IF a change were to be made....

[AgesBlue]

following this soon to be disappointing Baseball season. Who would you as UK baseball diehard fans, like to see get the Head Coaching job ?
I have seen Chris Burke's name mentioned, and I know the UofL pitching coach, as well as Vandy's pitching coach are highly regarded. Personally, I would prefer a HC with experience, who does not have a Pitching coach background. Former catchers usually make good coaches, as do former infielders.
So I want to hear who might be a prospective HC if we are shocked, and a change is made !

 

[sluggercatfan]

following this soon to be disappointing Baseball season. Who would you as UK baseball diehard fans, like to see get the Head Coaching job ?
I have seen Chris Burke's name mentioned, and I know the UofL pitching coach, as well as Vandy's pitching coach are highly regarded. Personally, I would prefer a HC with experience, who does not have a Pitching coach background. Former catchers usually make good coaches, as do former infielders.
So I want to hear who might be a prospective HC if we are shocked, and a change is made !

I think before you can get the kind of individual you crave that the shovels are going to have to be put in the ground building the proposed new stadium

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

After reading your thread, I have looked up some rising coaching stars. One who is intriguing is a fellow named Mervyl Melendez, currently at Alabama State, formerly at Bethune Cookman.
He is 42 years old, and already has won 530 games, he took BC to 11 NCAA tournaments. He is a native of Puerto Rico, who grew up in Florida.
His roster at AS has players from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, PR, and Missouri. He has a multi-racial roster, and is currently 31-14 at AS, with wins over South Alabama, Troy, and a 3-0 win over Tennessee in Knoxville.
I don't know how a Latino HC would be received at UK, but he is certainly qualified to be a HC in a power 5 baseball league.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I don't know that we have the program to attract a big name head coach. So, we either have to lure away someone at a smaller program or we have to get a big time assistant. I don't think there is necessarily a right or a wrong answer to which of these routes is better. It's a gamble either way. Look at the Tennessee and Georgia hires. They both have bombed despite doing well at smaller schools.

I am inclined to want a pitching coach because pitching is the most important thing. In college baseball you have to be able to find and develop pitching if you want to be the best team. It is no coincidence that Louisville and Vanderbilt are top 10-15 teams every year... it's because their pitching is always top tier. We need to get to that level.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

I don't know that we have the program to attract a big name head coach. So, we either have to lure away someone at a smaller program or we have to get a big time assistant. I don't think there is necessarily a right or a wrong answer to which of these routes is better. It's a gamble either way. Look at the Tennessee and Georgia hires. They both have bombed despite doing well at smaller schools.

I am inclined to want a pitching coach because pitching is the most important thing. In college baseball you have to be able to find and develop pitching if you want to be the best team. It is no coincidence that Louisville and Vanderbilt are top 10-15 teams every year... it's because their pitching is always top tier. We need to get to that level.

We have a pitching coach for our HC now. I wouldn't mind having a great pitching coach as HC, but based on the past 8 years...... Well you know !

 

[sluggercatfan]

After reading your thread, I have looked up some rising coaching stars. One who is intriguing is a fellow named Mervyl Melendez, currently at Alabama State, formerly at Bethune Cookman.
He is 42 years old, and already has won 530 games, he took BC to 11 NCAA tournaments. He is a native of Puerto Rico, who grew up in Florida.
His roster at AS has players from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, PR, and Missouri. He has a multi-racial roster, and is currently 31-14 at AS, with wins over South Alabama, Troy, and a 3-0 win over Tennessee in Knoxville.
I don't know how a Latino HC would be received at UK, but he is certainly qualified to be a HC in a power 5 baseball league.

Don't know if I'm confused or insulted, but I don't see any reason UK wouldn't accept any individual despite his nationality if he can get the job done and this guy sure seems to have a good resume..."build it and BBN will come"

 

[Comebakatz3]

We have a pitching coach for our HC now. I wouldn't mind having a great pitching coach as HC, but based on the past 8 years...... Well you know !

We have a crappy pitching coach as a head coach. That's obvious from his results. Still, you have to have an excellent pitching coach and excellent pitching to be successful in college baseball, and especially in this league. So, we can either hire a coach that is a hitting or fielding coach, but if you do that you have to rely on that coach to hire an excellent pitching coach. Instead, you can go out and make sure you get someone with an excellent record as a pitching coach and make him the head coach. Then you know you have the most important part under control.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

We have a crappy pitching coach as a head coach. That's obvious from his results. Still, you have to have an excellent pitching coach and excellent pitching to be successful in college baseball, and especially in this league. So, we can either hire a coach that is a hitting or fielding coach, but if you do that you have to rely on that coach to hire an excellent pitching coach. Instead, you can go out and make sure you get someone with an excellent record as a pitching coach and make him the head coach. Then you know you have the most important part under control.

I think a former catcher would be a pretty good HC. He would be familiar with pitchers of course, and he would know infielders and outfielders, how they should set up the way you want to pitch each opposing hitter. Really don't care the background, just want a competent HC, one with some fire in his belly ala John Cohen !

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Don't know if I'm confused or insulted, but I don't see any reason UK wouldn't accept any individual despite his nationality if he can get the job done and this guy sure seems to have a good resume..."build it and BBN will come"

I like you, do not have any problem what so ever with a minority hire. There is a ' good ole boy ' faction out there that might not like it, but winning makes friends for everybody !

 

[AgesBlue]

After reading your thread, I have looked up some rising coaching stars. One who is intriguing is a fellow named Mervyl Melendez, currently at Alabama State, formerly at Bethune Cookman.
He is 42 years old, and already has won 530 games, he took BC to 11 NCAA tournaments. He is a native of Puerto Rico, who grew up in Florida.
His roster at AS has players from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, PR, and Missouri. He has a multi-racial roster, and is currently 31-14 at AS, with wins over South Alabama, Troy, and a 3-0 win over Tennessee in Knoxville.
I don't know how a Latino HC would be received at UK, but he is certainly qualified to be a HC in a power 5 baseball league.

Did not know about Melendez, however I remember Alabama State shutting out UT, maybe just last week in Knoxville. He sure seems qualified, 11 NCAA appearances at Bethune-Cookman in 12 years, I believe.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I like you, do not have any problem what so ever with a minority hire. There is a ' good ole boy ' faction out there that might not like it, but winning makes friends for everybody !

Just GitR Done!!!!

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

I don't know that we have the program to attract a big name head coach. So, we either have to lure away someone at a smaller program or we have to get a big time assistant. I don't think there is necessarily a right or a wrong answer to which of these routes is better. It's a gamble either way. Look at the Tennessee and Georgia hires. They both have bombed despite doing well at smaller schools.

I am inclined to want a pitching coach because pitching is the most important thing. In college baseball you have to be able to find and develop pitching if you want to be the best team. It is no coincidence that Louisville and Vanderbilt are top 10-15 teams every year... it's because their pitching is always top tier. We need to get to that level.

It's baseball. You pay a big time coach a big time salary and he will come.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

A name to remember, Greg Lovelady Wright State HC. Great pedigree, played at Miami (Fla.) was the catcher on 2 NC teams '99 and '01. He is in his 3rd season at WSU. Made the NCAA regional final at Illinois last year beat Ohio and Notre Dame, before losing to the host Illini.
WSU has won the Horizion league regular season title already, and is 38-14, with wins over N C State and Georgia on it's resume.
His current team has a .284 batting avg. and a 3.58 ERA, with 41 HR and a whopping 86 stolen bases, and fields at a .978 pct. He is a real rising star, who will be gobbled up by a Major program soon, count on it !

 

[AgesBlue]

A name to remember, Greg Lovelady Wright State HC. Great pedigree, played at Miami (Fla.) was the catcher on 2 NC teams '99 and '01. He is in his 3rd season at WSU. Made the NCAA regional final at Illinois last year beat Ohio and Notre Dame, before losing to the host Illini.
WSU has won the Horizion league regular season title already, and is 38-14, with wins over N C State and Georgia on it's resume.
His current team has a .284 batting avg. and a 3.58 ERA, with 41 HR and a whopping 86 stolen bases, and fields at a .978 pct. He is a real rising star, who will be gobbled up by a Major program soon, count on it !

A good looking HC prospect, I believe we played them in either 2014 or 15. I remember them going pretty far last year in the NCAA regional. Just a couple of hours North of Lexington, Mitch could drive up to interview him.

 

[Comebakatz3]

A name to remember, Greg Lovelady Wright State HC. Great pedigree, played at Miami (Fla.) was the catcher on 2 NC teams '99 and '01. He is in his 3rd season at WSU. Made the NCAA regional final at Illinois last year beat Ohio and Notre Dame, before losing to the host Illini.
WSU has won the Horizion league regular season title already, and is 38-14, with wins over N C State and Georgia on it's resume.
His current team has a .284 batting avg. and a 3.58 ERA, with 41 HR and a whopping 86 stolen bases, and fields at a .978 pct. He is a real rising star, who will be gobbled up by a Major program soon, count on it !

Sign him the heck up!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Some other good ideas might be David Pierce from Tulane. He is in only his second year at Tulane and the Green Wave are currently 35-15 and ranked as high as 11th in the nation. Pierce is a Texas guy so it might be hard to get him into into the midwest/southeast (whatever we're calling ourselves), but he has a pretty solid resume in a short time as a head coach. Tulane hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2008 until he took them there last year in his 1st year as head coach.

Scott Berry from Southern Miss continues to impress. They are currently ranked 17th in the nation with an RPI of 16, after playing a top 25 schedule. They are 36-15 on the season. Berry has basically been a pitching guru and has been a head coach for Southern Miss since 2009. He is one that has impressed me for a while.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

It seems obvious to most everyone.... almost, that we need a change in leadership for UK baseball. There should be no way this team, after getting off to a good start, should be struggling like they are.
The Sec schedule this year, is more manageable than in just about any season I can remember.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Everything was extremely favorable for UK this year. The fact that we returned two juniors that could have headed on to play professional baseball, one of which was a top prospect. Then, we had what turned out to be a pretty favorable schedule all things considered. Despite this being more favorable, and being a year older in most positions, we're not going to be much better than we were a year ago and it is extremely unlikely, IMO, that we make the tournament.


I see zero reasons to keep this staff around.

 

[sluggercatfan]

It seems obvious to most everyone.... almost, that we need a change in leadership for UK baseball. There should be no way this team, after getting off to a good start, should be struggling like they are.
The Sec schedule this year, is more manageable than in just about any season I can remember.

You can take the IF off your post and replace it with MUST

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

UK has accepted mediocrity in baseball for several years. We normally start fast till the SEC starts then we struggle. Has something been said about a possible coaching change or just another year of wishing?

 

[Comebakatz3]

UK has accepted mediocrity in baseball for several years. We normally start fast till the SEC starts then we struggle. Has something been said about a possible coaching change or just another year of wishing?

We are mostly just wishing. Barnhart really likes Henderson. However, this is a pretty bad year for us and next year doesn't look like it will be better, IMO. Henderson only has one year left on his contract. It doesn't make sense to give him another year. Just cut him loose and move on.

 

[sluggercatfan]

We are mostly just wishing. Barnhart really likes Henderson. However, this is a pretty bad year for us and next year doesn't look like it will be better, IMO. Henderson only has one year left on his contract. It doesn't make sense to give him another year. Just cut him loose and move on.

With the new stadium supposedly coming in '18...you go get the best HEAD COACHING candidate in her and give him a head start with the new stadium under construction and market the hell of of all of it...IF YOU BUILD IT AND WIN#BBN WILL COME! !

 

[jauk11]

Well, looks like it is a done deal, everyone on here has fired Henderson already.

Wait a minute, have you notified mitch yet? How much is his buyout?

You do realize it took him ten years to wake up to what was going on in the Money Cow program don't you?

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well, looks like it is a done deal, everyone on here has fired Henderson already.

Wait a minute, have you notified mitch yet? How much is his buyout?

You do realize it took him ten years to wake up to what was going on in the Money Cow program don't you?

Louisville can play their way into being the number 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and they are the favorite to win it all according to several experts. If that happens while UK sits at home watching the entire tournament on television then I most certainly think you have to make a change if you're Barnhart. It is scary as heck to think about that in about a month Louisville could be hoisting a CWS trophy while we can finish no better than 8-9 in our own conference.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Louisville can play their way into being the number 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and they are the favorite to win it all according to several experts. If that happens while UK sits at home watching the entire tournament on television then I most certainly think you have to make a change if you're Barnhart. It is scary as heck to think about that in about a month Louisville could be hoisting a CWS trophy while we can finish no better than 8-9 in our own conference.

And Otis has only been in a very good baseball conf. for only it's second year, but look at what McDonald had to work with vs any UK coach at this time. If the $$$$$$$$$$$folks aren't going to take this serious, why bother. That is the difference

 

[Comebakatz3]

And Otis had only been in a very good baseball cof for only it's second year, but look at McDonald had to work with vs any UK coach at this time. If the $$$$$$$$$$$folks aren't going to take this serious, why bother. That is the difference

McDonnell definitely has a better hand dealt in terms of facilities, but let's not pretend like Henderson didn't have some distinct advantages over him. Henderson was playing in the best conference in the country and was coming off some unprecedented success for Kentucky. McDonnell was playing in the Big East and he took Louisville, a team that went 31-29 the year before, and turned them into a 47 win team and took them to the CWS his first year. In the decade prior to that Louisville had only been to 1 NCAA regional. I think had Henderson parlayed the success that Cohen set up into immediate wins and gotten to super regionals or even the CWS then we would already be playing in a new stadium.

Fact of the matter is that McDonnell is an ELITE head coach and our head coach is average. In my opinion, we already get some big time recruits and big time commitments, so our lack of facilities aren't hurting us in that regard. What is hurting us is an inability to develop that talent and put that talent in a position to win ball games. Hopefully Barnhart wakes up and sees what Henderson really is.

 

[sluggercatfan]

McDonnell definitely has a better hand dealt in terms of facilities, but let's not pretend like Henderson didn't have some distinct advantages over him. Henderson was playing in the best conference in the country and was coming off some unprecedented success for Kentucky. McDonnell was playing in the Big East and he took Louisville, a team that went 31-29 the year before, and turned them into a 47 win team and took them to the CWS his first year. In the decade prior to that Louisville had only been to 1 NCAA regional. I think had Henderson parlayed the success that Cohen set up into immediate wins and gotten to super regionals or even the CWS then we would already be playing in a new stadium.

Fact of the matter is that McDonnell is an ELITE head coach and our head coach is average. In my opinion, we already get some big time recruits and big time commitments, so our lack of facilities aren't hurting us in that regard. What is hurting us is an inability to develop that talent and put that talent in a position to win ball games. Hopefully Barnhart wakes up and sees what Henderson really is.

I don't know CB3, Cohen was promised a new stadium and it still isn't built today after all these years. I am in total agreement of bringing in a new guy, but let's not snow him like they did Cohen. That is why they need shovels in the ground no later thanJuly before we take that step. I just think it is a shame that THE STATE UNIVERSITY is playing catchup to a city college. I would think somebody would be embarrassed $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Comebakatz3]

I don't know CB3, Cohen was promised a new stadium and it still isn't built today after all these years. I am in total agreement of bringing in a new guy, but let's not snow him like they did Cohen. That is why they need shovels in the ground no later thanJuly before we take that step. I just think it is a shame that THE STATE UNIVERSITY is playing catchup to a city college. I would think somebody would be embarrassed $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yea, they have been promising it for years. It was supposed to be apart of the IMG thing, but that fell through. Still, I think with more success comes more demand. If were were having the success of Louisville the demand for better facilities and stuff like that would be huge, and the donors, who might be attending the games, would be putting up the money to get the stuff. Also, remember how Cohen went around and actually promoted the program? Henderson put an end to that pretty much entirely and that is not helping his cause.

 

[AgesBlue]

McDonnell definitely has a better hand dealt in terms of facilities, but let's not pretend like Henderson didn't have some distinct advantages over him. Henderson was playing in the best conference in the country and was coming off some unprecedented success for Kentucky. McDonnell was playing in the Big East and he took Louisville, a team that went 31-29 the year before, and turned them into a 47 win team and took them to the CWS his first year. In the decade prior to that Louisville had only been to 1 NCAA regional. I think had Henderson parlayed the success that Cohen set up into immediate wins and gotten to super regionals or even the CWS then we would already be playing in a new stadium.

Fact of the matter is that McDonnell is an ELITE head coach and our head coach is average. In my opinion, we already get some big time recruits and big time commitments, so our lack of facilities aren't hurting us in that regard. What is hurting us is an inability to develop that talent and put that talent in a position to win ball games. Hopefully Barnhart wakes up and sees what Henderson really is.

You do understand that this is tolerated in Baseball and Football, being way behind UofL. But let that happen in Basketball, and there would be HOWLING like a coyote with hemaroids. Our university and most UK fans only care about 1 sport and that is Men's Basketball pure and simple. That is because UK is the premier program in the country, or 1A at least. We must get over the hump in baseball and football, much like Women's hoops and Softball have done, getting to Elite 8 and the WCWS. When they do break thru, then you will see an athletic administration that would HAVE to put money and resources in Baseball and Footbabll !!

 

[Comebakatz3]

You do understand that this is tolerated in Baseball and Football, being way behind UofL. But let that happen in Basketball, and there would be HOWLING like a coyote with hemaroids. Our university and most UK fans only care about 1 sport and that is Men's Basketball pure and simple. That is because UK is the premier program in the country, or 1A at least. We must get over the hump in baseball and football, much like Women's hoops and Softball have done, getting to Elite 8 and the WCWS. When they do break thru, then you will see an athletic administration that would HAVE to put money and resources in Baseball and Footbabll !!

Ohh I know where the priorities lie. However, everyone likes a winner. It is much easier to ask a fanbase and donors to support a program that is doing well than it is to ask them to support one that is struggling. Our football team is and has been below average and the way they lose really leaves a sour taste in a lot of mouths. Our baseball team is average at best and being average is not going to be enough to draw big crowds to the ball park on a regular basis. However, when we are good you can see how much people want to be at the games. Problem is that it is a chicken and the egg type thing. You can't get good until you start recruiting better and you can't recruit better until you invest and have better facilities, but you can't really get donors to donate for the better facilities until the team gets good. Still, for UK baseball it isn't a recruiting problem... it is a coaching problem. Fix the coaching problem with someone who can coach up these players and we'll be at the very lead an above average baseball team, if not a darn good one. Then the donors will want better facilities and will put up the money in order to make it happen.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Yea, they have been promising it for years. It was supposed to be apart of the IMG thing, but that fell through. Still, I think with more success comes more demand. If were were having the success of Louisville the demand for better facilities and stuff like that would be huge, and the donors, who might be attending the games, would be putting up the money to get the stuff. Also, remember how Cohen went around and actually promoted the program? Henderson put an end to that pretty much entirely and that is not helping his cause.

Ohh I know where the priorities lie. However, everyone likes a winner. It is much easier to ask a fanbase and donors to support a program that is doing well than it is to ask them to support one that is struggling. Our football team is and has been below average and the way they lose really leaves a sour taste in a lot of mouths. Our baseball team is average at best and being average is not going to be enough to draw big crowds to the ball park on a regular basis. However, when we are good you can see how much people want to be at the games. Problem is that it is a chicken and the egg type thing. You can't get good until you start recruiting better and you can't recruit better until you invest and have better facilities, but you can't really get donors to donate for the better facilities until the team gets good. Still, for UK baseball it isn't a recruiting problem... it is a coaching problem. Fix the coaching problem with someone who can coach up these players and we'll be at the very lead an above average baseball team, if not a darn good one. Then the donors will want better facilities and will put up the money in order to make it happen.

Not going to argue the difference between Cohen and GH because there really aren't any for me. But, Otis wasn't having the success they are right now and still the stadium was built because TJ convinced some wealthy donors to build it and I think there has been two additions since. As a matter of fact, the largest donor requested that there be no admission to games except when the CATS come to town. I'm sure MB would love to have the loyalty of deep pocket donors the way TJ seems to have. I'm sure that are two or three of them that could fund the entire cost of building the stadium and never miss a beat. Why is that?

 

[Comebakatz3]

^^ I hear ya. The donor situation for UK is very interesting. Seems like you don't even have to ask for basketball, but for any other sport they have to pull teeth and go through a billion hoops. Something about it doesn't add up considering that no other state university seems to have the same trouble that UK has.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

^^ I hear ya. The donor situation for UK is very interesting. Seems like you don't even have to ask for basketball, but for any other sport they have to pull teeth and go through a billion hoops. Something about it doesn't add up considering that no other state university seems to have the same trouble that UK has.

It has certainly been that way for the Baseball program. Consider UK has built new stadiums for Track, Soccer, Softball, as well as a $110 million renovation of CWS, and a $45 million Football training facility as well . Don't get me wrong, I am all for those sports getting new digs, I just think Baseball should get their new Bicycle for Christmas like the other kids !!

 

[sluggercatfan]

Everything was extremely favorable for UK this year. The fact that we returned two juniors that could have headed on to play professional baseball, one of which was a top prospect. Then, we had what turned out to be a pretty favorable schedule all things considered. Despite this being more favorable, and being a year older in most positions, we're not going to be much better than we were a year ago and it is extremely unlikely, IMO, that we make the tournament.


I see zero reasons to keep this staff around.

Agree...you lose series to the worst two teams in the conference plus you lose to EVERY TEAM IN THE START STATE but Murray...in nine years you have been to what 2 ncaat...time for a change