Less than a week ago, Pete Hughes announced his resignation from his post at the University of Oklahoma. Vacating the head coaching position of the baseball program with a year left on his contract, the Oklahoma Sooners must once scour the nation for top candidates. With several names being mentioned by various outlets, I thought I’d throw out my top three nominations.
The Favorite | Skip Johnson
Finding a role with the Sooners under Pete Hughes as the pitching coach, Skip Johnson crossed the Red River. Joining the staff in 2017, Johnson made an immediate impact as Oklahoma returned to the NCAA Tournament. Possessing a familiarity with the current players, Johnson also holds a reputation in the recruiting world. However, he’s mechanically sound in his approach to pitching — something that separates the best teams from the rest. Personally, I’d love to see Skip retained while given the opportunity to bring in his own staff.
The Alum | Tim Walton
A part of the 1994 NCAA Championship team, Walton continues to find success albeit on the softball field. With a proven track record in terms of recruiting, the former Sooner has built a dynasty in Gainesville. Turning the Florida Gators into a national powerhouse, Walton simply knows what it takes to win. Expect him to bring the same tenacity to the baseball field assuming Walton is interested in flipping over from softball.
The Long Shot | Tim Tadlock
Graduating from Texas Tech University, Tadlock currently holds the baseball head coaching position of the Red Raiders. Building a competitive program on the national scene, the powers that be extended an offer to the head coach in 2016. Worth roughly $2.4 million over six years, pulling Tadlock away for TTU may prove to be a tall task. Why? The Red Raiders wrote into the signed contract that Tadlock cannot coach with another Big 12 Conference program without paying damages to Texas Tech. At that point, you have to ask: is it worth it?