some they did,   they never offered them the job but announced they were staying where they were and signing extensions.