Staff?
- Thread starter Mulder14
- Start date
I don't know of any names but I would imagine the new assistants would have some type of connection to John Cohen.
The assistants are going to be interesting. NM has worked at a couple of different places, including here. However, the majority has been with Cohen and at MSU. So, most of his connections are likely to be with Cohen. That makes me think that the coaching tree isn't that big. However, with the increase in coaching camps and things like that NM may have some connections to coaches that are outside of his own resume. I really think it is a wait and see. The biggest deal is for him to find a pitching coach that can really recognize and develop talent.
What about someone like Doug Flynn? Would he be a viable candidate with the maturity and experience NM might could utilize? Others?
I don't really know that Flynn has much coaching experience, but I could be wrong. I think Flynn would be great as a volunteer assistant for a while and then see how he does with coaching the infield and stuff like that. Still, I don't know that I would want him being a hired assistant. Of course, a lot of it depends greatly upon how they are going to set up the roles. In the past NM has coached a lot of positions, so is he going to coach outfielders or some other position? If it is outfield then he'll need a guy for pitching and a guy for infielders. If he is going to just coach hitting he'll need someone that can handle all defense. It just depends on how he wants to set up his coaching staff.
Don't know if Doug would even be interested, but he sure would know infield defense.... former Gold Glove winner with the Mets !
We know the pitching coach won't be Gary Henderson. Seriously, I hope he lands a veteran pitching coach, I also wonder if Keith Vorhoff will be retained, he is an unpaid volunteer coach, but he is very close to the returning players.
Not sure if any of these have interest, but I wouldn't mind any of these guys on staff:
Brandon Webb, UK grad and Ashland native, 2006 Cy Young Winner with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Willie Blair, Morehead grad and Paintsville native, current pitching coach for the Erie Seawolves, a Double-A affiliate for the Detroit Tigers
Scott Downs, UK grad and Louisville native, 10+ years major league experience currently living in Lexington
Jon Rauch, Morehead grad and Oldham County native, Olympic Gold medalist and 10+ years in MLB
Chris Burke, Tennessee grad and Louisville native, currently runs a private baseball academy in Louisville
Corey Hart, Bowling Green native, 2x MLB All-Star and current free agent who is interested in coaching
Austin Kearns, Lexington native, 10+ years in the MLB
Josh Anderson, EKU grad and Somerset native, former major leaguer, current coach at Pulaski County, and runs a baseball/softball academy in Somerset
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Regardless of if they want to coach here, we should get these guys on campus to interact with the players. Fostering relationships with former professionals is not only a cool experience for the players, it also reinforces that this program and this area produces success.
Brandon Webb, UK grad and Ashland native, 2006 Cy Young Winner with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Willie Blair, Morehead grad and Paintsville native, current pitching coach for the Erie Seawolves, a Double-A affiliate for the Detroit Tigers
Scott Downs, UK grad and Louisville native, 10+ years major league experience currently living in Lexington
Jon Rauch, Morehead grad and Oldham County native, Olympic Gold medalist and 10+ years in MLB
Chris Burke, Tennessee grad and Louisville native, currently runs a private baseball academy in Louisville
Corey Hart, Bowling Green native, 2x MLB All-Star and current free agent who is interested in coaching
Austin Kearns, Lexington native, 10+ years in the MLB
Josh Anderson, EKU grad and Somerset native, former major leaguer, current coach at Pulaski County, and runs a baseball/softball academy in Somerset
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Regardless of if they want to coach here, we should get these guys on campus to interact with the players. Fostering relationships with former professionals is not only a cool experience for the players, it also reinforces that this program and this area produces success.
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This is a good list to fill vacancy and be a major coupe if he can pull Blair as his pitching coach. I like the idea of hiring a pro pitching coach. Those guys do not make much money in the minors so may not be as far fetched as some lead us to believe. Also, I doubt Josh Anderson would accept as he has settled back here in Pulaski Co. coaching his Alma Mater. He no longer has the baseball/softball academy opened up here in Somerset.
I think that we need someone who is an experienced coach and not just someone who knows baseball. We need someone who has proven that they can coach up players and teach the little things. Guys like Burke and Webb were excellent players, but that doesn't mean that they can coach. Unfortunately, there aren't enough spots on a baseball coaching staff to have weak links. We need to make sure that we hire someone who has proven that they can develop pitchers.
I'm not saying that Burke or Webb couldn't be great, but I would rather see them start as volunteer assistants that help and then earn their way up.
I'm not saying that Burke or Webb couldn't be great, but I would rather see them start as volunteer assistants that help and then earn their way up.
I think he could hire Chris Burke, he would do wonders with our infield defense IMO. Nick has worked with outfielders and catchers in the past, and will no doubt be the batting coach.
Agree the pitching coach needs to be experienced, and a proven leader. The recruiting would be spread among the staff, no doubt. I would retain Vorhoff as a familiar face, but I would have him coaching 1st base, not 3rd base. He cost us the Arky game holding Mahan at 3rd, when he would almost certainly have scored the tying run.
Agree the pitching coach needs to be experienced, and a proven leader. The recruiting would be spread among the staff, no doubt. I would retain Vorhoff as a familiar face, but I would have him coaching 1st base, not 3rd base. He cost us the Arky game holding Mahan at 3rd, when he would almost certainly have scored the tying run.
Burke seems to be doing pretty well with private lessons in Louisville (although who can say how lucrative that sort of thing is or can be), and he's got the ESPN stuff on the side. I don't know what an assistant SEC baseball coach makes, but unless he just really wants to get into coaching - and if that were the case, you'd think he'd be in coaching by now - he may not have any interest....
He interviewed for the Tennessee HC job when the Vols ultimetly went with Dave Serrano. How's that working out on Rocky Top ? An ast. coac in the SEC will make anywhere from $100-175,000 per year depending on experience and results. Some ultra successful assistants make in excess of 200,000.
Down here in Dallas it is around $100 an hour for individual instruction. And way less stressful than being a head coach.
In his Wikipedia file it says that he did interview for the UT job. Also has been posted on a thread on this site.
Okay. I know it has been knocked around but didn't know if anyone at UT every confirmed. No big deal really.
Probably a moot point anyway, I am sure Coach Nick has his own staff ideas already lined up. I will be curious as to whom he gets, particularily as our pitching coach !