Source: Troy Tulowitzki expected to return to Texas; David Pierce to be pitching coach in 2024
Five-time MLB All-Star and former Longhorn volunteer assistant Troy Tulowitzki is expected to be the Longhorns’ next director of player development, a source confirmed to Inside Texas. The Austin American-Statesman first reported the news.
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In addition, an Inside Texas source confirmed the Statesman’s report that head coach David Pierce will be the team’s pitching coach in 2024.
Pierce just completed his seventh season leading the program. The Longhorns won a share of the Big 12 championship, Pierce’s third, and reached the super regional round for the fourth time under Pierce. Woody Williams served as pitching coach for one year before parting ways with the program following the season. Williams replaced Sean Allen following the 2022 season.
Pierce’s area of expertise is pitching, as he was Wayne Graham’s pitching coach with Rice before embarking on his own head coaching career.
Texas had a team ERA of 4.18 and a team WHIP of 1.40 in 2023. Lucas Gordon was named the Big 12 pitcher of the year and received several All-America honors, while LeBarron Johnson nabbed second-team All-American accolades from Collegiate Baseball Magazine.
Tulowitzki was with the Longhorns for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. The Longhorns were 111-52 during Tulowitzki’s time with the program, including two College World Series appearances, a Big 12 title, and a top-five finish. Shortstop Trey Faltine and third basemen Cam Williams and Skylar Messinger were several of Tulowitzki’s notable pupils, with all three left-side infielders drafted in recent years.
Tulowitzki was often mentioned by players for his ability to develop defensive skills and also assist in batters’ approaches at the plate. He joined the Longhorn baseball program following the completion of his MLB career in 2019. Tulowitzki finished his career with 1391 hits and a .290 batting average.
Pierce is 261-138 as head coach at Texas.
