10 candidates for UCF baseball’s head coaching opening

There is no question the news of head coach Terry Rooney leaving UCF baseball to take the associate head coaching position at Alabama sent shock waves through the college baseball community. While taking a title downgrade is not something you see every day in coaching anywhere in sports, the move for Rooney may make some sense.

He coached the Knights for eight seasons, but had missed the NCAA Baseball Tournament in each of the last four years. With new athletic director Danny White coming on board this winter, Rooney’s future was very much in doubt.

White has already made major hires including a football coach (Scott Frost), men’s and women’s basketball coach (Johnny Dawkins and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson), and a new Director of Tennis (John Roddick). Now he gets to add yet another new face to UCF’s rapidly changing coaching roster.

As someone that broadcasted UCF baseball as a student for four years (2008-2011), I have a decent handle on what the names on a prospective coaching list might look like. Here are some of the top candidates that could make sense for the Knights.

J.D. Arteaga – Miami Pitching Coach

Arteaga is a Miami alum, has been an assistant coach at the school for 14 years and the pitching coach since 2003. While he has served by legendary coach Jim Morris’ side, Morris has plans to retire when his contract expires after the 2018 season.

Furthermore, another Canes lieutenant, Gino DiMare, is in line to take over the program. That would signal it might be time for Arteaga to look for his own head coaching opportunity.

Arteaga was in the mix for the FIU opening this summer that went to former Alabama State and Bethune Cookman head coach Mervyl Melendez. The main question surrounding his candidacy would be what exactly it would take for him to leave his alma mater.

Mike Bell – Florida State Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach

Bell is regarded as one of the finest assistant coaches in college baseball and is right here in-state at Florida State. The Seminoles alum has been back at his alma mater coaching with Mike Martin for five seasons.

Bell has coaching experience at Oklahoma and Florida Southern as well. After six years as a player in the minor leagues, he began his coaching career by leading in-state Brandon High School to a district title.

One would think Bell’s position at his alma mater is secure with Mike Martin, Jr. expected to take over whenever his dad retires. At the same time, the opportunity to be a head coach is something almost everyone wants to pursue.

Craig Bell – Florida Assistant Coach

Having another Bell on the list who is also an assistant at a Florida school may be a bit confusing, but it is merited. This Bell came to Gainesville with Kevin O’Sullivan nine years ago and helped turn the Gators program around.

Since Bell has been at Florida, the team has made five College World Series and two in a row. The West Palm Beach native has strong ties to the state previous to the Gators with experience as a high school coach in his hometown for multiple programs.

Before joining O’Sullivan’s staff, Bell was a scout for the Seattle Mariners for seven years. That unique experience has certainly helped him recognize talent on the recruiting trail and can serve him well at his next stop.

Scott Berry – Southern Mississippi Head Coach

Berry was a longtime assistant under head coach Corky Palmer at Southern Miss before taking the head coaching position in 2010. In 2016, he had his most successful season yet, leading the Golden Eagles to a 41-19 record and NCAA tournament appearance.

Southern Miss has been to the NCAAs three times with Berry running the show. He has won at least 30 games in each of his seven seasons and boasts a 249-193-1 record.

College baseball coaches are a complacent group however, and one has to wonder if Berry would actually leave Southern Miss. He has no obvious ties to the state of Florida and the Golden Eagles have solid facilities.

Greg Brown – Nova Southeastern University Head Coach

This would be the type of maverick hire Danny White has become known for in his time as an athletic director at Buffalo and UCF. Brown led the Sharks to their first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016.

After taking the job in 2010, Nova made its first NCAA tournament appearance in school history in 2011. The Sharks have been to four NCAA South Region Tournaments in Brown’s six seasons.

Brown played professional baseball after starring collegiately at Lynn University. The downside is that he has limited coaching experience and none at the Division I level.

Mark Calvi – South Alabama Head Coach

Calvi has had great success in a short period of time at South Alabama. The Jaguars have been to two NCAA Tournaments since he took over in 2012.

This past season, South Alabama went 42-22 and finished in a tie for first in the Sun Belt Conference. Calvi can also boast a national title on his resume from his time as an assistant at South Carolina.

The Marco Island, Florida native played college baseball at Nova. He also spent more than a decade in the state as an assistant at FIU and was a candidate during their head coaching search that just wrapped up.

Casey Dunn – Samford head coach

Dunn is known as one of the brightest young coaching minds in college baseball. He has been the head coach at Samford since the 2005 season.

The Bulldogs have won 30 or more games in nine of the last 11 seasons. They made their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history under Dunn’s watch in 2012.

Dunn has great experience both as an assistant coach and player at Auburn as well. The lack of Florida ties and slightly lighter resume then others on this list stand out as things that could hurt him.

Travis Jewett – Vanderbilt Associate Head Coach

Jewett just finished his fourth season at Vanderbilt. The Commodores have been among the best in college baseball in that time. They have made two trips to the College World Series and won the 2014 National Championship.

Vanderbilt’s success has helped Jewett rise to the title of associate head coach while he still serves as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. He also has been an assistant at Arizona State, Washington State, Washington and Gonzaga.

The list of mostly West Coast schools prompts one to wonder whether Jewett would be a good fit. Then again, a certain new Knights football coach also made his way from one coast to the other to take over the program.

Jeff Johnson – Chipola College Head Coach

Johnson is a popular choice of many longtime UCF baseball fans. He played under longtime Knights coach Jay Bergman and has been the head coach at Chipola College for 19 seasons.

In that time, the Indians have compiled a 728-350-2 record while becoming one of the more consistently dominant junior college programs in the country. Johnson has been to the JUCO World Series on three occasions and won the school’s first title in 2007.

Johnson was a finalist for the job when Rooney was hired and there is no question he would like another shot to lead his alma mater. White may want to forge his own path however with the hire.

Frank Viola – Las Vegas 51s pitching coach

Every list needs a wild card and Viola fits the bill, literally and figuratively.

The colorful former Major League star pitcher was a longtime Orlando resident who has ties to the area going back to his days with the Minnesota Twins in spring training at Tinker Field.

Viola was formerly the head coach at Lake Highland Prep in downtown Orlando and has been quietly moving up the coaching ranks. He has mostly worked in the Mets farm system and some credit him with the development of some of the young, talented starters that currently grace the big league rotation.

An outside-the box-hire certainly would not be something White would shy away from and Viola interviewed for the position in 2008. The question is if he now wants to wait to be a big league coach or would welcome the return to Central Florida.

Some other names to consider:

Craig Cozart – High Point Head Coach
Jack Leggett – Former Clemson Head Coach
Jeff Palumbo – ECU Assistant Coach
David Perno – Former Georgia Head Coach
Kevin Schnall – Coastal Carolina Associate Head Coach
Jamey Shouppe – Florida A&M Head Coach.