Turnover at Univ. of MD

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
How about you don't continue it?

How about you go away and come back in three years and see how things have gone?

Sheesh, you wanted the old guy gone, you got it. You wanted a hotshot new coach, you got one.

What does it take to make some of you guys happy?

FYI, I don't know what there could be about recruiting that Bakich wouldn't know. First of all, he has recruited some of the best talent in the SEC, overcoming the obstacles of high tuition costs and the highest academic standards in his conference. Higher than MD, I might add.

Secondly, he has recruited NATIONALLY, and thus has a network to do that. What he does works in the home area, I'm sure, but I suspect you will see more kids coming in from out of MD to play for the Terps.

I don't know who you thought you were going to get for this job. Augie Garrido and Paul Manieri I am pretty sure were not available. To me it looks like a big win for Terps baseball. He has a lot of obstacles to overcome, but so would anyone coming in to that situation. It has been done elsewhere and I suspect he'll give it as good a shot as anyone you could've hoped to land.

Don't know who this diatribe is directed toward, but I'll address a couple points.

Because Vandy is a private university, their admissions standards are more flexible when it comes to athletes and other targetted groups. In my opinion, MD's admission standards will prove to be more onerous than what he experienced at Vandy.

Didn't Coach Rupp come in with alot of fanfare and vigor?

Just because he has recruited nationally doesn't mean he will be able to sell the MD baseball program. Not his fault, simply a fact of life.

I love the Terps and hope he turns them around. I just seriously doubt he will. The profile he presents is not one that will yield success at MD for 5 or 6 years. If he is as good as folks on this board say he is, will he still be around that long?

I stick with my original thoughts on this hire. A big gamble that might pay off. But if it doesn't, we'll be having this debate again and again and again.

To me, the better choices for this particular job were JF or TW. They have ties to this community and could have made a significant difference over the next few years.

Larry

You have expressed your opinion, and in a excellent manner if I do say so myself, but there are the naysayers, some who may not know all the workings

Time will tell what happens

My husband and friend is laughing out loud at
such mis-information.

LarryThompson has it close.
TR is always good and plenty of times, absolutely correct (that's what comes with age and experience)

Let's review at the lessons learned:

First, Maryland waited a month or more to fire the
former Head Coach (instead of the day when the season was complete). The 'hire a Head Coach race'
brought the Turtles a second (and arguable a 3rd choice).

Second: The most qualified was TT (IMHO) (and meets what LarryThompson placed on the table. (i.e. Regional recruitability (non National)
With JF and RD being somewhere in that mix, TW reaaly wanted the Turtle job until WFU came calling
(i.e. made him a deal he could not refuse, and all that.)

Third: No one has thrown EB under the bus. As perceived by the always mis-informed and some FredCo.

With regards to Head Coaching smiling and dialing
at the beginning of the Recruiting meltdown for
the 2010 HS players. June 30 at 11:59 is when
the recruiters can start dialing, to have the recruit pick up the phone at midnight. That means the Head Coach is doing his job. And for all that matters, most if not many prime time recruits at the Top Baseball Programs have verballed (on campus) by July 1.

Good Luck Coach Bakich

19


You have totally forgotten the economics of the situation---there may well be economic reasons why they waited as they did---the inner economic workings of universities can be mind boggling at times


What is your depth of background for you to talk about lessons learned while your husband and son sit there laughiing ?

19


You have totally forgotten the economics of the situation---there may well be economic reasons why they waited as they did---the inner economic workings of universities can be mind boggling at times


What is your depth of background for you to talk about lessons learned while your husband and son sit there laughiing ?

Right now there are two Maryland coaches down here in Marietta Georgia including Bakich and they will be here for two or three weeks working very hard.

The secret to being a good scout and a good recruiter... Work harder than everyone else.

If you can't win with a super recruiter, the problem is far beyond coaching. Maryland just picked up one of the best recruiters in college baseball. The thing we are very familiar with is who works the hardest and who the best recruiters are. Every coach in the ACC knows and respects Erik Backich.

Seeing that everyone is making predictions, here is mine... By year two it will be obvious that the talent level is up and that Maryland is moving in the right direction. In year three Maryland will compete with the top tier of the ACC.

I understand that there are others who would have been great choices. But if it wasn't Maryland, this guy was definitely going somewhere very soon.

To put in perspective, there are three former Turtle coaches at Marietta this week.

Recruiting top talent for college is nearly
like selecting HS players for the MLB Amateur draft. Over 65% are not around playing MiLB in two-three years.

As Casey Stengel would say: "Look it Up"

J19


What is your gripe with the MD selection?


Cmon now lay it on the table

Sounds like he's upset that MD didn't get "TW".

If that's true, then I guess I should feel good about our new guy, since he comes with J19's endorsement.

Coach must have a fast jet since he was in Baltimore this morning/afternoon at the Oriolelanders tryout

ATL to Dulles or BWI, must be 10 different options per day.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
19 What is your depth of background for you to talk about lessons learned

What do give me for such knowledge of my back ground?

Respect

Is it just me or does J19's writing style "Bear" a resemblance to anyone else on this board.

I have no clue how good the new coach is or will be but it does seem that the terps needed a change. I will be rooting for them and hope the athletic department spends a few bucks to upgrade the facilities. I see no reason why this program can't become competitive in the conference now that they are fully funded.

Go Terps

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Sounds like he's upset that MD didn't get "TW".

He's a she.

jmepop

I have known "Bear" for too many years to think he would post under a female ID---His ego is too big for that---he and do not always agree but I respect his knowledge of the game and his ability to speak his mind feely and openly

I would be greatly disappointed if he did such a thing

But...don't you love the intrigue...

By the way....Coach Bakich is off to a good start from everything I have heard....I know nothing of the support he is pomised by the university...I only know that he is starting off well with players and recruits....

Hell....any UMD coach that talked with Maryland state recruits would be off to a good start with them....

And before those who may say that the 'old' coaching staff pursued many Maryland state recruits....whatever they were selling, the top players from Maryland weren't buying....ie, Brady to Clemson, Silverstein to Virginia....Winegardner to Coastal.....on and on....

We dealt directly with Eric Bakich during the recruitment process (last year). Our son decided to commit to another University prior to the scheduled trip to Vanderbilt. In an effort to save Vanderbilt the expense of the visit, we cancelled a week prior --- and received a very harsh and unprofessional reply from Eric Bakich. Compared with all other college coaches that we interfaced with -- we were extremely disappointed in his communications with us after we cancelled our visit.

quote:

Originally posted by Trepfan:
We dealt directly with Eric Bakich during the recruitment process (last year). Our son decided to commit to another University prior to the scheduled trip to Vanderbilt. In an effort to save Vanderbilt the expense of the visit, we cancelled a week prior --- and received a very harsh and unprofessional reply from Eric Bakich. Compared with all other college coaches that we interfaced with -- we were extremely disappointed in his communications with us after we cancelled our visit.

The expense involved most likely was the cost of a plane ticket (though admittedly they must get discounts or book on FF points). To be honest, if your son had given the coaches indication that he was very interested they gave him an opportunity to vist, one week prior may not have been enough time for them to invite someone else.

We often talk about how we feel our kids get the screw over during recruiting, but I often think that it works both ways we just don't realize it.

JMO.

Trepfan, you are not wrong on any account. I firmly believe that once a kid has seen a college and has decided that it is the right place for him, he should notify any other college coaches that are still recruiting him that he has reached his final decision. If that happens to be one week prior to a visit...so be it. Would Bakich have preferred to waste 5 hours of his time on a college visit where the kid already had made up his mind? The head coach at Radford pulled a similar stunt with a player I know who chose another college prior to his Radford visit. The coach basically blasted the kid (who happens to be a terrific young man) for choosing a college before his scheduled visit. The kid found a great place that had everything he wanted in a college and Riccuia (coach at Radford) went off on the kid and his coach.

Everyone sees things differently, not sure why the coach has to be bashed. Did you expect him to be cordial with the cancellation? These guys want their chance, just as you all want your son to have it to.
Mine went on one official visit and was sure that it was where he wanted to go. The coaches from his next visit asked him to please not decide until his official visit with them, which he obliged. That did make things a bit difficult to make the decision, and both schools were in the running for a few weeks until he decided. The other visits were farther down the road, so plenty of time to cancel.
You got to be careful in this business, the coach you p*ss off one year may be your coach the next, don't laugh, it happens.

BLUE


What you have is hearsay !!!

Don't blast a good coach if you do not know all the facts

Our experience with Bakich during the investigation phase was pretty decent, though we didn't go too far down the road with Vandy. But I'm with Trep on this one. If you have honestly made up your mind, you should let that slot go to someone else -- someone else who deserves a shot, someone else they might actually land.

I can understand a coach's frustration if he really wanted a particular kid. Coaches are only human, and Trep's son after all was a HS All American. But if the coaches voiced their frustration to the kid, or to anyone outside of their offices, they screwed up and they should have apologized. End of story. No way you put this on the player.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
19

You have totally forgotten the economics of the situation---there may well be economic reasons why they waited as they did---the inner economic workings of universities can be mind boggling at times

What is your depth of background for you to talk about lessons learned... ?

Been seeking a balance between Roles, Mission and Budgets and for very long time.

That would be an answer to the question:
How could Baseball organization structure itself to perform its mission in the coming decades with current or reduced levels of funding?

Since I perceive your reputation to agitate proceeds you (as understood by several web site bloggers), I won't offer 3rd chances for friendship. Second chances, yes. Not third.

Shall we swap five - six decades of front office baseball stories from a recently married yet aging nicely widow and divorcee?

Yet, should you answer what is your depth of background to talk?

Maybe start with Longboat Key, just outside Sarasota, late 60's early 70's and go from there.

Or maybe the birth of modern day expansion teams.

19

The reputation to agitate is merely a perception in ones mind---being born and bred in NY and having worked in NYC up to 8 years ago my attitudes and platitudes are different than most on here---straight talk is not agitation it is honesty-- I don't say things just to make you happy --I speak my mind--if you do not like it don't bother to read it---There is plenty of nonsense that I read on here that I do not respond to because it is fruitless

His email message to us was way over the top --- in terms of language and lack of class --- Does he ever tell a recruit after they have taken the time and effort to conduct a visit and they (Vanderbilt) are not interested but thanks anyway....-- of course!......

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
Everyone sees things differently, not sure why the coach has to be bashed. Did you expect him to be cordial with the cancellation? These guys want their chance, just as you all want your son to have it to.
Mine went on one official visit and was sure that it was where he wanted to go. The coaches from his next visit asked him to please not decide until his official visit with them, which he obliged. That did make things a bit difficult to make the decision, and both schools were in the running for a few weeks until he decided. The other visits were farther down the road, so plenty of time to cancel.
You got to be careful in this business, the coach you p*ss off one year may be your coach the next, don't laugh, it happens.

Yes to your question....in fact other coaches when they heard wished all the best of luck......not accusations and threats ("kick his butt when we meet in the world series" etc....."misled" etc......I do know that in contrast, Coach Jim Farr is a total "class act" and would have been an excellent choice.....

Trepfan,
After son went on his second official visit and decided he was not going to attend that school, the coach was not all that nice about his other choice.

It was wrong, his response, but in all these years never mentioned it. It was once pointed out to me after it appeared I may have said the wrong thing about a coach here, after thinking about it, I don't beleive in coach bashing, just as there should be no player bashing on this site.

Honestly, how would you feel if this was your player's coach someone was talking about and you or your son never saw that side of him?

JMO.

The facts are the facts.....we received feedback from 10-15 coaches after the decision was made and their responses were all "best of luck" etc.....but not from Vandy......Their response was totally over the top --- and these points need to be made to provide a balanced view towards this forum.....from someone who was "inside" and saw the nasty side of recruiting and of a coaches' character......just the facts.....

quote:

Originally posted by Trepfan:
The facts are the facts.....we received feedback from 10-15 coaches after the decision was made and their responses were all "best of luck" etc.....but not from Vandy......Their response was totally over the top --- and these points need to be made to provide a balanced view towards this forum.....from someone who was "inside" and saw the nasty side of recruiting and of a coaches' character......just the facts.....

I agree that Trep simply laid out his perspective based on his experience. Isn't that what we all do?

I made my initial negative reaction to this hire based on being around MD baseball for almost 30 years.

I believe this coach will get frustrated very quickly with the populace here in MD. I am one of the few folks I know in my adult life who has grown up in MD. This is a transient locale, loaded with folks all over the country whose roots are somewhere else.

Gotta run...something burning...

quote:

Originally posted by Trepfan:
The facts are the facts.....we received feedback from 10-15 coaches after the decision was made and their responses were all "best of luck" etc.....but not from Vandy......Their response was totally over the top --- and these points need to be made to provide a balanced view towards this forum.....from someone who was "inside" and saw the nasty side of recruiting and of a coaches' character......just the facts.....

I can't argue with you that he may have been rude.

What if I started laying it all that your son's coach has a nasty side? Is that productive? Just using that as an example, but you don't really know because those things aren't really discussed here and shouldn't be.

If you want a balanced viewpoint, you got to remember that everyone sees things differently.



JMO.

Reading about others' experiences with specific coaches helpful to those of us who hope to be dealing with these issues in a few years. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but certainly something to consider.

Although if I tell my son that someone was rude to Trepfan's son, that would be considered a dealbreaker for him.

LHPMom

TRhit, just for your information, it was not hearsay at all. I will not elaborate any more on the issue but trust me....IT WAS NOT HEARSAY!

For those parents who have kids that are talented enough to go through the recruitment experience, it is very important that both good and bad experiences are noted......otherwise both the parent and kid do not realize the situation they have gotten themselves into unitl it is too late (commitment).

Good and bad being noted. However, this guy has been very successful at recruiting. Many of the kids he recruited got themselves into great situations which made a lot of parents very happy!

Just to keep things in balance, not everyone dislikes Eric Bakich and some think very highly of him. To be a successful recruiter, you have to work harder than the competition. The competition works very hard. It’s extremely competitive! This guy recruited Pedro Alvarez, David Price and many other top players to Vanderbilt.

From Terps Website…

Bakich spent the last seven seasons with the Commodores, where he established himself as one of the best recruiters in college baseball, hauling in top-25 classes all seven years in Nashville, including the top-ranked national class in 2005 and second-ranked national class in 2008.

"Erik will bring instant enthusiasm and energy to the program," Dan Trump, who serves as associate athletics director and supervisor of the baseball program, said. "He was part of building Vanderbilt Baseball from the ground up, which was of great appeal to me and the search committee. We expect our program to be competing in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments in the very-near future.

"I want to thank Rick Furr, executive director for Professional Sports Management & Associates, Inc., with his assistance in conducting our national search for our next head baseball coach. "His expertise and contacts throughout college and professional baseball was an invaluable resource. I also want to thank the search committee who identified a fantastic pool of applicants. Throughout the process, it was clear that Erik Bakich was the best candidate for the job. Erik's qualities and approach are the perfect fit for the future success of Maryland Baseball."

Bakich brings familiarity with ACC baseball, as he began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Clemson in 2002, assisting in the Tigers' recruiting efforts and working with the team's outfielders and infielders. Clemson advanced to the College World Series that season.

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin added Bakich to his staff in 2003 and handed over the team's primary recruiting duties immediately.
"I am very happy and proud for Erik and his wife, Jiffy. He is a one-of-a-kind person, coach, recruiter and friend," Corbin said. "When I came to Vanderbilt, I brought him along as a 24-year-old recruiting coordinator with no experience and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
"Erik played a very important role in the resurgence of our program and he put us on the map, nationally, in recruiting. He has all the skills to be a very successful coach for a long time. I am very excited that Maryland has chosen to go in this direction. The players and University will really enjoy him."

Prior to his coaching career, Bakich was a standout player for two seasons at East Carolina after transferring from San Jose City College in California. Bakich finished his playing career at ECU with a .315 batting average, 14 home runs and 85 RBIs, helping lead the Pirates to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championships in 1999 and 2000.

"I have been fortunate to compete at the highest levels of college baseball, from East Carolina to Clemson to Vanderbilt and would not be here without the coaches who have shaped me as a person along the way," Bakich said. "I don't think I can put into words how much I appreciate Tim Corbin and what he has meant to me, personally. He has taught me everything I know about recruiting, about coaching being a lifestyle and has played as much a role shaping me as a person and coach as anyone. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Jiffy, for her love, support and selflessness over the last six years, enabling me to recruit at the very highest level and ultimately create this amazing opportunity."

Has he had any luck so far?

U of M will need to get rid of their current baseball offices behind the right field fence -- a trailer --

Since July 1st my son and I have been dealing with Coach Bakich. He went to every one of my sons games in East Cobb and I had the pleasure of having a two hour morning meeting with him. All I can say is this guy is a very impressive individual. My son and I visited Maryland this week so I may have some insight into your concerns.

There is to much information to write about from our conversations, meetings and visit. If you have questions about where Maryland baseball is going I will try and tell you what we heard but here is what impressed me the most.

The Athletic Department wanted to give the baseball coaches new offices but they refused, they said the trailer was fine for them lets spend the money on the players and the facilities to make Maryland baseball better. That's what a good leader does, they put their staff or in this case players, before themselves.

I have no doubt Coach Bakich can make my son a better baseball player but I am really looking forward to is him helping my son become a better person. Yes we talked alot about baseball but he also talked about what the Maryland experience will do to help him become a more productive person after his time at Maryland is done. What else can a parent ask for.

During our visit we were told the Maryland Athletic Department has been highly ranked compared its peers (for the past few years). That tells me they have excellent leadership and a great staff who are doing their homework before they hire coaches. I am sure Maryland performed extensive due diligence on Coach Bakich before he was hired.

For those of you bashing the coach you should reserve your commentary until you meet him - you may change your tune in a hurry.

Did you say you had a 2 hour meeting with him at the WWBA Tournament ? Interesting.