Unfortunately, it is time for a coaching change. Over the last six MVC games, Valpo has scored a total of 3 runs. We've lost all of them and four were shutouts. Two generated a total of one hit each and another was a no-hit loss. We once again won't make the tourney and are now 8-32 and 3-16 in the Valley and in last place.
The argument might be that this was a "rebuilding" year. The problem was that last year, after having a senior loaded lineup, we managed to get to 14-38 and 6-21 in Valley play. We finished all the way up to tied for last.
1 winning season (by 2 games) in last 11 years with this guy yet it looks like we will stick with him.I guess no one really cares what baseball does as long as they fill the roster.
1 winning season (by 2 games) in last 11 years with this guy yet it looks like we will stick with him.I guess no one really cares what baseball does as long as they fill the roster.
Where was it said that they are keeping him?
i assume that they would have moved on by now-
Unfortunately it looks that way. I'm sure he is a quality guy who has given a lot of years to Valpo but...with a senior loaded team last year they made it all the way up to tied for last. Valpo has more appearances in NCAA tournament in baseball versus any other sport. The stands aren't great but the playing field and clubhouse are as good as nearly any team in the valley. (I heard that from an Illinois State grad) Maybe Tex can verify. Oh, and they went 10-40 this season, you guessed it--dead last.
The coaches tour is set for June 4. I would think if someone was going to be let go it would have been by now.
I like Coach Schmack, and very much appreciate his tenure with the program, but agree that a 10-40 season is grounds for termination. We had quite a few close losses this season, but also some big blowouts. I agree that our field and clubhouse are not too different from most MVC stadiums, but it is our stands/overall stadium feel that is near the bottom. Most MVC programs have more of a stadium-seating style behind home plate and up the lines, with formal brick facade. Ours is still very much free-standing, which might have to do with the fact that they hope to eventually move the field on campus in the future. Baseball is an area that we can compete, if we get the right coach and situation, as Evansville proved in the last few seasons. Not much in the way of NIL in the sport, only 11.7 scholarships, and we've done it before.
I am naive regarding college baseball, but in the Midwest and north the sport has not been popular or successful. The Big 10 has not won a national championship since the 60’s! The sport is big and successful in warmer climate regions. The commitment appears to be not there to compete in the MVC. With 12 scholarships allotted, which is let’s say $600k, could this be a sport on the chopping block?
if they commit to baseball, you have to get a new coach and a fresh perspective. It is obviously not working.
I am naive regarding college baseball, but in the Midwest and north the sport has not been popular or successful. The Big 10 has not won a national championship since the 60’s! The sport is big and successful in warmer climate regions. The commitment appears to be not there to compete in the MVC. With 12 scholarships allotted, which is let’s say $600k, could this be a sport on the chopping block?
if they commit to baseball, you have to get a new coach and a fresh perspective. It is obviously not working.
The crazy thing about this is, Indiana, particularly Northwest. Indiana is really really good at baseball and the sport is particularly popular
@usc4valpo Following on with the recently added topic of PFW dropping baseball/softball, I was wondering the same thing. Baseball runs on the biggest budget deficit of any sport at Valpo, so I am hoping that Hosmer is not just simply riding out Schmack's contract/whatever until she feels like she can cut baseball. I know she is not strongly against cutting sports, although the recent baseball field renovations and alleged plans for more suggest that baseball should (?) be safe.
Why do you think Hosmer is not strongly opposed to cutting sports?
@drdcvu03 retrospectively not sure if I should have included that line, nor how much I should say, but I was told that she once responded to a coach's request for more funding for the group/team by saying "we could give you that, but then we would have to cut..." that coach's group/team.
Kept intentionally vague to avoid reference to a specific coach or team.
Ignore my previous comment completely if you so wish. Or don't believe me. Which is what I would like to do.
And for what it's worth, back when the two VU students published their "95 Theses" in the Torch, #87 referred to "a sense of unease around potential budget cuts and entire team cuts amidst the hiring of the new Athletic Director, Laurel Hosmer," which was written by an athlete.
