https://texas.rivals.com/news/what-are-they-saying-about-texas-hiring-david-pierce-
What are they saying about Texas hiring David Pierce?
Dustin McComas | Staff Writer
Before today, there were just four people that served as the head coach, if you don’t count the wartime years of 1943-1945, of the Texas baseball program since 1911. Early this morning, that number moved to five when Texas named Tulane head coach David Pierce as its next baseball coach.
“As a kid growing up in Texas, I dreamed of being a Longhorn and wearing the burnt orange," Pierce said in a Texas press release today. “Today that dream is coming true. I am truly honored and grateful to become a part of The University of Texas community and to serve as head baseball coach. Texas is second to no one. Just growing up, I was on the field when David Denny broke the doubles record at Texas. I played against a lot of the guys in the mid-'80s and just understood the tradition and the history and the expectation of being a Longhorn. I understand it's a position that's going to hold a lot of responsibility, and I'm ready to accept that.”
The 52-year-old coach arrives in Austin after two seasons as head coach at Tulane, and three prior to that as head coach at Sam Houston State. During his five years as a head coach, he won 40 or more games three times, and reached the NCAA postseason every season. Tulane missed postseason play the six seasons prior to Pierce’s arrival before the 2015 season. Pierce has been a part of 16-straight postseasons as an assistant (Houston 2001-2002, Rice 2003-2011) or head coach.
What is Texas getting in Pierce? We spoke to a group of people that would know.
Kendall Rogers, editor and national writer for D1Baseball.com, believes Texas landed a very good head coach, and one that will bring energy to the 40 Acres.
“For starters, I am thrilled for David Pierce. He’s a very good, and well-respected coach,” Rogers told Orangebloods.com. “He was a huge part of Rice’s dominance and a national title, and he has had success at both head coaching stops before this point. Pierce will be a passionate coach, and will do a very fine job at Texas.”
In a story published today by Rogers, a well-respected college baseball voice, acknowledged the hire by Texas won’t create the biggest splash, but reiterated his thoughts that the Longhorns made a good move locking up Pierce.
“While Pierce’s addition might not have all Texas alums buzzing, his hire is most certainly a good one,” he wrote,
which you can read here. “He has established himself as a very good recruiter in the State of Texas, has done a great job as a pitching coach and proven himself to be a quality head coach and game manager.”
Speaking of Pierce’s prowess when it comes to pitching, a professional baseball scout that’s followed and interacted with Pierce for quite some time, who wished to speak under anonymity, feels like the new Texas head coach’s ability to coach pitchers is undervalued.
“He’s underrated as a pitching guy,” the scout said. “When he was at Rice, he helped Tony Cingrani (current Cincinnati Reds reliever and third-round pick out of Rice) change his arm action and Cingrani went from 87-90 MPH to 90-95 MPH.”
When Pierce was at Tulane, only two of the 10 pitchers that started five games or more finished the season with an ERA above 3.67.
Of course, Texas fans want to know about the offense. Pierce describes his approach as an energetic one that can create runs in a number of ways.
“I think Texas Baseball fans are going to be excited to see the energy and passion of our team, the will to go out and play as hard as we can and try to do things that represent both the university and the athletic department well,” stated Pierce today through Texas. “We'll look to run a high-paced offense that has the ability to score in multiple ways to go along with the pitching and defense that gives us a chance to win championships.”
This past season at Tulane, the Green Wave slugged .423 as a team with 66 homers and 101 doubles. It also swiped 55 bags (76 attempts), and bunted 34 times. Hunter Hope (from four in 2015 to 14 in 2016), Jake Willsey, (zero in 2015 to 10 in 2016), and Jake Rogers (zero in 2015 to seven in 2016) all dramatically increased their home run totals in 2016.
Infielder Stephen Alemais, who was just selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, finished his career with back-to-back seasons above .300 at the plate after hitting just .241 his freshman year before Pierce’s arrival. In addition to Alemais, Rogers was also selected in the third round of this year’s MLB Draft. It marked the first time since 2010 Tulane had a player selected that high, and was the first time since 2005 that Tulane had two players selected in the fifth round or better.
At Sam Houston State, Pierce coached the school’s highest ever draft pick when Cody Dickson was selected in the fourth round.
“It’s a good hire. He has a track record of quick success and should have success there,” another professional scout told Orangebloods about Pierce. “Will be a fresh, confident voice. He has roots and connections in Texas, but is independent and will build a new culture, which is what is needed at Texas right now.”
Another scout that's been around the state of Texas and Pierce for years offered his take, and describes a calmness on the surface and the ability to press the right buttons with his player.
"Has a winning pedigree with a track record of turning programs around. Blue-collar, hard-nosed coach but fair; guys like playing for him. Gets good effort from his players not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within," stated the scout. "He has a calmness about him on the field and the way he reacts; being in control gains confidence. That being said, he's sneaky fiery."
His roots and connections in Texas nearly allowed him to sign one of Texas’ most successful pitchers recently. Nathan Thornhill, a product of Cedar Park, recalls Pierce being the first coach from a big program to recruit him.
“Coach Pierce was the first coach from a big-time program to believe in me,” said Thornhill, a vital part of the 2014 Omaha team at Texas. “Had I not been from the Austin area and a man named Augie Garrido, I would've been pitching at Rice for Pierce. His personality is what stood out to me the most. He seemed calm, driven, confident, and knew how to win. He is what our program needs.”
Pierce and the man he’s following, legendary coach Augie Garrido, know each other well. The Rice-Texas rivalry was
the rivalry in college baseball when Pierce was in Houston with the Owls and Garrido in Austin.
“I've played against Coach Gus' teams and I have coached against Coach Garrido's teams. Even back in '91 when I was at Rice and he was the head coach at Cal State Fullerton we crossed paths. Coach Garrido and I have become friends and have had some fierce competitions, especially in my days at Rice,” Pierce said today. “Both of those guys are so significant to the legacy of Texas Baseball, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to follow them and continue the tradition they've established.”
Garrido, now a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at Texas, gave his stamp of approval.
“I’ve known Dave for quite a while, going back to when he was an assistant at Rice. He was great there, and as a head coach, he has turned two programs around quickly and done a tremendous job. Truly, I think he is a very fine choice for The University of Texas,” said Garrido, who won two national titles at Texas and five overall. “He takes great pride in his work. He’s knowledgeable and passionate about what he’s doing and who he’s doing it for. He’s a heart-and-soul Texan who will make every effort for this national championship-caliber program.”
Pierce will be introduced as the Texas head coach tomorrow at 11 a.m. during a news conference on the UT campus.
