VT Mason Out

joemktg posted:

Back to the great Commonwealth...

http://www.hokiesports.com/pr/recaps/20170523aaa.html

A new HC will walk into an excellent situation with a smart AD and an overall athletic program on the rise.

I'd like to see Coach Stiffler (VCU) get a crack at it. Sorta reminds me of Monte Lee going to Clemson from CofC. Coach Stiffler knows the VA market well, is an excellent coach, and has run an excellent program in the competitive A10.

Yep.   Love Stiff.  Getting things done, and has great ideas.  IMO, he can cut it in the ACC, but I don't want him there yet (my 2017 will be a Ram).    #LetsGoVCU

VT is going to be a great get for someone.  Last year, I was sure Jack Leggett would take the wheel.    We were amazed Mason survived that season.

I think VT's primary pool  will focus on HCs from mid-majors who have had success, and take their teams into this year's regionals. It may also include assistant coaches from the Power 5 who are ready to take the helm elsewhere, e.g., Coach Mac is a perfect example (although he wouldn't leave UVA). Coach Espo (USC) is another example.

One more thing about Coach Stiffler: there is no doubt in my mind that he will be very successful with a Power 5 team.

Stiffler from VCU and Finwood from ODU are interesting candidates and have shown an ability to recruit the state as well as nationally....

Dark horse candidate - Marc Calvi from South Alabama (was the PC at South Carolina for their btb national championships on a staff that also featured Clemson's Monte Lee).

I'd guess that most coaches in Va would love a crack at this job. Finwood is top of line coach but ODU is better positioned to win than Tech. Stiffer would be good for sure. But tell me this - if McGuire can do what he has done at Roanoke, what could he do with this job? Took a club sport essentially and won 2 games in WS. Wouldn't be first D3 coach to move to this level. I believe Mike Fox followed this path? No better guy at evaluating talent and getting most out of kids. It would be unconventional but he'd do well. 

Some great coaches mentioned here. I think the VTech job is a very attractive one. In a Power 5 Conference in a talent rich state. Sounds like the right coach can come in and put the program back as one of the first options for Va elite players.

How long will the school wait before picking the next HC? The season is over and recruiting is about to go into overdrive. Time is moving fast. Showcases and tourneys are being filled.  

pabaseballdad posted:

joemktg posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

I can't imagine VT will have a hard time recruiting quality players considering the educations gained there, the conference, the entire college experience.

Not that VT had a hard time recruiting players, but that VT's recruiting prowess stinks...esp. with regards to players in his backyard. Their outreach was less than competitive.

my son is a 2017, western pa.  Va tech did recruit him but it was a convoluted process, due mainly, I think to recent turnover.  they were on him early, then coach K left, then nothing, then re-entered process aggressively right as he was making decision to go elsewhere and it was already too late.    I'm sure coaching churn has been part of the issue. 

Western PA?  Was your son recruited also by Pitt or WVU?  Just curious.  

Coach Hughes weighs in: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/...5a-e79ac9d737a1.html

And I call BS on this approach.

• VT should always compete like hell for the player in the Commonwealth. Will they win vs. UVA? Probably not. But VT is the only other Power Conference school in the Commonwealth, and that has tremendous value (not to mention a wonderful institution of learning).
• That logic of going outside is absolutely flawed. Where do you think the top players in another state will first go, assuming it's a baseball state? Their own state schools. Running around the country trying to find those outliers makes little sense.

On another note...Coach Szefc would be a wonderful choice, but my bet is that he goes to Columbia, SC.

joemktg posted:

Coach Hughes weighs in: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/...5a-e79ac9d737a1.html

And I call BS on this approach.

• VT should always compete like hell for the player in the Commonwealth. Will they win vs. UVA? Probably not. But VT is the only other Power Conference school in the Commonwealth, and that has tremendous value (not to mention a wonderful institution of learning).
• That logic of going outside is absolutely flawed. Where do you think the top players in another state will first go, assuming it's a baseball state? Their own state schools. Running around the country trying to find those outliers makes little sense.

 

On another note...Coach Szefc would be a wonderful choice, but my bet is that he goes to Columbia, SC.

Good article. I semi-agree with the former coach's points. I went to VT, my son in going there this Fall (though he hopes to play club ball), and I was at English Field in summer of 2015. It looked like a very nice D1 facility to me, and I've been to UNC, NC State, GMU, JMU, and NC State (not UVA surprisingly). I suspect the upgrades will make it even better. I did not care for the turf field; VT is famous (or used to be) for their natural grass research. But I suppose that will not change.

Anyone who has been to Blacksburg knows it is a beautiful campus in one of the prettiest areas of Virginia. And clearly, the education is top-notch.  Yes, the tippity-top in-state recruits will probably choose UVA and UNC over VT, but I have to believe that VT should be in the mix. Going far out of state does not seem necessary as a primary effort. But my son was a D3-level recruit due to size. I'm no expert.

For folks who have first-hand knowledge of VT and other ACC (D1) baseball facilities, how does VT compare?

"Yes, the tippity-top in-state recruits will probably choose UVA and UNC over VT, but I have to believe that VT should be in the mix. Going far out of state does not seem necessary as a primary effort."

My reading is Coaches Hughes agrees VT was in the mix.  The issue was they didn't win those battles. I tend to think the insight of Coach Hughes is awfully informative.  While he does not say so, he clearly communicates that the recruiting budget at VT was not "unlimited." Necessarily, he and his staff needed to allocate their dollars where they would have the most success in getting top recruits on campus.

Implicit in his comments is the fact that he wanted to win both on the field and in recruiting battles. After sufficient losses in recruiting those in-state players who would be needed to win on the field, he realized a change of strategy was needed.

If you have met and sat with Coach Hughes for any period of time, you know he is a terrific recruiter, terrific family man, and a coach you would want for your son.  Coaching, identifying talent to recruit and recruiting talent in state was not the VT issue when it came to recruiting and he says so in the article. He could get the recruits on campus.  Once they got to other facilities, VT could not compete so he went nationally and did so very successfully.

INFIELDDAD: I just re-read the article and my post and I stand by it regarding out of state vs. in-state recruitment. I'm sure Coach Huhges is a great coach, person, and recruiter. I'm glad the facility is being upgraded and I hope they go after a well-established HC rather than an assistant. Hopefully the combination, in addition to VT/Blacksburg being what it is, will get VT into a top ACC baseball school.

Still like to hear how VT's current facilities compare to other ACC/D1 programs. 

I could tell you stories of how Pete Hughes helped players in this state who weren't even going to come to Tech.  Players will tell you how much they admire that guy.  His move to Oklahoma was a big loss not only for Tech, but for all of us.

His comments about traveling ring true because while some may think players in other states would just as soon stay home, that's not really correct.  For one thing, though Blacksburg is colder than a lot of other parts of VA, it's still further south than a lot of places.  For another, it's ACC baseball, which is (along with the SEC) the highest level of competition you can find in college.  There are also going to be a ton of baseball players who will enjoy being in Lane Stadium on Saturdays in the fall, that's just a fun time and a great selling point for those who love collegiate athletics.

The reality is that climbing over others to try to ascend the ACC standings is a tall order, but it's been done.  UVA certainly accomplished that when it hired O'Connor and his staff; people shouldn't forget that before them, UVA was pretty much where VT is now.  Wake Forest's hire of Tom Walters took a while to take off but here in year 9 they are in a Super Regional.  So it can be done, and more sustainably than once every few years.

I would love to see it.  It'd be great for the state, for our home-grown talent, and for all who love a good Tech-UVA rivalry.  Because let's face it, it's not really a rivalry unless it's an even match on a consistent basis.  I mean, would you consider Tech-UVA a football rivalry right now?  Ha!  Buzz Williams is making the basketball matchups must-see TV if not a must-buy ticket.  How cool would it be if that happened in baseball?

Lets be honest to compete in the ACC you need to recruit nationally.  Facilities, currently VT is nice but its not top tier, it causes recruits to pause when contemplating a move there.  When my son was recruited he noticed there was no legit indoor hitting facility at the time among other issues.

If you look at Hughes'  VT 2009/2010 breakout team you will notice there are a lot of out of state players and transfers.   I do know a number of VA posters complained AFTER his success that he was ignoring the in state talent but is there really enough D1 talent in VA/NC to staff the numerous local D1 schools?  Some of the top VA players will be recruited nationally and won't go to any school in VA.  If I remember correctly driving from Raleigh to Blacksburg just about every exit had a D1 baseball school.. 

Maybe its time to bring back coach Gambino.  Don't know his contract status, but he's one reason my son went to VT.

.

CollegeParentNoMore posted:

Some of the top VA players will be recruited nationally and won't go to any school in VA. 

And some will.

Not sure I understand. If VA has so many players that do meet ACC criteria, why doesnt the UVA roster have 34 players instead of 17 from the state?  Maybe because they just dont meet the criteria?

I would think that VT would be more attractive to an out of state player, there is plenty of talent all across the country, coaches just have to find them.  You really need a sharp recruiter to find players that will be able to fit into that program.

While many  players might want to play at  an ACC, SEC, Pac12, etc.  program, it doesn't work for everyone, no matter where you are from.

Not to diss anything stated, I just don't get the point. Kind of reminds me of the days when Clemson recruited more out of state than in state, so many people complained about Leggett, but every year they went pretty deep in post season. Same might be said of other teams in power conferences. You have to recruit who is right for your program, no matter where they come from.  

In that regard, I agree with COLLEGEPARENTNOMORE.

JMO

Not every VA player finds UVA to be the right fit for them for any number of reasons. Undoubtedly, you could build a top tier team from just VA kids if they all wanted to go to one school and could get in. But many of the best ones want to go pro or to some other more exotic location.

I think it is nicer for the players to have kids from all over. They learn more from each other about the world and different perspectives and when they are able to come together as a team it seems to mean so much.

I love that aspect of college baseball more than anything else about it.

Ted22 posted:

Not every VA player finds UVA to be the right fit for them for any number of reasons. Undoubtedly, you could build a top tier team from just VA kids if they all wanted to go to one school and could get in. But many of the best ones want to go pro or to some other more exotic location.

I think it is nicer for the players to have kids from all over. They learn more from each other about the world and different perspectives and when they are able to come together as a team it seems to mean so much.

I love that aspect of college baseball more than anything else about it.

Nice post. I agree with the part about having players from all over. I think that at one point in time, that used to be the norm but probably  the high costs have changed that concept.

TPM posted:

Not sure I understand. If VA has so many players that do meet ACC criteria, why doesnt the UVA roster have 34 players instead of 17 from the state?  Maybe because they just dont meet the criteria?

 

Academic criteria.

joemktg posted:

TPM posted:

Not sure I understand. If VA has so many players that do meet ACC criteria, why doesnt the UVA roster have 34 players instead of 17 from the state?  Maybe because they just dont meet the criteria?

 

Academic criteria.

Well there ya go, they do not meet the criteria for these schools, so really doesn't matter how good you may or may not be.

There is nothing more frustrating than finding a recruit and academics disqualifies him. For that, you can't blame a coach, it's not easy keeping them eligible once they arrive on campus.

http://www.collegebaseballdail...szefc-as-head-coach/

Outstanding news BVAY.  Let's go HOKIES!

Wow.  For all the kvetching here, I wonder what things look like on the U. Md. board.  They've had so much coach turnover in the past 10 years they need a turnstile.  Szefc seemed to have finally built a winner and now he's leaving.  Makes you wonder why, given the Big Ten membership and all the athletic department money that was supposed to come with it.

Maybe it was just all the road trips to Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.,  to try to play outside in March?  FL, SC, NC and VA are a lot more conducive to baseball.

What a get for VT!! I really though Coach Szefc was the best candidate for South Carolina, and for VT to get him is a huge step forward. He now has an ACC team, new facilities, and a huge opportunity. Watch for Coach Szefc, Vaughn et al to drive VT into contention.

Anybody remember that 2015 super regional between UVA and Coach Szefc's Maryland team?   UVA had a rabbits foot in every players pocket to come out of that super regional.  MD played UVA tough in Charlottesville and Coach Szefc made some really good moves in that series.  This is a great opportunity for Coach Szefc and VT to take the program to the next level.   A great hire by AD Babcock. 

I remember that series. And I also recall the MD @ South Carolina series. joemktgson had MD as one of his final 3 choices, and that was because of the coaching staff (certainly wasn't the facilities!).