The RoundHouse | 5/27/2019 11:01:00 AM

 

Wichita State is looking for a baseball coach. Athletic director Darron Boatright addresses the state of the program and where Shockers baseball goes:

What is your message to fans?
 
We have to applaud the sincerity, as well as the commitment, of those who have stuck with us through a very difficult time in our program's history. To those people, I want them to know that we are as committed as they have been to getting a consistent championship program back to the top.
 
What are the expectations for Shocker baseball on a conference and national level?
 
Our national brand is still there. Wichita State baseball resonates nationally. It's our responsibility to take those memories and bring them into the current era.
 
We want this program to, year in and year out, compete for championships in our conference. In contending for those championships, we expect them to be of a caliber that is post-season worthy with an opportunity to advance.
 
Don't take that as low expectations. If you have the ability as a team to reach the post-season, with an opportunity to realistically advance, then there is no limitation. If you get there and you realistically have an opportunity to advance, there is nothing to stop you from competing for a national championship.
 
What is Wichita State looking for in a coach?
 
I want someone that has a presence of confidence, that really understands the role of a teacher and has the ability to take similarly talented individuals and prepare them in a manner to reach uncommon results. 

I'm looking for the perfect combination – I want someone with the drive and determination of Gene Stephenson, the speaking ability of Zig Ziglar and the life history of Billy Graham and the ability to coach like Whitey Herzog.
  
How do you describe baseball's place in Wichita State's athletic department?
 
Baseball is tremendously important for our success at Wichita State. From the program's (resumption) in 1978, Shocker baseball took Wichita State University to a national level and developed a brand.
 
Since that time, we have had others, basketball specifically, that took that torch and ran with it. I would like to see a time where our baseball and our basketball, and other sports, are thriving simultaneously.
 
Baseball is significantly important to our athletic department from a revenue standpoint. For us to operate in the manner in which we want and expect to operate, we need baseball to be a significant revenue source. That's both for the baseball program's health and viability and for the rest of the department.
 
There are few institutions that can rely on baseball to be a consistent revenue source. Wichita State, fortunately, is one of them.
 
How has membership in the American Athletic Conference changed the program?
 
In our change to the American Athletic Conference, baseball is an area that significantly stepped up in competition. It's a place that we want to be. 

We just have to ensure that our commitment matches our expectation, so that we can perform at the level this program is accustomed to.

How important is the loyalty of former Shockers?
 
The commitment that has been shown to our baseball program by private donors, who have stepped up over the last two years to ensure that Phase V of Eck Stadium would come to fruition – you can't thank those individuals enough. 
 
More than 40 former baseball players made a minimum of a $10,000 donation toward this project. That validates what the community and our alumni think about this program.
 
Any time we get together with our alums - the passion, the drive, the care - it's pretty obvious why they were as successful as they were. When you visit with those men that put so much into this program, and this program gave so much to them, the responsibility of recapturing that tradition and pride is on us – for them. 
 
This is their program. This is a program of former players, current players and fans. This will always be their program.
 
We have to do everything we can to meet their expectations.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.