BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

SCOTSman · June 30, 2009, 04:12:28 PM

hopefully the Denison situation pans out as they have proven to be an above average team over the past few seasons

chipper13 · June 30, 2009, 09:47:35 PM

The Denison Baseball situation is an unfortunate one in that this fall will see a 3rd Coach in 4 years for the incoming seniors. Denison is a superb academic institution with extraordinary integrity. Unfortunatley the administration chose the least qualified applicant (after they could not come to terms with 2 other extraordinarily well qualified candidates) and "they paid the price". Live & learn as they say. No need to go into Coach Dedman's inadequacies but if he is wise, he would genuinely ask the administration for ALL of the feedback and try to learn from his shortcomings (and there are many). Treating kids/players as objects and having NO relationship with ANY of the 37 players tells virtually the entire story. Parents had very very little to do with his firing. Please give the administration some credit. It takes a village to get a Coach fired and there was not 1 player, NOT 1, that would have gone to bat for him. He dug his own grave, wouldn't listen to ANYONE, including his own peers @ the University, was not well liked by many of the opposing Coaches, made an ass of himself far too many times with umpires, and there was nothing, nothing anyone could ever tell him. A real "know-it-all"! Finally, to suggest that parents of current players will have any involvement in the selection process is absurd, an insult to the administration and to the University. The school knows it made a mistake, and it will fix the problem. Ask yourself, have you ever made a bad hire? It happens all the time and smart businessmen admit their mistake, handle it, take responsibility and move on. Like every other unfortunate situation, this too will pass and come next fall with new, fresh leadership, everyone will long forget Coach Dedman. Let's worry about the MLB pennant races for our favorite teams and move on D3 baseball fans!

Pat Coleman · June 30, 2009, 10:54:56 PM

This is not a very good conversation here, folks, from a Terms of Service perspective. Lots of posts heading into gray areas. Let's try to keep to established facts and not innuendos.

Thanks.

DenisonBigRed · July 01, 2009, 08:56:35 AM

This sort of juvenile drive-by attack does a disservice to the university, the players and the coach.

I believe it was obvious that Coach Dedman could not have been more passionate about Denison, about baseball, and about his players.

At age 24 or 25 he stepped up to take on a lot of responsibility, coaching players he had played with, and he'll learn from the experience. It would have been easier for him, of course, if he'd had someone to mentor him, but it was a situation that didn't allow for that. Dedman filled in with hard work and character at a time when the program was desperate for both. He was recruiting well after some fallow years (I hope those good freshmen will give us time to find a new coach and will still come to Denison), raising money for a new stadium, all those parts of the job that are out of view even to the players.

The next coach will probably be more experienced, but can't love Denison and its players any more.

I've talked with players, parents and Denison coaches who understand this, who appreciate his effort, and who wish him successs.

ScotsFan · July 01, 2009, 10:01:16 AM

Quote from: SCOTSman on June 30, 2009, 04:12:28 PM
hopefully the Denison situation pans out as they have proven to be an above average team over the past few seasons

I think this is about the best thing that can be said at this point. Denison has been a team on the rise in the NCAC and last season seemed to take a step back. But with a young nucleus coming back, they very well could be back challenging for the NCAC next season if they can resolve this mess without letting things spiral out of control.

And, can we please stop with the whole he said she said things? Really, what does this sort of thing accomplish? From what I've been reading, who's to say who is right here? You have the Dedman supporters blaming the players, parents and the universtity. And you have the Dedman detractors blaming the coach. Is this really helping the situation with all of this mud slinging???

DenisonBigRed · July 01, 2009, 11:11:08 AM

Well said, ScotsFan!

The team was almost entirely freshmen and sophomores last season. Six players made all-conference, including two freshmen and a sophomore. And they beat the defending national champion twice. The year before, Dedman's first year, they were much improved and missed the regional by just one game.

Next year Denison may be better, and in a couple of years...

SCOTSman · July 04, 2009, 02:35:41 PM

I would have Denison ranked right behind Wooster in the NCAC for the 2010 season actually, and as I said before I would expect a 1 or 2 ranking for the Scots preseason. I also really liked what I saw from the entire NCAC this year as I felt it was the strongest the conference has been in the past 4 or 5 years. Denison defeating Trinity twice early in the year, Kenyon having a good season, the tight race for playoff spots in the West division with OWU and Wabash, and of course Woo being the National Runners up! Hopefully this will continue... Also, word is Wooster has some strong talent coming in via transfers and recruits.

seinfeld · July 12, 2009, 12:20:38 AM

Jonathan Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter for the Giants Friday night, played for Ohio Dominican from 2001-04. He was a 27th round pick. He pitched against Wooster as a freshman in 2001, going eight innings to get the win.

http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/boxes/2001/ohiodominican.php

I wonder if any other NCAC teams faced him during this time period.

SCOTSman · July 18, 2009, 10:32:10 AM

Alex Hernberger, a four year starter for Allegheny at catcher, had his contract bought out by the Arizona Diamondbacks within the past three days. Hernberger had spent a week playing for an independent team in the San Antonio area and when the catcher of the short season A affiliate for the D Backs had a horrible first month he was released and Hernberger was brought in. Congratulations to Alex and best of luck!

Buckley · July 30, 2009, 12:03:14 AM

any news to the finalists at Denison. I've heard Tom Flynn (old wabash coach), Mike Deegan (marietta) any others?

SCOTSman · August 06, 2009, 11:51:25 AM

Not really 100% positive on how the Denison situation is panning out, but I do know that the players love coach Mike Deegan down at marietta and what he does for the program. He surely would be a nice edition to the Denison program

Dr. Acula · August 12, 2009, 06:02:29 PM

Denison hired Mike Clark from Emory. He played at Cortland St. and has been an asst at Emory for 6 years so he's definitely been around quality programs.

Denison hires Clark

SCOTSman · August 16, 2009, 03:39:36 PM

Emory and Cortland are obviously two elite programs in College baseball... If Clark is truly cut from the same cloth then he should have an excellent oppurtunity at taking the talent at Denison to the next level.

Dr. Acula · August 17, 2009, 03:24:22 PM

I agree SCOTSman. I can't think of a better place for Denison's coach to come from than Emory. Outstanding academics and obviously great baseball. Seeing what it takes to win in that environment should only help as he takes over his own program that shares the academic constraints he's accustomed to. I really like Clark's resume and am happy Denison landed him.

SCOTSman · August 18, 2009, 05:03:33 PM

Great observation Doctor... Clark even points out in the article posted on D3 that he recognizes alot of similarities between the two programs, especially the academic integrity of each institution. Just realized from the article that not only has he had experience with two great D3 organizations, but also coached in the Cape Cod league! Amazing resume he's bringing to the table.