Maryland Names Bakich Head Baseball Coach
Vanderbilt assistant becomes sixth Terrapin coach.
Erik Bakich

Erik Bakich

June 30, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (umterps.com) - Vanderbilt assistant Erik Bakich has been hired as the University of Maryland's new head baseball coach, Director of Athletics Deborah A. Yow announced Monday, becoming the program's sixth head coach in its 116-year history.

Bakich spent the last seven seasons with the Commodores, where he established himself as one of the best recruiters in college baseball, hauling in top-25 classes all seven years in Nashville, including the top-ranked national class in 2005 and second-ranked national class in 2008.

Former head coach Terry Rupp resigned May 29 after nine seasons in College Park, opening the door for Bakich to be hired.

In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, Bakich trained the Commodores' outfielders and served as a hitting coach. In 2004, Vanderbilt experienced the biggest batting-average increase in program history, hitting .304 that season coming off a .258 clip the previous year. Vanderbilt finished in the top three in the SEC in team batting three of the last four seasons under Bakich's tutelage.

Bakich brings familiarity with ACC baseball, as he began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Clemson in 2002, assisting in the Tigers' recruiting efforts and working with the team's outfielders and infielders. Clemson advanced to the College World Series that season.

Prior to his coaching career, Bakich was a standout player for two seasons at East Carolina after transferring from San Jose City College in California. Bakich finished his playing career at ECU with a .315 batting average, 14 home runs and 85 RBIs, helping lead the Pirates to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championships in 1999 and 2000.

Bakich graduated from East Carolina in 2000 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. Upon graduation, Bakich played professionally in the Independent Professional Baseball League until 2001. At the conclusion of his playing career, Bakich returned to East Carolina, where he served as an assistant strength and condition coach for one year.