Hiring of new head baseball coach near?

[bigCasu]

We have a contract approved, but not signed, so hold on to your seats.

[asu66]

This does not look promising unless KSmith is our guy and accepts our offer. All of the others seriously underwhelm me. I've been dreading this ever since I saw one of our former head baseball coaches named to co-chair the search. Eeeeek!

[T-Dog]

A contract was approved after 90 minutes of private session, but the Board Chair hadn't signed it and thus they couldn't say who it was.

[firemoose]

[AppGrad78]

Kermit Smith is our new head baseball coach, per an ASU release.

July 14, 2016 Contact: Ben Winterrowd
Baseball (828) 262-7162 • winterrowdbb@appstate.edu
Kermit Smith Named Head Baseball Coach
BOONE, N.C. – Kermit Smith, a 15-year head coaching veteran, has been named the 13th head baseball coach at Appalachian State University, director of athletics Doug Gillin announced on Thursday.
Smith, who comes to Appalachian State after seven seasons as the head coach at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., replaces Billy Jones, whose employment was discontinued in May.
“I am excited to announce Kermit Smith as the next head baseball coach at Appalachian State. I would like to thank the search committee chaired by Jonathan Reeder and Troy Huestess for their work,” said Gillin. “There was a tremendous amount of national interest in this position from coaches at all levels. Kermit has been a head coach for the past 15 years and has a successful track record of developing young men on and off the field. I believe he will be a great fit for our baseball program, athletic department, University and community. I am thrilled to welcome Kermit, Rebecca and their children Maddox, Beckett and Georgia to the Appalachian State family.”
In his seven years at Lander (2009-16), Smith was the winningest coach in program history with an overall 244-134 (.645) record. He took the Bearcats to four Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tournaments and three NCAA tournaments over the past five years. While at Lander, Smith had seven student-athletes sign contracts with Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliates, including a program record, four, in 2016.
The Bearcats have advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series twice in the last three seasons, including a second time in 2016, finishing the season with a 44-16 record. The Bearcats finished the season ranked No. 3 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, the highest finish in program history and Smith was named ABCA/Diamond Southeast Regional Coach of the Year.
Smith set a program record for wins in a season during the 2014 campaign when the Bearcats finished 52-8 overall and ended the season with a No. 4 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball poll, while garnering the nation’s most prolific offense, leading Division II in home runs and runs scored. The Bearcats won the Southeast Regional and advanced to their first College World Series.
Among the highlights of the 2014 season, the Bearcats finished 27-3 on their home field (Dolny Stadium) and Smith was awarded PBC Coach of the Year and Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, while freshman pitcher Brandon White was named PBC Freshman of the Year.
The Bearcats posted back-to-back 30-win campaigns in 2012 (38 wins) and 2013 (35 wins) for the first time since the 2005-06 seasons. Under Smith in 2012, junior pitcher Chris Thomas won the PBC Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first Bearcat to ever receive a postseason conference award. In addition, Smith’s 38 wins during the 2012 season broke the program record for wins in a season and led the team to its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.
In just his second season at the helm of the Bearcats, Smith won 29 games (most for the program since 2006) and took Lander to the PBC tournament for the first time since the 1998 campaign.
Prior to Smith’s tenure at Lander, he spent eight years as Belmont-Abbey’s head coach and nine overall with the Crusaders. Much like his time at Lander, Smith became the winningest coach in program history on March 5, 2008. While at Belmont Abbey, he claimed two Conference Carolinas regular-season championships, a 2009 tournament championship with a NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship and an advancement to the 2009 NCAA Division II College World Series.
Similar to his successes at Lander, Smith led the Crusaders to their first NCAA Division II College World Series in 2009 - finishing the season with a 40-26 record and winning the Carolinas Conference regular-season title and qualified for Regionals with their first-ever conference tournament championship. He was named South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Following a trip to the 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional, Smith’s pupil, second baseman Alex Castellanos, was drafted 10th overall in the MLB Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Castellanos last appeared in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. He is currently playing for the Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, after signing a contract during the offseason in December 2015. He has appeared in 17 games with a slashline of .271/.317/.441 and two home runs and eight RBI.
Smith also served as the chair for the Conference Carolinas coaches, while also being the chair for the Belmont Abbey coaches’ council. Smith was an active member of the community and served as the head coach for the Gaston Braves American Legion team from 2002-07, guiding them to a 99-62 record.
Smith graduated from Pfeiffer University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He played one season at Pfeiffer for former Appalachian State baseball coach and current Duke University baseball head coach, Chris Pollard. Smith also earned a master’s degree in sports management from California University in Pennsylvania in 2007.
— more —
Kermit Smith Named Head Baseball Coach cont. (p. 2 of 2)
He is a native of Arcadia, Fla. and is the son of Sue Ellen and the late George Kilpatrick Smith. Smith and his wife, Rebecca, are the proud parents of two sons, Maddox Kilpatrick and Beckett Thomas, and a daughter, Georgia Grace.
“Rebecca and I are extremely excited about joining the Appalachian State family,” said Smith. “In the short amount of time that I have spent around Doug and his staff, it is clearly evident that they are full of energy and enthusiasm. Our family is also looking forward to getting entrenched in the Boone community. Over the past seven years in Greenwood we have have been supported like family. Coach Jeff May, the athletic department and the community have been there for our family every step of the way. The players that we are leaving behind are so special to us. We love them like family and that is the hardest part of this process. I want nothing but the best for them.”
Smith continued, “Mountaineer baseball provides huge potential for success with their facilities and resources and we will work diligently to make App State an elite program in the Sun Belt and the country. My coaching philosophy shares equal emphasis on recruitment as well as the development of players. The next month will be spent getting to know our current players and determining our necessary steps to achieve our vision for Appalachian State baseball. I am excited to get in the trenches with these guys and hit the ground running.”
A press conference to introduce Coach Smith to the Appalachian State community will be held on Monday, July 18 at 11 a.m. in the Don and Pat Phillips VIP Club Lounge on the fifth floor of the Appalachian Athletics Center (at Kidd Brewer Stadium). The press conference is open to the public and will be streamed live at appstatesports.com.
SMITH’S COACHING CAREER AT A GLANCE
2000-01 — Belmont Abbey College (assistant coach)
2001-07 — American Legion Post 144-266 (head coach)
2001-09 — Belmont Abbey College (head coach — Two Conference Carolinas Titles, NCAA Division II Regional Title, 2009 College World Series)
2009-2016 — Lander University (head coach — PBC Conference Championship, Two NCAA Division II Regional Titles, Two College World Series)
2016- — Appalachian State University (head coach)
HONORS AND AWARDS
2009 — South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
2014 — South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT SMITH
“Kermit Smith is one of the finest men I have ever been associated with in all my years in athletics. He is an excellent baseball coach and I am certain that he will lead Mountaineer baseball to championship level play. You get a chance ever decade or so, if you are lucky, to have on your staff a Kermit Smith. App State has hired a star. From the Bearcat baseball perspective it is a huge loss, but at the same time we are so happy for Coach Smith and his family. Finally, we cannot thank him enough for what he accomplished during his time here leading Bearcat baseball.”
– Jeff May, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Lander University
“As an alumnus of the Appalachian State baseball program, I am excited about Kermit Smith being hired as our next baseball coach. He brings experience, passion and a history of success to the program. He is also a man of high character who will represent the University in a positive manner at all times. I look forward to competing against him on the field while continuing to support his efforts to bring championships to Boone.”
– Rusty Stroupe, Head Baseball Coach at Gardner-Webb University
— www.appstatesports.com —

[appst89]

This is who I wanted from the beginning. I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.

[BUTCH1991]

Sounds good.

[AppDawg]

Sorry 10. My post isn't going to make you too happy. Perno hasn't coached baseball since he was let go from UGA in May of 2013. He's currently the football coach at his alma mater Clark Central High School. I would hope that of the 100 or so rumored to have applied for the job that we could find a more recent BASEBALL coach. I know he had a good run a Georgia but he was let go and wasn't able to get another baseball job. Doesn't sound too good. But that's just my opinion.

Thanks Moose. Didn't know he was now coaching HS football and didn't know he couldn't get another job after UGA. I'm in agreement with you.

Just saw Kermit was annouced as I posted this below.. Welcome to Boone, KS!



Perno is coaching at Clarke Central high school, which is where UGA is located and also where he went to high school. He had a buyout on his contract with UGa - could be an instace where finding another job negated the buy out? I don't know - speculation on my part.

Additionally, he was let go it was by a new to UGA AD - we all know how AD's like to get their guys in place. This is also the AD that fired Mark Richt. Perno's teams in 2009 and again in 2011 seasons had the misfortune of having 2 of its star players have career ending neck injuries that left each paralyzed.

Not saying he is the right guy for App or advocating for that, But did want to provide some perspective.

I do like him in the top 3 as he has great experience and we could probably hire him at an affordable salary.

[firemoose]

I understand that Dawg and I could have worded my post better. I even went back earlier and changed it to say "hasn't taken another baseball job". But it doesn't change the original point of my post. He's not coached baseball since 2013 and he's the football coach at Clarke Central, not baseball. That's Trey Henson. I looked it up when I heard he was on campus yesterday. Whatever the reasons for the termination nothing I saw said he's been in baseball since May 2013. Doesn't matter now with Smith as our new coach. I was just making the point that of all the numbers of people I was told applied for the job that I would have expected us to hire someone who is currently in baseball in some form or fashion. Which we did. But again, I could have worded it better. Or just not said anything at all.
Which, perspectively speaking, probably would have been better.

[firemoose]

[firemoose]

[JTApps1]

Esmay was not at fault for the Ariz St postseason ban

Good to know, but his record is still the major concern for me. Just looked back at his record. He was below .500 at Utah and his ASU teams won in order 52, 43, 36, 37, 33 games in 5 years.

Yeah, I am not advocating for him. Definitely not in the corner of a coach who wins fewer games every year.

I know. I was just clarifying my earlier post that was a response to someones post about Esmay. Doesn't matter now though!

[AppFan11]

I don't know him personally, but couldn't agree more w/ the comments made w/ Brant Wilkerson. He has a very good history and if you can make it to the college WS w/ two different teams... Well welcome Kermit Smith to the App family.

[JTApps1]

I believe this will be a very successful hire by Gillin. As other have mentioned Kermit has won big at two different schools, and more importantly he had to build those programs that had little history prior to his arrival. From what people have said he is a very high character guy that will lead our team in the correct way without taking short cuts. He has a good plan for recruiting and already has plenty of contacts with area HS coaches. I'm really happy for our players as they will get the type of coach they deserve.

[ASUGoose]

Absolutely love the hire. Plenty of head coaching experience and recruiting within App's baseball recruiting footprint. Proven success as head coach and building teams with limited resources sounds like a perfect fit to me. Welcome to App Kermit!

Go 'Neers!

[firemoose]

[firemoose]

WSJ article/interview with Coach Smith.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ba ... bfcdf.html

[hapapp]

WSJ article/interview with Coach Smith.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ba ... bfcdf.html

Love the quotes from Pollard. I do believe we have gone in the right direction with this hire. Like how Smith views the success of the football program as a plus in recruiting.

[JMappfan5]

I like this hire and I am excited about our future!!!

[Saint3333]

This guy seem hungry and gritty. First priority keeping all the young talent on the team, second priority getting back to fundamentals.

We're going from a guy that came from programs that many things were handed to them and/or taken for granted to a guy that did more with less. Great hire on paper and just what a program like ours needs. Good luck coach.