Erik Bakich Introductory Press Conference
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Earlier today, Clemson Director of Athletics Graham Neff named Erik Bakich as the Tigers’ 28th head baseball coach. Bakich served as head coach at Michigan the last 10 seasons, leading the Wolverines to the 2019 College World Series championship series. Bakich also served as a head coach at Maryland (2010-12) and as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt (2003-09) along with his one year as volunteer assistant coach at Clemson in 2002.
We are in the process of adding a few notes from today’s event. You can watch the entire press conference above.
Erik Bakich
“Wow, thank you, man. It's great to be back. I can't believe it's been 20 years since I've gotten to say Go Tigers! But thank you, Graham, his wife Kristen, for this opportunity to lead and serve Clemson baseball. Thank you to President Jim Clements, the Board of Trustees, Kyle Young, and Kevin White, for your support in this process."
“To the coaching mentors that have helped mold and shape the person in the coach that I am today. Coach Keith McClair, who I played for at East Carolina. He's the why, and the inspiration to start coaching, and a promise that I made to continue his legacy. I don't remember the X's in the O's or the mechanics, but I remember the confidence and the belief that he instilled. He made his players think they were 10 feet tall and bulletproof. He made his teams think that they could accomplish anything."
"Coach Leggett, who's here today instilled the importance of good fundamentals. Instilled foundational life skills like discipline, toughness, competing, having relentless positive energy, and doing it all with a care level that is absolutely unmatched. So thank you for giving me a shot.
"To coach Tim Corbin you know the value of recruiting excellence, to shifting the target on to developing the total person, the teammate, as well as the future husband and father. That coaching and teaching is a lifestyle, not a job. I'm very appreciative of the seven years I had with him at Vanderbilt."
"I've always put Clemson up on a pedestal, not only because it's a great academic school and because I got my coaching start here. but I'll be forever grateful to be in the right place at the right time. I know how lucky I was to join a staff with three coaching legends with Coach Leggett, Coach Corbin, and Coach O'Sullivan."