Clemson baseball: The search goes on, but a name stands out

As the Super Regionals begin, Clemson is still looking for it’s next coach.

With the Super Regionals starting today it seems that the search for a new Clemson baseball coach will extend into at least next week, as it doesn’t seem like Clemson’s, or Graham Neff’s, style to make an announcement in the middle of one of the biggest week’s of the year for the sport.

The other obvious hindrance could be that the potential new hire could be busy coaching one of the teams still alive, as multiple names still coaching were at least discussed when the Clemson job came open.

Trying to read the tea leaves on this one is tenuous at best, as not much has been shared that I’m aware of, but here is where I currently stand on some of the options.

Link Jarrett [Notre Dame] – The long game for Jarrett may be his alma mater Florida State and he could see Clemson as an unnecessary stop along the way to his ultimate desired destination.  I love the way his team plays, and they’re still alive in the tournament, so there’s still a chance.  I’m feeling it less and less though.

Erik Bakich [Michigan] – The Wolverines were eliminated last weekend, so if he’s the guy why hasn’t the call been made?  There could be many reasons, big and small.  I like Bakich, maybe not as much as Jarrett, but then again, I haven’t paid as much attention to Michigan baseball.

Cliff Godwin [East Carolina] – Godwin is at his alma mater, leading them to their fourth Super Regional in 8 years (7 if you count the COVID season where there wasn’t a Super Regional) and his resume is pristine, at least on paper.  Maybe East Carolina is his destination location since he was born in that area, went to East Carolina and is having success.  That sounds as close to a lifer as you can get, plus the two names above have won at bigger schools while dealing with more pressure to do so.

Kevin O’Sullivan [Florida] – It seems difficult to believe he would leave Florida for Clemson at this point.  I certainly could be wrong, but that’s just how I see it, trying to be objective.  O’Sullivan has been at Florida for a long time, and that can work both ways.  Perhaps people don’t realize it, but he was at Clemson for nine years and has been at Florida for fifteen years.

Matthew LeCroy [Rochester Red Wings] – I find it difficult to believe he’ll walk away in the middle of a minor league season, but that’s just me.  He’s managing a AAA team, not rookie ball. I have no knowledge of LeCroy’s situation, but it would seem like he’s on the cusp of either a MLB coaching job or maybe even managerial position and it just feels like bad timing, if either or both sides are interested.

Scott Jackson [Liberty] – Jackson had his supporters early on, but as time has moved it seems that he never gained traction and the Tigers are looking for a coach more established in the bigger circles of college baseball.

One name stands out as a likely choice given what we know today

Considering everything above, it would seem like Bakich would be the most likely choice, but there’s a lot of known unknowns and unknown unknowns, as they say.

I think Bakich would be a fine choice, if that’s ultimately the direction the Tigers move in.