Who Replaces Gene?

[shox1989]

Might as well just end wsu baseball as far as I am concerned. No Coach Stephenson no program. Sure he has made mistakes but he above any other coach in college athletics should be allowed to coach Wichita State until he chooses not to. I know I am alone or a minority on here thinking this way but I do and nothing anyone else says will change my mind. I realize the past few years haven't been the best but the team won the valley tournament and made the NCAA regional and the coach is being let go makes no sense. Imagine if Marshall was let go in 2012 for losing in the first round.

You are far from alone. I have talked to several people the last few days that feel the same way.

[Ta town]

Wasn't Travis Wyckoff a very successful pitching coach at both Creighton and Dallas Baptist or was that someone else?

[shox1989]

Wasn't Travis Wyckoff a very successful pitching coach at both Creighton and Dallas Baptist or was that someone else?

He was. But last I heard he left coaching and was selling insurance in the Dallas area.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Some of you sound like school girls after they announced Justin and Selena started dating..

Are you all seriously happy with how this program has been run over the last half decade? Admittedly I dont follow the program that close. I love baseball but college baseball just has never done it for me. But I'm not that dumb to know what WSU was then, what it now, and what it should/could be in the future.

I think its perfectly legit to be worried about who is hired next. I have no insight because again college baseball just really isnt my bag but reading some of these posts are hilarious..

"My wife wont let me" "Im not renewing tickets'

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Erik Bakich -- Michigan -- Key recruiter helping build Vanderbuilt and then had success at Maryland.

Kevin O'Sullivan -- Florida -- Been to Omaha twice, well connected in South.

Scott Forbes -- North Carolina -- Mentioned above

Josh Holliday -- Oklahoma State -- Young, but has been extremely effective recruiter and developer of talent in Stillwater.

[engrshock]

Why, it was already happening before our eyes this year.

The weather had a lot to do with attendance this year. Even then there were a good number of fans in the stands just not as much as last year. Make a bad hire (Mike Cohen) and there will be no one. At least in basketball there were the 6000 faithful each game game even after ten years of losing. I doubt that with three or five losing seasons baseball would have many at all. Hooper or Standiford may be great coaches but it does not make me say "WOW". The next coach must be a can't miss or sending HCGS to pasture is a really bad move.

[SB Shock]

The weather had a lot to do with attendance this year.

Bull S.... Convenient excuse for the Gene excuse makers.

All the attendance trends have been in a free fall including season tickets sales (which are not affected by weather)

WSU RPI - 103 (one of the worst in history)
WSU SOS - 125 (very poor home schedule)
18-19 Losing Non-Conference Record
19-14 home record (which is one of the worst in history)

The excuse makers are popular for saying "38 wins" - how can you fire him. It only took 66 tries to get 38 wins. That is 58% winning pct - 2nd WORST in the Gene Stephenson era. His worst came just a couple years ago.

0-7 vs Top 50
5-13 vs Top 50-100

Every possible metric you could look at is down ....except for the excuses.

[shox1989]

The weather had a lot to do with attendance this year. Even then there were a good number of fans in the stands just not as much as last year. Make a bad hire (Mike Cohen) and there will be no one. At least in basketball there were the 6000 faithful each game game even after ten years of losing. I doubt that with three or five losing seasons baseball would have many at all. Hooper or Standiford may be great coaches but it does not make me say "WOW". The next coach must be a can't miss or sending HCGS to pasture is a really bad move.

If the next guy doesn't do better than Gene has the last 5 years, then ADES will be run out of town. He better choose wisely.

[SB Shock]

If the next guy doesn't do better than Gene has the last 5 years, then ADES will be run out of town. He better choose wisely.

Why do you even care? You have already said you are done with Shocker baseball and won't be attending games.

[XManCometh]

I'd put KSU's Hill high on the list, he apparently knows how to recruit to a Midwest/northern school. The only reason I see him staying is the fact that he's set for the next 10+ years at KSU thanks to what he's done this season...but if he wants to move up and take on a former national power this is the place to be.

Why would he, or any BCS conference coach for that matter, leave their head coaching job and come to WSU? If you hadn't noticed lately, the MVC is AWFUL. This isn't the 90's anymore. We aren't a top tier program whatsoever outside of our grandiose stadium and it's been nearly 15 years since we were a national power. The college baseball landscape has changed tremendously since that time. I hate to say it, but WSU isn't "moving up" from K-State anymore. It's a step down. Some of you have your standards set VERY, VERY high as to who you think should be the next coach and I think you're going to be very disappointed.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

If the next guy doesn't do better than Gene has the last 5 years, then ADES will be run out of town. He better choose wisely.

You and your wife won't be there, what business is it of yours?

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Why would he, or any BCS conference coach for that matter, leave their head coaching job and come to WSU? If you hadn't noticed lately, the MVC is AWFUL. This isn't the 90's anymore. We aren't a top tier program whatsoever outside of our grandiose stadium and it's been nearly 15 years since we were a national power. The college baseball landscape has changed tremendously since that time. I hate to say it, but WSU isn't "moving up" from K-State anymore. It's a step down. Some of you have your standards set VERY, VERY high as to who you think should be the next coach and I think you're going to be very disappointed.

The landscape is perfect for what Wichita State has to offer.... MONEY!

Each Coach I listed makes less than half what we were paying Coach Stephenson. Most candidates will be looking at money, facilities and support, money, possibilities, and money.

We can pay someone enough to come here. Can they win will be the question.

[SB Shock]

Why would he, or any BCS conference coach for that matter.

You not going to go for BCS head coach, you are going to go for hungry young assistant coach who can come into a place with good fan support, good facilities and $$$$$ to increase his standard of living. He is going to come in and work his ass off to succeed.

[shocksrbest]

The program has lost its swag. I have followed the Shocks since the beginning, and as much as I admire what Gene has done with the program, I think an infusion of new blood is what is needed. We used to dominate the Valley and the other 2 teams in our state...not anymore. Others have not only caught up but have passed us as well.

[tru2thaduce]

Whoever the next coach is will have my full support.Just like Gene has had.Shocker baseball means a lot to me and I'm thankful for what Gene has built.Time to turn the keys over to a young hungry lion to get us back to where we belong.