A&M's next baseball coach will have resources aplenty for elite status

There’s an old saying that the Kentucky Derby cannot be won with a jackass.

No truer proverb has ever been written or spoken.

The world’s greatest jockey and trainer couldn’t get a nag in the winner’s circle. However, a good jockey could lead a great horse there.

That same logic applies to Texas A&M baseball. The difference is that the Aggies’ overall program is the stud horse in this scenario.

A&M came within one run of winning the national championship last week. With all A&M has to offer, a good, competent head coach can keep the Aggies running for the roses — or in the run for the Men’s College World Series, as it were.

The Aggies reached the MCWS twice in three seasons under now-Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle, who is considered an elite coach.

But they don’t necessarily need an elite head coach because A&M — with its facilities, finances, highly motivated donors, fan support and recruiting base — can make a good coach elite.

Hell, Schlossnagle has been a head coach for over 20 years but never reached the MCWS Finals until he came to A&M.

By the way, A&M reached the MCWS in 2011 and 2017 and almost did in 2015 and 2016 with a coach who sometimes seemed to have a limited recruiting scope in our state.

TexAgs

In May, Texas A&M’s Board of Regents approved a capital project plan that includes an $80 million renovation of Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

That isn’t meant to imply the Aggies shouldn’t pursue an elite coach to replace the departed Schlossnagle. There’s been enough false implications around here already.

If Tennessee’s Tony Vitello, Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan, Virginia’s Brian O’Connor or Louisville’s Dan McDonnell were willing to leave successful programs, A&M should roll out the maroon carpet.

Former A&M baseball star J.B. Moss said Friday on TexAgs Radio that the Aggies should pursue Wake Forest’s Tom Walter, who led the Demon Deacons to Omaha just last season.

“The reason I suggested Tom Walter is because — you go look at Omaha and what was there (this year)? There were four teams from the SEC and four teams from the ACC,” Moss said.

He continued:

“Tom Walter just last year was named ACC Coach of the Year, so he knows how to compete at the highest level. And you backfill it with guys like (former A&M hitting coach) Michael Earley.”

Earley left A&M to follow Schlossnagle to Texas but is rumored to be interested in returning. He could probably convince several current A&M players to ignore transfer portal suitors.

If Earley is indeed interested in returning, that would depend on the new head coach's interest in him — whoever that may be.

Oklahoma's Skip Johnson, Dallas Baptist's Dan Heefner and Kentucky's Nick Mingione might not be considered elite. Not yet, anyway. 

However, with A&M's resources and the state of Texas' talent, they certainly could reach elite status at A&M.


"I can't disagree with that," Moss said. "You take a good coach at a great program and light the world on fire."

That could work. But it would at least require a good, competent coach.

Remember, the Kentucky Derby can't be won with a jackass.