June 27, 2012
• Inside Michigan Baseball with Coach Bakich 
| Coach Bakich on WTKA 
(June 29)
• Introductory Press Conference: Video | Transcript |
Photo Gallery 
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan
director of athletics Dave Brandon announced today (Wednesday, June
27) that Erik Bakich has been hired as the 19th head
coach in Wolverines baseball history. Bakich (pronounced back-itch)
comes to Ann Arbor after spending the past three seasons as the
baseball coach at the University of Maryland (2010-12).
"My wife, son and I could not be more excited to join the Michigan
Athletics family and the Ann Arbor community," said Bakich. "The
University of Michigan represents a standard of academic and athletic
excellence which will be upheld by our coaches and players every day.
Michigan baseball has a storied tradition and I am honored to lead
this program back to winning championships. We are eager to attack the
recruiting trail and will finalize our coaching staff as quickly as
possible. Go Blue!"
"Coach Bakich is regarded as one of the top recruiters and
developers of talent in collegiate baseball," said Brandon, the Donald
R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "His leadership and enthusiasm will
be critical in restoring our baseball program to a championship level.
We are excited about Erik and his family joining Michigan
Athletics."
Bakich rebuilt the Terrapins baseball program. He led the Terrapins
to a 32-24 record in 2012, which was a 15-win improvement from his
first season in College Park.
Bakich, 34, is currently the youngest head baseball coach at any
BCS school. In the last 11 years as a collegiate coach, Bakich has
recruited to campus and/or coached 81 players that have been selected
in the MLB Draft, including 25 in the first five rounds and nine
first-round picks.
Prior to assuming the head coaching position at Maryland, Bakich
spent seven seasons building Vanderbilt into a perennial contender. He
was the program's recruiting coordinator, worked with the outfielders,
and served as hitting coach. Vanderbilt finished in the top three in
the Southeastern Conference in team batting average in three of his
final four seasons.
Bakich established himself as one of the nation's top recruiters
during his time with the Commodores, hauling in top-25 classes all
seven seasons on staff. Vanderbilt had the No. 1 recruiting class in
2005 and the second-ranked class in 2008.
While at Vanderbilt, Bakich recruited and coached David Price, who
was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. Price placed second in
the voting for the 2010 Cy Young Award as a member of the Tampa Bay
Rays. During his final three seasons (2008-10), Bakich recruited 22
Commodores that were selected in the Major League draft.
Bakich was hired by Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin in 2003.
Bakich helped the Commodores reach the SEC Tournament during his first
season, something that had not been accomplished in the eight seasons
prior to his arrival. The very next season, Vanderbilt won an NCAA
Regional and advanced to a Super Regional.
He began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant
coach at Clemson in 2002. Bakich worked with the Tigers' outfielders
and infielders on defensive situations and assisted with the team's
recruiting efforts. Clemson posted a 54-17 record and advanced to the
College World Series.
Bakich pursued a coaching career after a standout playing
experience. He played two seasons for East Carolina (1999-2000) after
transferring from San Jose City College (Calif.). The Pirates won
consecutive CAA conference championships and claimed No. 1 seeds at
the NCAA Regionals during those two seasons. He was named to the
all-regional team at LSU as a third baseman in 1999. Bakich finished
his two-year career at ECU with a .315 batting average, 14 home runs
and 85 runs batted in.
He graduated from East Carolina in 2001, earning a degree in
exercise and sports science. Bakich played professionally in the
Independent Professional Baseball League until 2001. He returned to
ECU and served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in fall
2001.
Bakich and his wife, Jiffy, have a son, Colt.
Media Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
