Source: BigTenNetwork.com
Posted: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:39:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:49:08 PM EST
Posted: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:39:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:49:08 PM EST
Jake Boss Jr., who led Eastern Michigan to the 2008 NCAA Tournament in his first season, has been named Michigan State's 16th head baseball coach.
Boss, the 2008 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, replaces former coach David Grewe, who resigned Sunday to become the associate head coach at LSU. Boss will be formally introduced at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Kobs Field.
In just one season as head coach, Boss made an immediate impact at Eastern Michigan, guiding the Eagles to their second consecutive MAC West Division crown and first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003. The Eagles swept through the MAC Tournament, winning all four games by a combined 21 runs, to notch the school's fourth tournament title. The conference title capped a remarkable turnaround, as Eastern Michigan - picked to finish fifth in the division - closed the season on a hot streak, claiming 25 of 40 games and earning a berth in the NCAA field.
For his efforts, Boss was selected the 2008 MAC Coach of the Year and made history by becoming just the second coach in league history to win the MAC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. Overall, the Eagles finished the season 15-8 in conference play and 25-32 overall. The Eagles were one of the top offensive teams in the MAC, ranking among the league leaders in hits (third with 615), home runs (fourth with 64), runs (fourth with 300) and RBI (fifth with 372).
Two Eagles, Josh Ivan and Matt Shoemaker, garnered All-MAC honors, while four players were named to the all-tournament team, including true freshman and tournament MVP Zach Leonard. In addition, four student-athletes were recognized on the Academic All-MAC team, second most of any school in the conference.
A native of Lansing, Boss is no stranger to postseason play, as he has coached in the past four NCAA Tournaments and five of the last six. Prior to being named head coach at Eastern Michigan, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Michigan from 2004-07, as the Wolverines made NCAA Regional appearances all three seasons. Boss was a member of the staff that led the Wolverines to three straight 40-win campaigns, with a 42-19 record in 2005, a 43-21 mark in 2006 and a 42-19 finish in 2007. Michigan won the 2006 and 2007 Big Ten regular-season titles, and claimed an NCAA Regional title in 2007 by upsetting top-seeded Vanderbilt to advance to the school's first-ever Super Regional.
"As Michigan State University prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary of Spartan Athletics and the sport of baseball, the selection of Jake Boss Jr. as its head coach could not come at a better time," said MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis. "Jake is committed to winning with integrity and understands the entire scope and impact Spartan baseball has on our community and the state of Michigan.
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named the head baseball coach at Michigan State University," Boss said. "When I started coaching at the collegiate level 13 years ago, my goal was to come back to East Lansing as head coach of the Spartan baseball program, and I am very excited for this opportunity."
Throughout his career, Boss has worked with 27 players who have advanced to the professional ranks, including 2004 All-American and second-round draftee Brian Bixler, who is currently on the 40-man roster for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boss has coached 23 players who have been drafted since his first Division I coaching job at EMU and has tutored eight All-Americans.
Information for this report was provided by msuspartans.com.
Boss, the 2008 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, replaces former coach David Grewe, who resigned Sunday to become the associate head coach at LSU. Boss will be formally introduced at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Kobs Field.
In just one season as head coach, Boss made an immediate impact at Eastern Michigan, guiding the Eagles to their second consecutive MAC West Division crown and first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003. The Eagles swept through the MAC Tournament, winning all four games by a combined 21 runs, to notch the school's fourth tournament title. The conference title capped a remarkable turnaround, as Eastern Michigan - picked to finish fifth in the division - closed the season on a hot streak, claiming 25 of 40 games and earning a berth in the NCAA field.
For his efforts, Boss was selected the 2008 MAC Coach of the Year and made history by becoming just the second coach in league history to win the MAC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. Overall, the Eagles finished the season 15-8 in conference play and 25-32 overall. The Eagles were one of the top offensive teams in the MAC, ranking among the league leaders in hits (third with 615), home runs (fourth with 64), runs (fourth with 300) and RBI (fifth with 372).
Two Eagles, Josh Ivan and Matt Shoemaker, garnered All-MAC honors, while four players were named to the all-tournament team, including true freshman and tournament MVP Zach Leonard. In addition, four student-athletes were recognized on the Academic All-MAC team, second most of any school in the conference.
A native of Lansing, Boss is no stranger to postseason play, as he has coached in the past four NCAA Tournaments and five of the last six. Prior to being named head coach at Eastern Michigan, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Michigan from 2004-07, as the Wolverines made NCAA Regional appearances all three seasons. Boss was a member of the staff that led the Wolverines to three straight 40-win campaigns, with a 42-19 record in 2005, a 43-21 mark in 2006 and a 42-19 finish in 2007. Michigan won the 2006 and 2007 Big Ten regular-season titles, and claimed an NCAA Regional title in 2007 by upsetting top-seeded Vanderbilt to advance to the school's first-ever Super Regional.
"As Michigan State University prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary of Spartan Athletics and the sport of baseball, the selection of Jake Boss Jr. as its head coach could not come at a better time," said MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis. "Jake is committed to winning with integrity and understands the entire scope and impact Spartan baseball has on our community and the state of Michigan.
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named the head baseball coach at Michigan State University," Boss said. "When I started coaching at the collegiate level 13 years ago, my goal was to come back to East Lansing as head coach of the Spartan baseball program, and I am very excited for this opportunity."
Throughout his career, Boss has worked with 27 players who have advanced to the professional ranks, including 2004 All-American and second-round draftee Brian Bixler, who is currently on the 40-man roster for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boss has coached 23 players who have been drafted since his first Division I coaching job at EMU and has tutored eight All-Americans.
Information for this report was provided by msuspartans.com.
