Texas Tech University Athletics
Tadlock Leads Long Awaited Trip To Omaha
June 13, 2014 | Baseball
Texas Tech Head Coach Tim Tadlock greets a young fan at today's autograph session at the College World Series. Tadlock was named the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year on Friday following a remarkable season that has led Texas Tech to Omaha for the first time in school history.
June 13, 2014
By Blayne Beal
Athletics Communications
Omaha, Neb. - When the last out was recorded on Sunday afternoon, the thousands of Red Raider faithful that had packed Rip Griffin Park for two days erupted in celebration.
In that moment, years of heartbreak and missed opportunities had been washed away.
Texas Tech was headed to the College World Series.
A destination that once seemed out of reach was suddenly the next stop for a program that had coveted a trip to college baseball's holy land.
Years of Close Calls
Texas Tech burst onto the college baseball scene in 1995 when Larry Hays took a group of virtually unknowns to within a few outs of the College World Series. That 1995 team still owns the school record for the most wins in a single season (51) and won the first conference title in school history.
Yet in the NCAA Regional Final against Stanford, when a trip to Omaha seemed so certain, the Red Raiders only found heartbreak. The Cardinal etched out a run in the ninth inning to take a 3-2 win and force a second and deciding championship game. In that second game, Stanford pitcher Kyle Peterson, who will be in the broadcast booth for ESPN this week, threw a complete game and the Cardinal defeated Tech 6-5 to advance to the CWS.
Then there was 1996 when Tech found itself hosting NCAA postseason baseball for the first time. The Red Raiders dug themselves out from a first round loss only to lose to USC in 13 innings and have their dreams of Omaha dashed in back-to-back years.
The Red Raiders won a pair of Big 12 Championships later that decade and hosted more postseason baseball. Yet no tickets for Omaha were ever punched and the road seemed longer than ever before.
As the millennium rolled around, Texas Tech fans were confident that those years would produce more conference titles and ultimately that mid-June trip to the Midwest.
Tech found itself in striking distance in 2001 and 2004 but ultimately those dreams were dashed and an unforeseen 10-year postseason drought would leave a lasting mark on the program.
The Right Man For The Job
A disappointing last place finish in the Big 12 in 2012 forced athletics director Kirby Hocutt to make a leadership change in the program. Hocutt knew that Texas Tech could be a national contender in college baseball based upon its loyal fan base and a new stadium renovation that made Rip Griffin Park one of the best in the sport.
So he turned to a guy he knew would build a program the right way and make it a championship contender. He turned to a Red Raider.
Tim Tadlock knew the task wouldn't be easy but the rewarding things in life never are.
His first order of business was hitting the recruiting trail because in order to compete in the Big 12 Conference, he had to have a stable of Johnny's and Joe's. Texas Tech had talent on its roster but not nearly enough depth to be successful in an ultracompetitive league.
He also had to fill out a coaching staff that was as committed to winning at Texas Tech as he was.
The hiring of pitching coach Ray Hayward and recruiting coordinator J-Bob Thomas gave him instant credibility while sitting in living rooms selling the Texas Tech baseball program to potential recruits. And then there are guys like director of operations Joe Hughes and volunteer assistant Matt Gardner that elevate the program both on and off the field.
In his first College World Series news conference, shortly after being named the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, Tadlock was quick to point out the integral role his staff has played in Tech's run to Omaha.
"I've got really good people around me," said Tadlock. "I mean Coach Hayward, Coach Gardner, Coach Thomas, our operations guys and our whole administration. We've got a really good group of people. I'm just a small part of the deal and I am really thankful to be here."
At Tadlock's hiring news conference back on June 7, 2012, Hocutt told the crowd that had gathered for the announcement that great times were ahead for Texas Tech Baseball.
Boy was he right.
Respecting The Game
True baseball fans can appreciate Tadlock's simple approach to the game. Never look ahead and certainly don't look behind.
That approach has guided a young team that was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference back in January all the way to Omaha.
It didn't change when Tech found itself in a win or go home scenario in Miami nor did it alter in front of packed houses at Rip Griffin Park in the super regionals.
Play the next pitch. Get the next out. Focus on the game at hand.
And if you think anything will change this week with a national championship on the line, you should think again.
In front of a crowd of reporters back in Lubbock on Wednesday that were eager to talk big picture, Tadlock simply responded; "It's one out at a time. It's just one inning. It's just a baseball game."
Larry Hays, the winningest baseball coach in program history, coached Tadlock at Texas Tech for two years (1990-91) and summed up his success as well as anyone could.
"One word. Love. He loves the game, loves his players, and loves success."
