David Pierce discusses offseason moves, new assistant coaches

On3 imageby:Joe Cook07/10/22

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Texas head coach David Pierce has made plenty of moves ever since the Texas Longhorns baseball team’s season ended at the hands of the Texas A&M Aggies in the College World Series.

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On Friday, Pierce spoke with 104.9 The Horn‘s Bucky and Erin to discuss those moves within his program, including parting ways with Sean Allen, changing Philip Miller’s role, replacing Troy Tulowitzki, and making two full-time assistant coaching hires.

Interview starts at the 22:30 mark

On offseason changes

“Sean and Philip and I have been together for 11 years at three different schools. We’ve won a lot of baseball games together and they’re like family to me, and they are still to this day.

Where we put Philip in this new role, it’s actually a cutting edge role for us. It’s a special assistant and kind of my right-hand person. You see that in basketball, you see it in football, and just the way our sport is growing and our staff is growing, there’s just more and more to do behind the scenes, in the inner works of the office, and so many things. Recruiting, setting up recruiting trips, unofficial, officials, how we’re expanding the scouting report, there’s so much to do. And Philip can do anything. He can wash the baseballs, he can go out and throw BP and hit fungo all day, and he can do a great job of recruiting. He’s just been a tremendous piece and I wanted to keep that piece. Chris Del Conte has done a good job of allowing us to do that as we get ready to expand into the SEC and knowing we have unlimited coaches. We were able to jump start, which made sense to me.”

On Sean Allen

“Sean and I just basically philosophically separated a little bit. Nothing more than that. There was never any one incident that happened, and it was difficult. We got off the plane Monday coming back from Omaha, and in my role you have to make tough decisions. I just felt like I had to make the best decision for University of Texas baseball no matter what, and that’s what we did. I’m happy for Sean. He was just hired on with Ohio State, coach (Bill Mosiello) from TCU takes that job, and he’ll do great. He and Mo will do great together, and I wish them only the best.”

On Steve Rodriguez

“He brings great experience, a great baseball mind. He’s played in the big leagues, been an assistant coach in Division I at Pepperdine, then took over the reins there and had a lot of success. I actually met Steve back in his days as a head coach at Pepperdine and he just is a very solid person, a very consistent person that understands and has networking throughout the country. In the recruiting piece, he’s real connected in California, very good in the state, but this is an experienced guy that gives you another set of eyes on the bench. Brings in another piece to our foundation, our philosophy.

Rod does a great job with infield play, not only teaching how to field it and throw it, but the combination of working with pitchers and infielders in the middle, and holding runners. He just brings this overall baseball mind. The guy played a long time for I think three different teams and is just a really good baseball person. He can recruit. He can coach, and he’s a guy that’s going to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I think he’s excited. I don’t think he’s looking for his next head job. I think he’s excited about coming here and trying to win a national championship.”

On Woody Williams

“As you coach against people, you’re constantly recognizing what they do well. We talk to our team about this a lot, recognizing what the other team does well and what we can learn from them. When I coach against coaches, there is certain guys I’ll watch and say ‘he has great game management,’ or ‘I like the way he calls a game,’ and I’ve noticed that with Woody for the last few years playing them in our fall games when San Jac came over.

I’ve known Woody for 30 years. This is one of the best baseball minds in the country, and I don’t mean in college baseball, professional baseball, junior college, one of the best baseball minds in the country. He came out of Cy-Far High School as a player then went to the University of Houston as a shortstop. Then, converted and became a 15-year veteran, Major League Baseball pitcher. He understands not just pitching, but how to get people out and how to attack hitters.

He’s been on both sides of the ball, and with he and Rod, you think of just the baseball piece, but if I’m a family and I’m going to send my son to a program to be mentored and be coached by certain men, these guys are off the charts. Woody is just a great human being that’s going to be tremendous with our players and tremendous with our development.”

On Troy Tulowitzki

“Troy was tremendous. He is an incredible, simple human being. When he was contacted about the USC job, he came in my office and said ‘coach, my head is messed up.’ We’re getting ready to go to Omaha, and he says ‘my head is messed up, what do you think I should do about it?’

I go, ‘let’s finish the season then go interview. Go take a look at it.’ He did, and it just wasn’t right. He was offered the job, but it wasn’t the right time for he and his family. He felt comfortable coming back home and considering Austin his home now, but he just felt like within their family he needed to be home a little bit more. That’s one of the reasons why he retired. You’ve got to remember, Troy came out of retirement straight into a cage right away, hitting a fungo. He’s a baseball junkie. He’ll be around our program. He left on a very, very positive note, has been such a contributor, and will continue to be a part of our program in a different way, just being there for us.

I think he’s going to get out and probably work with some professional guys, some other college guys, and just have the ability to pick and choose how he wants to be a part of baseball and be a huge part of his family.

We’re so proud of him and how he handled everything with us. Just a tremendous, tremendous person. Never talked much about the other stuff. It was constantly about our players, our program, and winning. Just really appreciate his piece with us over the last 2.5 years.”

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