Erik Bakich
Encyclopedia
Erik Bakich is an American college baseball coach. He currently serves as the head coach of the University of Maryland
baseball team
. Bakich previously served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt
and Clemson
.
where he excelled as a baseball
standout for two seasons in 1999 and 2000. He played as a left fielder
with a 1.000 fielding percentage
with 91 putout
s, no error
s, .315 batting average, 14 home run
s, 85 RBI
s, and 87 run
s. Both years, the Pirates secured the Colonial Athletic Association
championship and earned No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Regionals. Bakich was awarded all-conference honors in 2000. After graduating from East Carolina with a sports science
degree in 2000, Bakich signed a contract with the Springfield Capitals in the Frontier League
. He played professionally for one season in 2001.
in 2002. He worked as a hitting coach, and with both infielders and outfielders. Clemson advanced to the College World Series
that season.
Bakich then moved to Vanderbilt University
in 2003 to become the school's recruiting coordinator, hitting coach
, and outfield instructor
. Collegiate Baseball
ranked Bakich's first recruiting class the 24th best in the nation. In 2004, Vanderbilt increased its batting average from .258 the previous season to .304, the largest jump in school history. Vanderbilt brought in the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2005. Baseball America
ranked the 2006 recruiting class 25th, and the 2007 class 12th. In 2008, the Commodores secured the No. 2 class. Each year of Bakich's seven-year tenure saw a top-25 ranked recruiting class.
hired Bakich to replace former nine-year head coach Terry Rupp. Bakich sought to rebuild the program
and eventually achieve regular appearances in the NCAA tournament
, an event Maryland has not qualified for since 1971
. His long-term strategy focuses on recruiting, player development, and improving facilities. By September, Bakich had secured eleven commitments in the 2010 recruiting class and one in the 2011 class. He stated his plan to build a "recruiting wall" around the state to keep local talent at home. Bakich said, "Patience is not a virtue of mine. We don't have any time for that shit."
Maryland finished its first season under Bakich with a 17–39 mark and 5–25 in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC). Not unexpectedly, outclassed talent-wise in the ACC, the Terrapins matched the worst finish in program history. Bakich said, "I know it sounds odd, but wins and losses have never been important to me. I wanted to change the attitude of this team first and foremost, and you can already see that happening. Our seniors have done a great job of leading this team, and the transformation has already been made." The 2011 recruiting class was described as one of the best in school history.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
baseball team
Maryland Terrapins baseball
The Maryland Terrapins baseball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college baseball competition. The Terrapins compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Historically, Maryland has not been a strong baseball program, and the...
. Bakich previously served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
The Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represents Vanderbilt University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference...
and Clemson
Clemson Tigers baseball
The Clemson baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Jack Leggett and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium...
.
Early life
Bakich attended East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
where he excelled as a baseball
East Carolina Pirates baseball
The East Carolina Pirates baseball team is an intercollegiate baseball team representing East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college baseball and has made regular appearances in the NCAA Tournament, but as of 2010 has yet to appear in the College World Series.East Carolina participates as a...
standout for two seasons in 1999 and 2000. He played as a left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
with a 1.000 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
with 91 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, no error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
s, .315 batting average, 14 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 85 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s, and 87 run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
s. Both years, the Pirates secured the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
championship and earned No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Regionals. Bakich was awarded all-conference honors in 2000. After graduating from East Carolina with a sports science
Sports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
degree in 2000, Bakich signed a contract with the Springfield Capitals in the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
. He played professionally for one season in 2001.
Coaching career
After his brief professional playing stint, Bakich embarked upon his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
in 2002. He worked as a hitting coach, and with both infielders and outfielders. Clemson advanced to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
that season.
Bakich then moved to Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 2003 to become the school's recruiting coordinator, hitting coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, and outfield instructor
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Collegiate Baseball
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper is a publication based in Arizona that considers itself the "voice of amateur baseball" It is most noted for handing out the following awards: Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year, and Collegiate Baseball...
ranked Bakich's first recruiting class the 24th best in the nation. In 2004, Vanderbilt increased its batting average from .258 the previous season to .304, the largest jump in school history. Vanderbilt brought in the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2005. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
ranked the 2006 recruiting class 25th, and the 2007 class 12th. In 2008, the Commodores secured the No. 2 class. Each year of Bakich's seven-year tenure saw a top-25 ranked recruiting class.
Maryland
In June 2009, the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
hired Bakich to replace former nine-year head coach Terry Rupp. Bakich sought to rebuild the program
Maryland Terrapins baseball
The Maryland Terrapins baseball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college baseball competition. The Terrapins compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Historically, Maryland has not been a strong baseball program, and the...
and eventually achieve regular appearances in the NCAA tournament
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
, an event Maryland has not qualified for since 1971
1971 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 1971 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held in 1971 at various locations across the United States. ?? NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA Tournament...
. His long-term strategy focuses on recruiting, player development, and improving facilities. By September, Bakich had secured eleven commitments in the 2010 recruiting class and one in the 2011 class. He stated his plan to build a "recruiting wall" around the state to keep local talent at home. Bakich said, "Patience is not a virtue of mine. We don't have any time for that shit."
Maryland finished its first season under Bakich with a 17–39 mark and 5–25 in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC). Not unexpectedly, outclassed talent-wise in the ACC, the Terrapins matched the worst finish in program history. Bakich said, "I know it sounds odd, but wins and losses have never been important to me. I wanted to change the attitude of this team first and foremost, and you can already see that happening. Our seniors have done a great job of leading this team, and the transformation has already been made." The 2011 recruiting class was described as one of the best in school history.