As you all know by now, Michigan State named Jake Boss as their new head coach. I'm sure you've tracked down all the pertinent information by this point, as my absence has provided you with plenty of time to research all the stories, so I'll just offer up one blogger's perspective on the hire.
I like the hire for MSU. After a rough (some might say brutal) start to last season, Boss was able to guide Eastern Michigan to the Mid-American Conference Tournament title and the automatic NCAA berth in his first season. His Eagles played rather well in the Ann Arbor Regional, although dispatched after two close games -- one versus Arizona, the second against Kentucky.
Something else Boss brings, that a majority of assistants at a southern/western program can't, is an understanding of the challenges facing college baseball in the north. If the Spartans had opted to pursue a candidate from a warm-weather program, he might quickly become discouraged at the obstacles facing teams in the snowbelt.
After a year at EMU and several seasons working for Rich Maloney at Michigan, Boss should be well aware of the landscape in the Big Ten and throughout the midwest. Thus, he shouldn't be daunted at the pitfalls of coaching baseball in the north.
Glad to see the Spartans get this situation resolved quickly and hope Boss can help the program get to the next level. I also hope EMU can find a quality candidate to fill Boss' shoes.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
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