Welcome – “Appalachian State is set to name former Oklahoma State assistant coach Billy Jones as their new head coach according to CBD sources. Jones completed his eighth season with the Cowboys in 2012 where he was the recruiting coordinator while working with the Cowboy hitters and outfielders.” The muthaship is quiet on the issue.
OFFICIAL. Set expectations to … high – “As the Cowboys’ hitting coach, he oversaw a potent offensive attack that led the Big 12 in home runs five times and ranked among the league’s top two clubs in batting average six times. Seven players that he coached at OSU have gone on to play in the Major Leagues, which is more Major Leaguers than any other Big 12 program has produced over the last eight years.”
Looks like a good move!
Good hire!!!
Looks like a great hire and a welcomed addition to the Mountaineer family!
Great hire! Here's his bio on the OSU page.
http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jones_…
Looks like he did well in Raleigh too.
"Ropes." Cute!
I really like that he was the recruiting coordinator as well. Nice to have some positive news for a change.
Excellent move.
Stepping stone
As long as he's successful on this stone, it's okay.
Go away ceez
I hope this hire makes people happy, because I am so tired of people being so negative towards Appalachian Athletics recently.
Welcome Coach Jones!
This looks to be a great hire, and one that will continue to raise the caliber of Appalachian Baseball.
LP,
Facts of life.
I had never been to a collage baseball game in my life till last month when I drove to Virginia to watch the guys play. I went up twice so I got to see them 2 out of three days. I really enjoyed the games and will go whenever I can. I am one of those that just does not enjoy MLB as it is so slow. The collage game moves right along and there is hitting and fielding, not just a pitcher and catcher playing catch. Lots of action. Good luck to the new coach, he looks like a good one.
Ceez's comment was certainly a buzz kill, no doubting that. But it will likely prove true within 5 years.
There's no denying mid-majors are stepping stones for most of these young, future big timers, but if they keep advancing, it means we're winning. If we're going to have a high turn over it might as well be a high turn over of really good coaches.
Super regionals next year!
Coach, this year was my first time seeing ASU baseball in action as well. In fact, it sparked a huge interest in a sport that I have always scoffed as boring and un-athletic. I saw a few home games and throughly enjoyed them all!
FYI, you can drink at our baseball games…. If this was common knowledge to students we'd sell out every single game.
Baseball is the perfect sport. Only boring if you don't understand it.
I love this hire and I cannot wait to see how we perform next spring. From what I saw on Twitter Coach Pollard's departure was not exactly wept over from the players.
Why can't we drink at football games? I thought it was a NCAA thing until I went to a game in Athens, and there was bud heavy in red UGA cups
Every coaching job is a stepping stone. Why do we make such a huge frickin deal over this? Nick Saban used LSU as a stepping stone, but ASU is supposed to be immune? You get the best coach available in an effort to build and advance your program. When your coaches stop getting offers to move up, then you should be concerned.
This was a great hire in that we get an experienced coach with a recruiting background. This can only help to continue the progress that Pollard made with this program.
Amen, Jamey. All of the sudden we're looking for someone to stay for the next 3 decades? Please. This is life.
Apps_Aj11
July 6, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Baseball is the perfect sport. Only boring if you don’t understand it.
Hey Dr Gonzo
I guess we are just tooooo stupid to realize how much fun MLB is. In addition who would have known that Pollard was so bad the players were glad to see him go? Damn! whoda thunk it! Gotta love that twitter thang
bcoach,
Don't be so sensitive. It doesn't take intelligence to understand baseball. It just takes time. I think soccer is beyond boring. But all of my soccer loving friends call me out for being critical because I don't understand it. Could I understand it if I took the time? Probably. My opinion is you wouldn't think baseball to be boring if you took the time to understand it.
Also, my comment about Pollard and the players is coming from what I have gathered watching comments from players about his departure on Twitter. Maybe you would have come to a different conclusion. I was just surprised by their reaction. Is that so bad?
The only thing I really "learned" about the sport of baseball since this past ASU season sparked my interest was the whole yelling "CAN A' CORN!" thing on an easy fly. Since there's no pro team in NC, took until my Apps were doing well for me to have a dog in the fight. That's what sparked my interest. It wasn't time or intelligence. I'm just as dumb as I've always been. Perhaps dumber since I've started yelling "CAN A' CORN!" all the time.
Actually I am not sensitive at all, just being flippant. I actually do understand the game. Years ago had season tickets to a MLB team and have been to all 7 games of a world series. That was then and now is now. For years now MLB just puts me to sleep. But now if they got into that "can a corn" thing I may rethink it. Now we do have some common ground. Soccer is another one that I just don't enjoy because it is slow. Even if I understood it I am afraid I would be fast asleep by the time they ever got a shot on goal. I don't want them to go away, lots of people like them. Just not me. I am more of a football, collage bb, minor league bb, basketball, and hockey kind of guy. I understand where you are though as I have friends that watch two games at a time. They love it.
Bcoach,
I assumed that when you said MLB you meant the entire sport. But i see you mentioned minor league ball. I love all forms of baseball. It's my favorite sport. I'll watch high school, college, minor and major. Of course, App football is my favorite sporting event. As a pure sport I'll take baseball.
As for hockey… That's a sport I would absolutely love to get into. In my opinion it is the last major sport to stick to its roots. So old school.
Gonzo, I'm not trying to be a smarty or anything like that, but I just looked it up and there are nine "pro" baseball teams currently credited to North Carolina. The Charlotte AAA team could be questioned because they actually play in Sotuth Carolina but the fine people in Durham, where I live, have had the Bulls in town now for over thirty and think very highly of their (our) "pro" team.
focus on the positive, this is good for ASU athletics. wish him the best!
Per the interview on GoASU, Coach Jones' son is one of the top high school players in the country. I believe he said he is a rising senior. He didn't say that his son would be attending App though. Anybody know if he plans on going to college or just straight to the draft?
This looks like a good hire by Cobb.
You see we can find a good coach by doing a search. We do not have to play "Rock Paper Sissors" and scrape the bottom of the "$hit Barrel" the way we did to find the last two Basketball Numb Skulls.
Cobb did a good job on the Vincent hire and now it appears he has made another good choice. Maybe he needs to start doing his job himself instead of depending on a land developer to make his decisions for him.
Maybe it is his fetish with the Tar Holes that clouds his judgement. Or maybe he was brushing up his resume when he selected the basketball coaches. Whatever the issue is he needs to be more consistant when he makes hiring choices.
It appears that Cobb can be very effective when he listens to himself.
Good job CC!
Still waiting for rain though…
The longer the wait for rain the greater the chance for flooding.
I have already built an ark in my backyard.
At any rate, this was a great hire and hopefully the Diamond Apps will continue their winning ways.
Many people don't realize that College Baseball is such a popular & highly-visible sport in the US. This progression of high-performance in baseball truly helps us in other areas. All boats rise on an incoming tide…
Great hire. Go baseball apps. I was waiting how long it would take someone to say "stepping stone", it didn't take long. I like starting my morning with rampant pessimism.
Oh and by the way, it's hot outside.
It's good to be prepared.
http://www.nola.com/uno/index,ssf/2012/03/uno_pre…
university of new orleans back on the rise?
This would be a great hire if Appalachian was in the midwest. It will take some time to establish recruiting but could work out sooner than Pollard.
Hey, Big Guy……..We had to hire someone……..Did anyone know the name Pollard 8-10 years ago??? (and PLEASE don't ask her why he was famous at home!!!). Will the new guy be good??? We all hope so. Will he be good enough to move up??? Oh hell yeah, we all hope so. Can the Apps make the College World Series??? Can the Apps beat Michigan in the Big House??? Forget that. Drop baseball at Appalalachian……..What can those hillbillies do but themselves???………….
Actually coach Jones already has established relationships in NC from his years at NC State. In his goasu interview (which many of you obviously didnt listen to) he talked about how his phone has been ringing off the hook from coaches he met during his time in NC with high school players interested in App. Coach jones' son is one of the top high school players in the country but no word on if he plans to attend app though. Looks to be a great hire and Cobb deserves some credit for that.
Jack, Amen.
Apps_Aj11
App has a pretty good hockey team. It is a club sport but they have won their championship. They have some players who could be playing varsity at other schools.
apps_Aj11
http://www.brhockey.com/appalachianstat
Now back to baseball. A friend who is a BIG baseball fan and State grad who REALLY knows what he is talking about says we have absolutly STOLEN a coach. He just keeps saying to me "how did you get him?".
Guys, app baseball was a NATIONAL contender this year. It was a very attractive head coaching position… our guys finished ranked #29 in d-1… thats not d-1aa, but the real deal!! Not saying they'll be that good next year with all that we lost, but Asu is now well known in the college baseball world.
I love the hire. Great recruiter with NC ties should keep the talent coming in. We lost a lot to the draft/graduation but we have some solid players returning and talented young guys who should contribute. Certainly not expecting a repeat of 2012 but I love this hire and think the future of ASU baseball is bright.
Asumike83,
I agree. If they can get a couple juco pitchers and a juco bat then they will contend again in 2014. 2013 will be crucial to get experience for next years sophs and juniors, who in turn will lead the team as juniors and seniors in 2012
In 2014*
I have to admit I was hoping for App grad Carl Lancaster , but I must admit this looks like a really good hire
Because this is just as good a place as any, it looks like San Diego may use DP at PR. Corey Lynch has also gotten a bit of press.
Nice hire. I'm looking for Thurbs to step up and make something happen from the mound. Billy's Batters?