during Smoke's LSU tenure Smoke Laval 2002 - 44-22 (19-10 SEC) - Regional Champs; lost SR at Rice 2003 - 45-22-1 (20-9-1 SEC) - Regional & SR Champs; CWS appearance SEC Coach of the Year; SEC Champions 2004 - 46-19 (18-12 SEC) - Regional & SR Champs; CWS appearance 2005 - 40-22 (18-12 SEC) - lost in Regionals to Rice SEC Western Division Champions 2006 - 35-24 (13-17) - no regional appearance TOTAL: 210-109 (65.8%) - (88-50-1 SEC - 63.3%) Jim Wells [1997 - CWS Championship Game - Runner-up] 2002 - 51-15 (20-10 SEC) - lost in Regionals to Florida Atlantic SEC Western Division Champions; SEC Tournament Champions SEC Coach of the Year 2003 - 38-24 (14-16 SEC) - lost in Regionals to Houston 2004 - 29-26 (10-20 SEC) - no regional appearance 2005 - 40-23 (17-13 SEC) - lost to Tulane in Regionals 2006 - 40-19 (20-10 SEC) - Regional champs; advanced to SR SEC Champions TOTAL: 158-87 (64.5%) - (81-69 SEC - 54%) Mike Bianco 2002 - 37-19 (14-16 SEC) - no Regional appearance 2003 - 35-27 (17-13 SEC) - lost to Wichita State in Regionals 2004 - 39-21 (18-12 SEC) - lost to Washington in Regionals 2005 - 48-20 (18-12 SEC) - Regional champs; lost to Texas in SR 2006 - 43-20 (17-13 SEC) - Regional champs; advanced to SR; SEC Tourney champs TOTALS: 202-107 (65.4%) - (84-66 SEC 56%) George Horton 2002 - 37-22 (14-10 Big West) - lost to Long Beach St. in Regionals 2003 - 50-16 (15-6 Big West) - Regional champs; SR champs; CWS appearance 2004 - 47-22 (19-2 Big West) - NCAA Champions Big West Coach of the Year 2005 - 46-18 (16-5 Big West)- Regional champs; lost to Arizon St. in SR; Big West Coach of the Year 2006 - 44-13 (18-3 Big West) - Regional champs; advanced to SR TOTAL: 224-91 (71.1%) (82-26 Big West 75.9%)
Hmmm...Very interesting. Dandy Don is saying he believes Jim Wells will be the next head coach at LSU. I know he's not the A.D., but he's usually right.
I don't know about all that... I doubt even Skip knows right now - so anything Dandy says is nothing but a wild guess.
I hope it's not Wells. HE hasn't really done all that much while at Bama, plus he's in his 50s. I would like a coach with more CWS/SR experience and who works better with pitchers. I hope it's NOT an SEC coach because I'm not particularly excited about any of the coaches in the SEC other than Bianco (although Cohen and Corbin seem to be on the rise.) Bianco is still young enough to build a program around, but his success at Ole Miss is questionable at best because of a myriad of reasons, including the fact that he's only been having awesome results the past 2 seasons. I admit that's not a viable reasoning, but his track record isn't that impressive. I don't see how LSU would be a much bigger sale to baseball prospects than most other "name" schools in the SEC. We're getting a new stadium and our fans "are the best," but I'm starting to question that last one. Having been to games at Arkansas and Auburn, I'd say that the SEC, as a whole, is on par for catching up with LSU's "fan base." Maybe I'm wrong, I hope so... I guess that we are the most "knowledgeable" fan base. I used to think that we were the most loyal, but when your attendance is cut by more than half just because you dislike the coach--that sends a negative vibe to players as well, I would think.
Haha... Welcome back SF! Just like Deek said, there isn't much sense in hiring someone that "old" to be a long term solution... But George Horton is also, what, 52? I also feel that Horton would come in and get the program to where it needs to be in 2-3 years tops. It's not like there is a lack of talent in LA and with Horton's ties to the west (a hotbed for pitching,) he could get it done pronto. I don't know... What is too old to coach?
sure... smoke has the best record, but he inherited a palace, and was slowly turning it into a landfill... It is unfair to judge these stats, b/c there is no way to know how Wells, Bianco, Horton would have done inheriting Skip's dynasty
I'm sorry, but let me take this moment to LAUGH MY ASS OFF!!! YOU are always giving out stats to people. Making comparisons form player to player, coach to coach, etc etc. Yet in this case you say "it's unfair to judge these stats". L O L !!!!
Horton would be my first choice. But either Wells or Bianco would also be good choices. As for as Wells not having done much since he has been at Alabama, i the ten years he has been in Tuscaloosa, he has only won 69% of his games, is the winningest head baseball coach in the SEC, has rebuilt the Alabama baseball program, won 7 SEC tournaments and two SEC championships.
