Baylor fires Steve Smith---Bears, are you crazy?

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by 56 Bells, May 24, 2015.

  1. 56 Bells

    56 Bells 500+ Posts

    Baylor fired Steve Smith today. It's a bit shocking, as he had some great years and teams at Baylor. I think he was even the Big XII coach of the year--what---5 times?
    Is there more to this story? He's still relatively young, and his teams always play very competitive games.

    Me thinks the Bears are getting too big for their own britches.
     
  2. petscii

    petscii 250+ Posts

    See also the people who want Augie gone....
     
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  3. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    Had is the key word here, it's been expected all season and most Baylor people are fine with it. They became a well respected baseball power and want to maintain that, if possible. Smith couldn't right the ship and things were getting worse.

    Recruiting was suffering big time.

    That's the story.


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  4. snek

    snek 500+ Posts

    Baylor has standards in the here and now, not yesterday. They expect their coaches to, well, I digress from the obvious.
     
  5. 56 Bells

    56 Bells 500+ Posts

    I suppose 2012 is not the here and now---that's old, old, old history.
    I think Baylor is making a huge mistake. Smith had 744 wins (more than any coach in ANY sport at Baylor)
    50 wins in 2000
    First Big XII Title in ANY sport for the Bears
    13 regional appearances
    3 Big XII Championships
    College World Series in 2005
    2012---set Big XII record with 24 consecutive wins, 18 straight Big XII wins
    Then came 2 mediocre seasons the last couple of years, mainly due to significant injuries both seasons. Oh well......perhaps Kim Mulkey can coach the baseball team, too.
     
  6. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Augie had mediocre years in 2012 and 2013 and it was very clear he would never make the postseason again.
     
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  7. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    Baylor has had three losing seasons in a row.

    2013 was 27-28.

    2014 was 26-31.

    2015 was 23-32.



     
  8. shaggy refuge

    shaggy refuge 500+ Posts

    They'll get the DBU coach.
     
  9. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Yeah, you wonder if this was forced knowing the DBU coach is gone after this year. In this case, Smith wasn't fired but replaced with a hotter coach.
     
  10. 56 Bells

    56 Bells 500+ Posts

    I haven't kept up with their recruiting last year or this year. I did see where Smith said he had no idea that they were considering firing him. And he said he was shocked. Will be interesting to see who the new-hire will be. Let us know if you hear who the Bears are chasing after.
     
  11. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    The #1 target is someone Texas fans will see this weekend. That would be DBU coach, Dan Heefner.

    It's a perfect fit, an upcoming coach, who built a baseball power, at a small Baptist school.

    One more thing about Coach Smith, there have been stories about him being kind of arrogant and personality conflicts, with players and with Baylor officials, when they offer suggestions.

    That is also been talked about, concerning Dan Heefner, the only drawback, for going after him. Most successful head coaches are pretty headstrong and a little cocky, it's part of being a leader, to have confidence in yourself. You better also have some good diplomatic and communication skills too. If you don't when things get rough, you won't last nearly as long.

    The landscape of college baseball is changing, as more and more schools emphasize the sport. Baylor is really concerned about being left behind, after they became a recognized baseball power. They bought out the last four years of his contract, so they had to be considering this, for awhile.

    Coaches staying at the same school for 20 or more seasons is going to become very rare. It's that way in all the major sports now, it's big business and with so much more competition out there, schools aren't going to hesitate to change a staff, after a prolonged down period.
     
  12. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    The assumption in Baptist circles is Heefner will be the next HC at Baylor.
     
  13. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Texas baseball: 4 coaches in 100 yrs. Next 100 years? 4 coaches. Make it count!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    The success of our coaching hires truly has been defining. This stat also shows just how important the hiring of the head coach in any sport really is. Like it or not, we are not going to win by just showing up with "Texas" on our jersey. We've hired the best 4 coaches out there the last 4 times. Whoever replaces augie needs to be the best coach out there once again.
     
  15. UT Horn Fan

    UT Horn Fan 500+ Posts

    It won't be if Patterson does the hiring. He will go after the most affordable - not the best.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. petscii

    petscii 250+ Posts

    Blair Cherry always gets zero love.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    Really? What makes you think this? Was Strong or Smart the most affordable? I know people in FL who were disappointed we hired him so he couldn't take over from Muschamp

    Patterson has Strong and Smart. Think what he needs now is Heart - perhaps this guy? http://www.burlesonstar.net/ci_23534580?
     
  18. UT Horn Fan

    UT Horn Fan 500+ Posts

    Yes, they were affordable because they were/are unproven at this level. I'm not saying they won't be successful, but we just don't know yet.

    I had my share of complaints about Dodds, but he understood supply and demand. He focused on hiring the best coaches, thus putting a winning product on the field. Then when the demand for tickets was high, he would raise the prices. Patterson seems to be doing just the opposite. He is raising prices causing people to not renew, thus lowering demand. He wants to squeeze every dollar out of the fans that are loyal enough to fork over the $$$ without giving them what they want - wins. I think he is going to learn the hard way - hopefully sooner than later.
     
  19. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    If HTown is correct, Strong at 5th highest paid doesn't sound like hiring affordable. Or Smart at 3mil per yr for 6 yrs? Guess I don't understand the definition of affordable these days. Especially for unproven coaches
     
  20. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    What if Patterson hires an affordable coach, then grossly overpays that coach? Then everyone is right :smile1:
     
  21. UT Horn Fan

    UT Horn Fan 500+ Posts

    Strong makes $5 mil/year??? :whiteflag: Holy cow! He is GROSSLY overpaid at this point in time. Maybe Smart will be worth $3 mil/year, but he's not yet.

    Kudos to Strong's and Smart's agents for getting their clients those salaries. I wish my boss negotiated like Patterson.

    Texas should have the best, pay the best, and be the best. Not hire coaches and hope they become the best.
     
  22. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy





     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  23. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Yes, they're crazy! :smile1:
     
  24. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Heefner will now feel the full futy of the Baptist Church.
     

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