It's a Clemson reunion 22 years in the making with past Tigers assistants and current opposing coaches in Erik Bakich of Clemson and Kevin O'Sullivan of Florida squaring off for a spot in the College World Series in the NCAA's super regionals. The best-of-three series starts Saturday.
FILE - Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan before an NCAA regional championship baseball game against Central Michigan on June 3, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. O’Sullivan and Clemson coach Erik Bakich, who served as assistants together for the 2002 Tigers team that advanced to the College World Series, will now square off for a CWS spot in the best-of-three series starting Saturday, June 8, 2024 -- and all with Jack Leggett still in Clemson’s dugout as program development assistant.
“I’ve never been electrocuted,” Bakich joked Friday. “Except for when comes around every day and it’s like a bolt of lightning.”He’s out hitting grounders during warmups and near the top of the dugout handing out encouragement and answering questions. The trio showed its stuff in 2002, with Clemson winning 54 games and advancing to Omaha with the national player of the year in shortstop Khalil Greene.
Bakich was a volunteer assistant who was hitting coach in 2002. O’Sullivan came on as the Tigers’ pitching coach in 1999 and over nine seasons was part of teams in 2000, 2002 and 2006 that made the College World Series. When Bakich was hired in 2023, he knew immediately he wanted Leggett back with the Tigers. Leggett, 70, serves as sort of a coaching emeritus position and happily drives about an hour each day to help prepare the team.
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