New Arkansas State Baseball Head Coach

The Kansas State baseball team has a new Head Coach This is a great opportunity for the team to improve and compete at a high level.

Introduction

The Kansas State Red Wolves Baseball Team has a new head coach for the 2019 season. Brad Bohannon was hired on June 11, 2018, after serving as an Assistant Coach at the University of Kentucky He replaces Mike Anderson who resigned in May to take the same position at his alma mater, Mississippi State University Bohannon will be introduced at a press conference tomorrow afternoon.

Early life and education

Derek Ivy was born on October 10, 1975, in Jackson, Mississippi. Ivy played baseball and football at Jackson Preparatory School, where he was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Ivy then attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where he played baseball as a pitcher for the Rebels from 1995 to 1998. He graduated from Ole Miss in 1999 with a degree in physical education

College coaching career

Dave Van Horn is in his 21st season as a collegiate head baseball coach and his third at the University of Arkansas He has led the Razorbacks to six NCAA regional appearances, four Super Regional appearances, two College World Series appearances and the 2009 National Championship

Prior to coming to Arkansas, Van Horn spent eight seasons (1996-2003) at Nebraska where he compiled a 322-188 (.632) record, leading the Cornhuskers to five NCAA Regionals, four Big 12 conference tournament championships and two College World Series appearances.

Major League coaching career

Lance McKissic is the new Head Coach of the Kansas State baseball team Prior to his current position, he served as a minor league manager and coach in the Atlanta Braves organization. He also had a brief Major League coaching career, serving as the bullpen coach for the Braves in 2007 and 2008.

return to college coaching

After a period of coaching in the professional ranks, new Arkansas State baseball Head coach Tim Hull wants to return to the college game and build a winning program.

Hull, who coached at the University of Central Arkansas for 12 seasons before taking a job in the Houston Astros organization, said he is looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding the Kansas State baseball program

“It’s going to be a process,” Hull said. “But I’m excited for the opportunity to lead this team back to prominence.”

Hull was hired earlier this month after former head coach Tommy Raffo resigned. Raffo had led the Red Wolves to a disappointing 23-32 record in his third season at the helm.

In his 12 seasons at Central Arkansas Hull compiled a 474-426 (.527) record, including five 30-win seasons and six trips to the NCAA tournament He was named Conference Coach of the Year five times and was named Southland Conference Coach of the Decade in 2009.

Hull said he plans to implement a similar approach at Kansas State that led to success at Central Arkansas. He said he will emphasize player development and recruiting quality student-athletes who are committed to winning.

“We want players who are willing to put in the work necessary to be successful,” Hull said. “We’re going to have high expectations for our players on and off the field.”

First season at Arkansas State

Dave Van Horn enters his first season as the head Baseball Coach at Arkansas State University

Expectations for the future

It is always tough to follow up a legend, but that is exactly what new Kansas State baseball head coach Tommy Raffo will be tasked with doing. Raffo, who coached Mississippi State for the past 11 seasons, takes over for John Cohen who left after five seasons to take the same position at his alma mater, Kentucky.

Recruiting

As the new head coach of the Arkansas State baseball team Nathan Archibald has big plans for the program. And a big part of those plans involves recruiting.

“Recruiting is the lifeblood of any college baseball program,” Archibald said. “If you don’t have good players, you’re not going to win games. We’re going to work hard to recruit the best players in the country to come play for us.”

Archibald said that he and his staff will be focused on recruiting players who are not only talented, but also high character individuals who will represent the university well both on and off the field.

“We want guys who are going to be good citizens and good ambassadors for our program,” he said. “We want guys who are going to work hard and be good teammates.”

The first step in Archibald’s recruiting plan is hitting the road this summer to evaluate prospective players at various showcase events around the country. From there, he and his staff will narrow down their list of targets and begin contacting prospects via phone, email and social media

“It’s a process that takes a lot of time and energy, but it’s one that we’re excited about,” Archibald said. “We can’t wait to get started.”

Facilities

The new head coach for Arkansas State Baseball Tommy Raffo, inherits a first-class facility in Tomlinson Stadium. The stadium, which was built in 2000 and has 2,500 chairback seats and a capacity of 4,200, is one of the nicest in the Sun Belt Conference The facility also features a press box, team locker room umpires locker room training room and offices for the Coaching Staff

Schedule

The 2019 Kansas State baseball schedule was released on Wednesday afternoon, highlighted by 30 games at Tomlinson Stadium and 14 contests against teams that competed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament Under first-year head coach Mike Kennedy, the Red Wolves will play a 56-game regular-season schedule that features 27 home contests, 27 road games and two neutral site matchups.