BEVO BEAT Baseball
In need of a baseball coach, where might Texas turn? A look at possible candidates
Posted May 31st, 2016
If you haven’t heard, Texas is without a baseball coach after parting ways with Augie Garrido on Monday morning.
Since the NCAA postseason has yet to begin and will run through the end of June, it’s unlikely a replacement will be named anytime soon.
To get a better idea of what direction athletic director Mike Perrin might go, let’s take a look at the coaches whose teams make up the latest Baseball America Top 25.
Rob Childress, Texas A&M – Would Texas hire an Aggie? Would an Aggie leave for Texas? Childress is an excellent coach, but this isn’t happening.
Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida – At Texas, he would be stepping into better facilities and better fan support. Plus, he’d get a bump in pay from the roughly $600,000 he’s making in Gainesville. Keep in mind, Garrido has made at least $1 million every season for several years.
Jim Morris, Miami – Highly successful, but Texas won’t be in the market for a 66-year-old head coach. Plus, Morris has announced the 2018 season will be his last.
John Cohen, Mississippi State – Despite overall success, Cohen’s teams have not fared particularly well in the SEC; 63-85-1 at Kentucky and 103-130 at Mississippi State.
Paul Mainieri, LSU – As attractive as Texas’ job might be, there’s a case to be made Mainieri has it better at LSU.
Mike Bianco, Ole miss – He’s been at Ole Miss since 2001, so why leave now?
Dan McDonnell, Louisville – Has coached the Cardinals for 10 years and in seven of them they’ve won 47 games or more.
Tim Tadlock, Texas Tech – Recently signed an extension to stay at his alma mater through 2022.
Monte Lee, Clemson – Hard to see him leaving Clemson after just one season.
Jim Schlossnagle, TCU – Coach of the Big 12 tournament champs has turned TCU into a top 10 job nationally.
Brian O’Connor, Virginia – Coach of defending NCAA champions has been promised facility upgrades at Virginia.
Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt – Many insiders believe Corbin has the best job in baseball because unlike his contemporaries at public schools he’s able to stretch Vandy’s scholarship dollar with supplemental aid.
Mike Martin, Florida State – At 72, old enough to remember Augie Garrido as a minor league outfielder for the Cleveland Indians organization.
Chad Holbrook, South Carolina – Seeking first Omaha appearance in four seasons with the Gamecocks.
Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina – Seeking his first Omaha appearance in 21 seasons at his alma mater.
David Pierce, Tulane – Houston native turned things around at Sam Houston and has now done the same in two seasons at Tulane. In March, the Green Wave took two of three from Texas in Austin. The former Rice assistant could be a candidate for the Owls job whenever Wayne Graham calls it quits.
John McCormack, Florida Atlantic
Scott Berry, Southern Miss
Tony Robichaux, Louisiana-Lafayette – Looking to take the Ragin’ Cajuns to a Super Regional for the third year in a row
Steve Owens, Bryant – The Bulldogs, seeded second in the Virginia regional, have won 14 of their last 15 games
Rick Vanderhook, Cal State Fullerton – Hey, it worked out well the last time Texas hired Fullerton’s coach.
Greg Beals, Ohio State
Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State – Young and bright, but it would be hard to convince the Oklahoma State grad to leave Stillwater. Holliday’s dad, Tom, was Garrido’s pitching coach in the mid 2000s.
Dan Heefner, Dallas Baptist – Has turned down several bigger jobs, including Baylor last offseason. There is some belief that he may have been waiting for Texas to open.
The shortlist, in no particular order: O’Sullivan, McDonnell, Schlossnagle, Pierce, Heefner.
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