Despite being eliminated from the NCAA Baseball Tournament last night, Kentucky has turned itself into a noticeable force in NCAA Baseball. Now comes the next step. Keeping the coach who made that happen.
Even before Kentucky lost 7-4 to the College of Charleston at Cliff Hagan Stadium, reports out of Baton Rouge pegged Cats’ leader John Cohen as a candidate for the now open and prestigious LSU job, one Smoke Laval vacated yesterday via forced resignation.
Alabama head coach Jim Wells, Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco, Cal St-Fullerton coach George Horton and Cohen are all mentioned as candidates. There are even reports that former LSU coach Skip Bertman, now the school’s athletics director, might return to the dugout.
Cohen has to be considered a hot candidate. He doesn’t turn 40 until September. He took a reeling Kentucky program and turned it into an NCAA Regional host and SEC co-champ in just three seasons. He is also a smart, vibrant personality who is dedicated to the position. His recruiting isn’t bad, either.
Mitch Barnhart made a terrific hire. But hiring good people who become successful means other schools want to hire them, as well. Barnhart and Cohen both say the two sides have been talking about a new contract since the final stretch of the regular season, but nothing has been finalized.
- Don’t count out a return by Bertman. [Shreveport Times]
- Bertman could put uniform back on. [Baton Rouge Advocate]
- Ole Miss expects call about Bianco, former LSU assistant. [Jackson Clarion-Ledger]
- Laval couldn’t escape Bertman’s shadow. [Baton Rouge Advocate]
