The Texas A&M Aggies did not have to look far to find their next head baseball coach, opting to promote former hitting coach Michael Earley. Earley has been praised by multiple members of the Texas A&M brass, including athletic director Trev Alberts. However, when it came to him being named the 21st head baseball coach in program history, it turns out the players played a huge role in that decision.
During a recent interview, shortly after being named the Aggies’ next skipper, Earley discussed what it meant to him to receive the support of the Aggies players in naming him their new head coach.
Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!
“It means everything to me,” said Earley in his interview with TexAgs on Monday. “I mean, I think they generally know that I love them, so that makes them love me back. I care about them way more than about baseball, way more. I’m so invested in the relationship part. Even the amount of kids I’ve heard from and still talk to from Arizona State that reached out. I’m not their friend, but I’m friends with them when they’re done; they know I care about them. So yeah, they’re a big part of it.”
“I knew there was an opportunity there, but I was never gonna open the door. I was never gonna pry and push and get my way in. The players open the door for me. I said the door is open and I’m running through it. So obviously [they were] a huge part, and I appreciate them.”
There is a laundry list of things to do and for Earley to be concerned with as he looks to get Texas A&M back to the College World Series in 2025. But one thing he will not have to worry about is having the confidence and his ball club as they embark on their national championship quest next season.
Earley breaks down why he targeted Jason Kelly for his coaching staff
After being named Texas A&M baseball’s next head coach, Earley didn’t hesitate to make additions to his staff. On the same day, the Aggies announced Earley was their next headman; he hired Jason Kelly as Texas A&M’s pitching coach.
Kelly spent the past two seasons as Washington‘s head coach. During Earley’s introductory press conference on Tuesday, he explained the rationale behind his immediate hire.
“He’s gonna be huge for me,” Earley said. “That was a big part of this deal for me and a big part of selling my plan, and I’m just glad I could pull it off. He’s an amazing human, amazing person, but he’s a phenomenal baseball coach. This guy is super well respected and he’s also super connected on the West Coast, which is important to me.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve had probably more players from the west coast on Texas A&M baseball than — I don’t know I’m not a historian — but then they’ve ever had. My goal has always been, you’re gonna get the best players out of portal but high school-wise, we need to get the best players from the state of Texas, that’s going to be the bulk of it. And if I can grab some of the best players from Arizona, California and places over there, that’s what I want to do. JK is going to be a big part of that.”
The post Michael Earley opens up on what it meant to receive so much support from current, former players appeared first on On3.
