Creighton University

A little help would someone please!

I'm sure you have already checked out their site. Here is Coach Sevais' bio.

http://www.gocreighton.com/items_of_interest/bios.asp?BiosID=50

I live fairly close to Omaha and am somewhat familiar with Creighton but have no inside info on the baseball team.

They are having a good year ranked as high as 30th nationally in some polls and are winning the Missouri Valley Conference. They have split thus far with highly ranked Nebraska and they play the "rubber" game on May 10th at Rosenblatt Stadium and I hope to be there. So will 10 - 15 thousand or so other people.

Creighton is a Catholic University and is well known for its academics. Omaha is a great city as most anyone who has visited for the college world series will attest.

Best of luck.

As a member of a conference rival school :cough: Indiana State :cough: I know there program is top notch and were rated as high as #28 in the nation. From what it looks like from the opposing dugout it looks like they got a great ballclub that will only get better.

Ryan,
Speaking of the Missouri Valley Conf., how is Bradley doing this year?

Bradley is playing fairly well this season. They are 24-11, but are only 7-5 in the conference. They are tied for 4th place currently. Their pluses, if they make the playoffs, is they have a very good pitching staff. Currently in the top 15 of the country in ERA. Two of the conference starters are boosting a 2.41 and 2.42 era. The team total is 3.02 which is pretty impressive. If they can cut the unearned run out, they could make some noise in the Valley Tournament.

Creighton was lucky and smart to get rid of the previous coach. A bad tempered, irrational fellow now at Iowa!

soxnole, Guess I can't understand why you would post that. Like him or not... The coach you're describing is the winningest coach in Creighton history.

By the way, the coach at Creighton before him now runs the Chicago Cubs. I suppose that will bring up some interesting comments.

This is not a reply because Jack Dahm is the Iowa coach. I just don't understand the reason for cutting down a person or labeling them.

One of our main PG directors Tyson Kimm (Bruce Kimm's son) played both with and for Jack Dahm. He likes him a lot and has nothing but good things to say about him both as a person and as a coach.

What is it you know that might be more insightful?

Here is some info copied from the Iowa site.

Before coming to Iowa City, Dahm spent 18 years as a member of the Creighton Bluejays baseball program. He left the Bluejays as the winningest coach in school history.

Building the Foundation is the theme that Coach Dahm has stressed since he was hired in July of 2003. Dahm's plan for Hawkeye baseball is to build the program from the ground up.

"In order to build a consistent program we must have a solid foundation and that starts with quality student-athletes who are willing to make personal sacrifices on and off the field," said Dahm. "We must also develop a level of trust and belief in each other and in the program. If we can build that solid foundation the success on the field will start to take care of itself."

That foundation is not just on the field, but off it as well. Players have been busy giving back to the community by helping raise money for breast cancer and helping the Iowa Children's Museum at the Crystal Ball dinner. Dahm also arranged the first annual leadoff dinner.

Other new and exciting events were added to the schedule. The I-Cubs/Hawkeye Classic at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines and an exhibition game against the Triple A Iowa Cubs was a rousing success, as was the first annual Corridor Classic against intrastate rival, Northern Iowa. The Classic, which is held at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, helped raise over $85,000 for the American Diabetes Association. It was the third largest ADA fundraiser in Iowa history.

Dahm went to Creighton in 1986 to play under Jim Hendry and spent four years as a student-athlete from 1986-89. In 1990, Dahm accepted a position as a graduate assistant coach for Hendry and spent four years helping build Creighton into a Missouri Valley Conference power.

In 1991, Dahm was promoted to a full-time assistant as he helped the Bluejays reach the College World Series. That Creighton squad ended the season as the second-highest hitting club in the nation, batting .355 as a team. The team's 60 triples in 1991 led the nation and remain a school record.

In October of 1993, Dahm was hired as Creighton's head coach, becoming the youngest head coach in Division I at the age of 25. For the next ten years, five of Dahm's ten teams would finish in the top three of the Missouri Valley Conference.

In 1999, Dahm earned his first of two Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors as the Bluejays advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in the Dahm era. Creighton posted 38 wins that season, the most since Dahm's first year in 1994, before being eliminated from the South Bend Regional.

In 2000, Dahm guided the Bluejays to their second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance at the Arizona State regional in Tempe, AZ, after finishing the season with a 38-23 record. During the season, Dahm led Creighton into the national spotlight as they peaked at No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and were ranked in the top 25 of the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Poll and Baseball America.

Dahm earned his second coach of the year honor in 2002 when the Bluejays finished the season 30-24 against one of the nations toughest schedules. Victories over nationally ranked Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wichita State were overshadowed by the team's best-ever season in the Missouri Valley Conference. Despite having a lineup top-heavy with underclassmen, Creighton finished second in MVC play with a 21-10 record.

A native of Morton Grove, IL, Dahm entered Creighton as a highly recruited infielder in 1985 and left 18 years later as the all-time winningest coach in school history. As a player, Dahm shared the dugout with former Major Leaguers Mike Heathcott, Dax Jones, Scott Servais, Dan Smith and Scott Stahoviak.

Eighteen of Dahm's players have been selected in the Major League draft since 1994, four of which have played at the Major League level. Since 1994, Dahm has produced 16 first-team all-MVC players, seven freshman All-Americans and two All-Americans.

Besides being a student of the game on the field, Dahm was active in community service, fundraising and his teams have strived academically as well.

The Bluejays were actively involved in the community under Dahm, as they held various free baseball clinics, raised money for the Nebraska Children's Home and were a part of "Operation Bluejay," a program that provided tutoring for young people in Omaha.

Dahm also played a large role in the planning, designing and fund raising for the $3.5 million Creighton Sports Complex. The Kitty Gaughan Pavilion baseball facility is one of the finest indoor baseball complexes in the country. It featured a state of the art hitting facility, locker rooms, Legends View Club and coaches' offices.

Dahm's teams have not only had success on the field, but in the classroom as well. During his tenure at Creighton, Dahm's players were named to 32 spots on the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete teams, 10 Verizon Academic all-District honors and three Verizon Academic all-Americans. His teams also consistently finished with G.P.A's around 3.0.

Dahm has also been active in the advancement of college baseball by being a member of the many national committees. He was a ten-year member on the College World Series Board of Directors and served on the American Baseball Coaches Association Change of Season Committee. He was also a part of the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee and was an onsite director of the NCAA Yes Baseball Clinic for 11 years.

soxnole

I too see no need to "smash" a coach in an open forum but then again you have done this before.

As my daddy said "if have nothing good to say about a man say nothing".

I have not one, or a few, but numerous reasons for the preceding post.

I'm traveling and hope to document for you fellows exactly why I feel this way, very soon.

When a coach is the reason to avoid a particular school it seems relevant to me and I hope, others.

Are you saying that these guys are somehow sacrosanct? That no one should point out thier faults?

College baseball is possibly the best baseball and it deserves better than leading a lamb to slaughter.....more later.

soxnole

for the record from this old geezer---
you never seem to say anything good thing about anyone or anything except your son--- you even strayed into a thread in the Florida Forum--dadgum !!!!

TRhit. Now you are bashing.

If I were to repeat all my posts that are positive, I'd be here all day.

I have bashed 3 D1 coaches,(over an extended period of time) can be specific as to why and will soon.

By the same token I have sung the praises of numerous D1 coaches. I feel that if a player/parent knows there could be a problem (or an opportunity)out there, then thats what this board is all about.

With regard to Florida, I admittedly jumped to a conclusion and some solid citizens pointed out my mistake. On the other hand, I grew up and played ball in south Florida and can't remember any teams (good or bad) dressing 10 players...and that was when they had a population 25% smaller.

So....dadgum....your own self.

Change that Florida population to @75% smaller!

soxnole

Am I "bashing" because , perhaps, I called your card-- you did the same on the Illinois forum

I am not bashing --just stating my opinion from what I read in your posts

soxnole,

I appreciate the courage you show in freely speaking about things and I respect your opinions.

I just don't think this is the place to bash college coaches. They really can't respond or defend themselves without looking foolish.

Everyone has opinions about certain coaches, players, and people. There are coaches I don't like and wouldn't send my own kids to. However, there are others who love and respect these same coaches.

Knowing I've been wrong before leaves me uncertain that my opinions are always right. Therefore, sometimes it's best to keep the opinions under wraps.

If making sure everyone knows about a coach is such a concern, why not talk to the people who hire them. Afterall, I would think they have done some research about the coach before hiring him. Perhaps they know more than we do.

Of course, this is just ... my opinion.

PG. I'll be glad to share plenty of reliable info with you regarding this subject. You have my #.

Let me just say that Creighton is a very fine University.

TR. Please read a few of my posts, say 10%. Then give me a call so we can discuss the difference between negative thinking and a positive warning....oh yeah, and you can explain with specificity what "calling your card" means!

All I want is information about the CURRENT coaching staff and program that is there at this time and even more specifically their pitching coach. Seeing as this is a private school it would lead me to beleive that it is academically sound. I do not need information about previous coaches.

strike3,

Sorry for getting off the topic. The present head coach is Ed Servais and he is well respected. He was named coach of the year in the Valley his first year at Creighton.

Creighton has a very good team (35-10 so far this year). They have recruited a large number of players who attended PG events. There are over a dozen former PGers on their present roster. They typically recruit the upper Midwest.

The Creighton pitching coach is Travis Wyckoff. We know him well. He played at Wichita State and he’s a highly regarded young pitching coach. He’s a very nice person as well. I think any young pitcher would really like him and he's very knowledgeable.

Another assistant is Spencer Allen who actually coached the Northern Reign a good amateur club out of Washington that played in some of our tournaments. He’s also a very nice person and a good young coach.

Oddly enough both Wyckoff and Allen worked at the U of Iowa before going to Creighton. Spencer actually worked under Jack Dahm (former Creighton coach) last year at Iowa.

Creighton is a great academic school located in a very nice city.

If you are being recruited by Creighton and want solid info, we can put you in contact with players and parents who are presently involved in the program. They’re usually the best people to talk to if you’re unsure. Email me if you wish - pgjerry@qwest.net

Best of luck

As a Creighton Alumni I can say the school is academically one of the best in the Midwest. I didn't play baseball while at Creighton, but I do coach select baseball in the Omaha area. Our team works out in the winter at Creighton's facilities and we work with Coach Servais and Coach Allen from time to time.

Coach Servais is a great guy. He is respected in Omaha and is doing a great job with the Creighton baseball program. In the little bit I've dealt with Coach Allen I've had nothing but good experiences with him. He understands hitting and he tries to keep it simple, at least for our organizations kids. The staff at Creighton is young and very energetic. I've never dealt with Coach Wyckoff directly but he appears to be doing a great job this year. Creighton has been hampered by several injuries to their pitching staff, yet he always has another pitcher ready to go.

For being a small, midwest private school, Creighton actually has pretty decent facilities. They have an indoor workout facility that was built in the last few years. The indoor facility includes new locker rooms, offices, and suites for season ticket holders to watch games. They play on an astroturf stadium right next to the Creighton campus. They do play several games a year at Rosenblatt stadium, including at least one game with in state rival Nebraska.

We attended Creighton, liked the facilities. Cant say enough about the college.

Dahm is a big supporter of PG. Just gave a big speech about participating in PG just this past week end.

Being from Omaha, I would say that if it wasn't for the tremendous year the Huskers had, Creightons ball club would have gotten a lot more run. I will agree that I was amazed at how well The Jays dealt with injuires to their pitching staff, very impressed.

While we are on the subject of Omaha area baseball, I cannot say enough about the excellent program being run at Bellevue Univerisity, albeit at a lower level.

I think that people outside the midwest would be very surprised at the amount of talented ball players in Nebraska. The Huskers make the CWS, Creighton loses to them in the regionals. Bellevue had another solid year. The high school state champs (Millard North) end the season undefeated and ranked 6th nationally, not to mention the great youth travel ball teams like the Gladiators (see above) and the Pacesetters. And they say cold weather kids can't play ball...