July 17, 2012 — This past season’s 28-27 record was MSU’s first to end above .500 in five years for its baseball program.
Ultimately, five years also proved to be enough for former head coach Jay Sorg, as a new captain is set to take the Eagles’ baseball wheel.
In today’s sports we spoke with new MSU Baseball Head Coach Mike McGuire about his plans for his new program.
Today’s In the Post sticks to the topic of McGuire and his new team, as we examine the reality of a potential turnaround, and what it will take to do so.
McGuire is no stranger to Eagle baseball, once holding a pitching coach position from 1995 to 1996, a time which Morehead also happened to be on top of the OVC circuit.
McGuire hopes to return the program to its glory days, and he hopes do so with a heavy emphasis on recruiting.
The chances of McGuire seeing his visions through appear to be high, even if you simply examine his record as a coach on paper.
McGuire served as head coach at Lander from 2003-05, and during his three seasons there he led the Bearcats to more than 30 wins to rank among Division II’s Top 25 teams. After heading back to Winthrop in a higher-level position, he made a second go at being a head coach, this time at Louisburg College, which proved to be enough to seal the deal for a new high-profile job.
Proving his worth as the man in charge, McGuire took a team from a night in the ruts to national dominance, all in the span of a single year. I think that qualifies as pretty darn impressive in anybody’s book.
Wherever he’s been, he has won.
Whether as an assistant or head coach, this guy simply knows how to win baseball games.
With this said, I will give you my top two reasons why I see McGuire as the right man for the job:
- His ability to recruit top-tier talent. People always jump to praise the abilities of a winning coach, but the talent he possesses plays a big part in his successes or failures…Phil Jackson anyone?
- A taste for winning. Winning a lot and losing very little has made MSU’s new maestro into a coach who loves to win and hates to lose. This is something he will no doubt instill into the hearts and minds of his players…a true, unshakable will to win.
Program connections are always good to see, and we have a connection here with McGuire that runs deep.
Speaking with him last week, I picked up on his strive to not only further his personal success, but to change the perceptions associated with MSU baseball.
In my opinion, Eagles’ baseball seems to be in safe hands, as McGuire’s ultimate goal to achieve a turnaround will be one that he will see through by any means necessary.
Have faith my friends, for things appear to be getting back to good for MSU baseball.
Grant Stevens can be reached at gstevens@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
