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Texas A&M Baseball

Michael Earley is 'living a dream' as Texas A&M's head baseball coach

July 1, 2024
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News broke on Sunday morning that Michael Earley will become the 21st head baseball coach in Texas A&M history. Before he's formally introduced to the 12th Man on Tuesday, Earley sat down with TexAgs for an exclusive interview as he takes the reins of Aggie baseball.



Key notes from Michael Earley interview

  • It has been a lot, but I have loved every second of it. I’m getting to know everyone in the community, and I have a ton of unread text messages to return. I’ve been getting to know my players, and we’ve been grinding all morning and all night until we get this thing done.
     
  • When I was waiting to meet about the job, I actually slept well because I felt good about it. Last night, I did not sleep well because, for the first time in my life, I have so many people to worry about. I am worried about making sure everyone else is OK. It's challenging, but I love it.
     
  • I got reached out to about interviewing for the job, and I talked about it with my wife. I decided it was something I wanted to do, and it happened really fast. I talked to Trev Alberts, and it went really well. I was coming back to College Station to see my family, so I got to meet with him in person. So many people were reaching out, and it was a whirlwind. Combine all of that with the fact that I still haven’t gotten over losing the national championship game. I probably never will get over that. In them reaching out, I told them everything about where my vision for this program and team are headed, and I think they loved that. Here we are today.
     
  • I have been public about how we feel about the community and the university. I moved from Phoenix, Arizona. It’s quite the change. When I first came here, I didn't want to come, to be honest. It was so different for me. It was such a big change. I got about a month in, and I’m like, “Wow. These people are some of the most genuine people I have ever met in my life.”
     
  • Growing up a college baseball fan, my dream job, to be truthful, was to be the head coach at LSU. About six months in, I remember telling my wife, “My dream is to be here.” Every day I have been here, I have been preparing to be the head coach at Texas A&M. Period. Did I think it would happen now? No.
     
  • I have had other head coaching opportunities. I had a few this year. My plan was to build a program somewhere else and come back to Texas A&M. My sights have always been on this job. Always.
     
  • The run this season was unbelievable. All the different possible things that happened. You lost Braden Montgomery and Shane Sdao. Kaeden Kent stepped up like you knew he could. He just needed that chance. It was unbelievable. There are so many times that your heart sinks, and it rises again. Even in that last inning, it shows you who we are. There is no quit, and we’re going to grind until the last out. We just ran out of time, and Tennessee was a really good baseball team. Think about Caden Sorrell’s lineout the inning before. Baseball is such an awesome and miserable sport at the same time. What those guys did will never be forgotten, and how they did it was impressive because a lot of guys were hurt. Even Jace LaViolette was super banged up. In the regular season, he doesn’t play for two weeks. It was a special group, and you could see the bond from a mile away. Combine a bond like that with elite talent, and that’s how you end up where we were.
     
  • I have been a part of this program and have seen what it takes to be successful. Texas A&M baseball has never been in a better spot. The momentum we have, I want to keep that going. I have had a front-row seat. The players were a big part of it. There will be things I do differently. The structure we had was really good. The culture we had was really good. I know I was a part of that, and I expect to keep it the exact same and always try to make it better. It’s been crazy.
     
  • I am not sleeping, which is completely fine. I don't need to right now. I will take a big fat nap in December. I enjoy talking to players on the phone, getting them in the office and getting to know people.
     
  • My interview was pretty simple. I spoke from the heart on how I felt about this program and the direction I wanted to continue to keep it in. In the end, momentum, momentum, momentum, and we need to keep this ship rolling.
     
  • It got leaked before I ever got the job, and my wife was crying. I had to tell her to stop because I didn’t have the job. When I actually got the job, she cried again. She was so happy. She has been in this thing and has been living with me since I was playing high-A baseball for the White Sox. My son Marshall has been through the roof, and he has always wanted me to be a head coach. The kids were so happy. They love it here. They love the schools here, and they love their friends. Marshall is so excited that he does not have to go play for another baseball team.
     
  • The jobs I passed up publicly and some of the ones I had gotten wind of... I always said I would take the right situation. Obviously, this is the perfect situation. I am super happy. I have always had a feeling about this place.
     
  • The player support publicly means everything to me. I think they know that I love them. I care about them way more than the baseball. I am so invested in the relationships. I’m not their friend, but I’m friends with them when they're done. I was never going to pry and push my way in, but the players opened the door for me. I ran through it. I’m so appreciative of them.
     
  • That 2022 team, I love them to death. I would do anything for them way more than just baseball. Things like that are why I do this job. I love relationships, and I love winning.
     
  • To see all the support from the generations means a ton because this program is about the players. It has never been about me or another coach. The program belongs to the players. I’ve gotten texts from guys who I knew who they were, but I didn’t know they knew who I was. You cannot play without players, so them using their voice is something I appreciate a ton.
     
  • I had a model I wanted to go off of. Tony Vitello is a great coach, so I followed a similar model to how he built his staff: Around the same age and in the SEC for the first time. I was looking for a guy who had been a head coach but who was also a pitching coach. I was looking for a hitting guy who was similar to me but also recruited.
     
  • It’s no secret I was set to become the next recruiting coordinator here if anything happened. That will be more of a role I have as a head coach. I needed someone with the same hitting style but also a recruiting coordinator. The last part I needed was an elite infield guy. All those things are getting wrapped up. There are a couple of other things getting wrapped up. We are in really good shape. I love the team around me.
     
  • About 97 percent of my phone usage has been focused on player acquisition. There was a point where other programs were trying to raid our roster. There are some players I’m still talking to, but the bulk of it, we’re in good shape. We’re going to lose some guys, but we’re going to gain some guys. Matthew Bergevin was immediately in. We’re going to get the guys that want to be here, and we’re going to be great.
     
  • Going to Omaha puts you at an extremely large disadvantage. You can’t have visits. Phone calls are great, but while you are playing, even though you tell every kid on the phone, “Hang with me. We are still playing.” They are with the other schools face to face. They get pressured by those coaches. The more you win and the farther you get, the bigger the disadvantage is.
     
  • We got eliminated early a year ago. It helped us in the transfer portal. I wish we would have gone to Omaha, but our roster is in good shape already.
     
  • I always think of Blue Bell Park as a Fenway Park or Wrigley Field when it comes to tradition and atmosphere. Alberts and the athletic department are still on “go,” and nothing has changed when it comes to the facility upgrades. Player development facilities are big for me. An expansion would be incredible, but I’m worried about the here and now.
     
  • Whenever I come in the gym with y'all, we just talk baseball. I haven't worked out in a week. I was in there in the mornings in Omaha.
     
  • I’m living a dream. It’s a lot of a dream right now, but I’m enjoying every second. I haven’t gotten stressed once. No anxiety. I’m tying up loose ends and doing my job. I know exactly what I signed up for, and I promise you, I am built for it.
     
  • I will never forget getting this head coaching job, and my family will never forget it. I know the responsibility that comes with it. We are fully invested in doing everything we can to take this program to the highest we can every single year. I am fully aware it will not be all roses. It will be tough, but it's what I signed up for. There will be way more good than bad.
     
  • Everything will be great. I'm super excited. I cannot tell you how excited I am just to do this. It's going to be sweet.
Discussion from...

Michael Earley is 'living a dream' as Texas A&M's head baseball coach

53,426 Views | 37 Replies | Last: 4 mo ago by option short side
jograki
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AG
Great interview! So happy to hear how invested he is. Gig 'em coach!
Eso si, Que es
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Quote:

I will never forget getting this head coaching job, and my family will never forget it. I know the responsibility that comes with it.


Well said Aggie. That's my ball coach!
sbs
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AG
Awesome interview
spike427
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I would like a sleep mask with "big fat nap" on it.
AggieZUUL
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AG
Brilliant hire. He's hungry, no ego issues and clearly a selfless family man.
agcivengineer
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We are better off this week than last!


We got a great dude who loves our School!

We are friends with a family who knows his wife, and we were told she is ecstatic to be staying in College Station.

Pretty great to be Aggies!
MaroonStain
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AG
Great interview but....

...what are players are we losing...?
AgBQ-00
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AG
great listen
You do not have a soul. You are a soul that has a body.

We sing Hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!
jriv09
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For all the crap that went down with that guy, it is looking more and more like a silver lining. My favorite part of the interview is he has a plan, a very specific plan when it comes to his staff. Future is very bright in Aggie land
jriv09
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Sucks to say but I think Kent and then Sorrell is questionable right now. Nothing to support what I'm saying, just reading between the lines
FTAG 2000
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MaroonStain said:

Great interview but....

...what are players are we losing...?


Well we already had three guys announce to other schooos. So technically that is a known thing.
P.U.T.U
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Kent seems to be the guy that will go with the highest bidder and guaranteed playing time. He has flashes of being a great player and think we could use him but it is what it is
agent-maroon
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Fantastic interview! Not difficult to see how he knocked his interview with Trev out of the park. And like the previous poster stated - he has a very specific plan. So refreshing to see a new coach hire not just talking platitudes and faking sincerity. This guy is the real deal IMO.
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HarryRocket
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Well that was an easy interview.

Maybe someone will ask him harder questions down the road, a few things need to be cleared up.
lagoag
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Giving Coach Earley a chance is like a breath of fresh air. I'm excited to see what he can do.
WaldoWings
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I love ii! Gig 'em coach!'
jriv09
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Like what exactly?
themissinglink
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AG
Let's celebrate the hire for a bit. The details on everything that went down can come out when everything settles down.
HarryRocket
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jriv09 said:

Like what exactly?


Like is he aware of any recruiting to tu going on while they were still Aggie coaches. Or when did he know they were likely bolting. Or when was it firstdiscussed… and so on.

But act obtuse.
HarryRocket
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themissinglink said:

Let's celebrate the hire for a bit. The details on everything that went down can come out when everything settles down.


I guess. But that's the only cloud. I would prefer it cleared up, assuming this was already discussed in his interview for the job. It shouldn't be a problem to go on the public record
MaroonStain
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AG
HarryRocket said:

themissinglink said:

Let's celebrate the hire for a bit. The details on everything that went down can come out when everything settles down.


I guess. But that's the only cloud. I would prefer it cleared up, assuming this was already discussed in his interview for the job. It shouldn't be a problem to go on the public record


It's baseball. Earley is a coach not a character on Criminal Minds.
agfan1030
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Don't make him be a witness. Leave the negativity off his shoulders. He's got a job to do. He has to work with the SEC coaches. You don't want him to be a snitch. Don't make it harder on him. If there is something there, it's the job of the admin.

(I know. Who am I to post here and express an opinion. I've read TexAgs long enough to know how nasty it can be. Used to post a lot on the basketball forum til I got too old.

I started following the team in the playoffs. How exciting. Can't wait to watch next season.)
BTHOtu

Carry on.
TAMU74
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Congratulations Mr. Earley on becoming the baseball HC.
I'm sure you will be sucessful.
option short side
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I am all in with this dude
jriv09
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So within 48 hours of his hiring and working to keep the players together we want to go on a safari to get answers? Even though the ink isn't dry on the contract and he is rumored to be the last one to know. Makes sense. You know, being kind and all.

Time and place bud
Thompson
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AG
I understand wanting to know every detail, but I imagine Alberts went over the elephant in the room during their interview when he was deciding whether to stake his career on this guy.
olarmy96
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AG
jriv09 said:

So within 48 hours of his hiring and working to keep the players together we want to go on a safari to get answers? Even though the ink isn't dry on the contract and he is rumored to be the last one to know. Makes sense. You know, being kind and all.

Time and place bud


Tend to agree with you, but he needs to be prepared in case the question gets asked.

Maybe a non-answer is the best option for tomorrow, like "I'm happy to answer questions on what I know about the circumstances surrounding the departure of the prior coaching staff. Just not today. Today I want to focus on how fortunate I am to be the head coach of Aggie Baseball. We're focused on the future and bringing a championship to Texas A&M. And please feel free to write that."
well_endowed_ag
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HarryRocket said:

Well that was an easy interview.

Maybe someone will ask him harder questions down the road, a few things need to be cleared up.

Agreed, but that wasn't the purpose of this interview. I'm sure he will be asked those questions tomorrow at the press conference. There's no reason for TexAgs to interrogate a new head coach his first day on the job, and I'm glad they didn't.
jriv09
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Completely agree
Cojack
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So he says nothing, bails and puts on a whorns shirt and we welcome him with open arms? Maybe he had no choice but the question should be asked
Matsui
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AG
Excited for him
well_endowed_ag
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Cojack said:

So he says nothing, bails and puts on a whorns shirt and we welcome him with open arms? Maybe he had no choice but the question should be asked

I agree, but a quick first interview with a fan site isn't the appropriate forum.

When the question is asked though, he needs to answer it thoroughly and truthfully. If he doesn't, that's not a great way to start his tenure here and it's going to sow distrust in the long term.

I personally believe he knew ahead of time but was probably just told by Schlongtaster "we're all going." He couldn't exactly say "nah, my family and I will stay here even though I have no idea whether I still have a job." But I think it's pretty obvious he was not ok with it, did not ink a contract with Texas, and wanted to come back/did not want to leave. Once he was told, the best he could do was probably just try not to let it distract the players.

The above is my guess. Earley needs to completely clear it up so nobody has to guess. There should absolutely be some pointed questions about it. It cannot just be ignored.
MarylandAG
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My favorite part was he said something along the lines of "I know it will be tough at times but I'm built for it". Gig'em Coach Earley.

Just my opinion, but f the sips they had their 15 min of fame, tomorrow should be about our new staff and their vision. I think we ended up with the better end of the deal!
BartInLA
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I don't blame Schloss one bit for the final college series. His mind was somewhere else. The man had so much on his mind and yet there was a couple of baseball games to be played. The serenity of the Snook cemetery cleared his mind.
New Coach: It's great to have a selfless family man as coach! Welcome as Head Coach!
SCAD Angel
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I loved everything about what Coach said in the interview and as excited for the future as anyone. Just a part of me hates he was flashing a hook em sign just one day before being named HC. Oh well, that is in the past now, so let's do another CWS!
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