So we can all throw out the unrealistic hires. You've all seen them: Vitello, Tadlock, O'Sullivan, Link Jarrett, etc.

So that brings us to this: Who REALISTICALLY could we hire? BTW this is in no particular order, just who think of first

1. Chris Pollard (Duke)- His resume is good and it looks he'll win the ACC this year. He's not as high on my list as some people have him on theirs, but he could regularly get you to the Regionals and probably could have you hosting every other year. That is kind of his track record at Duke. His conference tourney record is very impressive as well.

2. Mark Wasikowski (Oregon)- Another one that people are higher on than I am. His unfamiliarity with this part of the country is probably what gives me trepidation on him. But he has built off what George Horton laid the foundation for and has been to back to back Supers.

3. Steve Sabins (West Virginia)- Probably the guy I am most interested in, not necessarily the favorite but more want to learn more about. He's 37-5 this year, which is his first season. Had a rocky start to conference play(1-3 in his first four) but is 14-0 since with 4 straight sweeps.

4. Skylar Meade (Troy)- Really has gotten things rolling at Troy and has kicked it up even another notch this year. The one drawback to him may be his connection to Lemonis as his last year at Louisville was Dan and Chris' first year there and they went to Omaha with that group. Have always heard that Dan and Co. are close with that first team.

5. Andrew Checketts (UCSB)- Had some early success at UCSB (2 regionals and a CWS in his first 5 years) and then kind of stumbled but has recovered nicely and built a really good program in Santa Barbara. My trepidations on him are the same as Wasikowski, unfamiliarity with recruiting in this part of the country.

6. Nick Mingione(Kentucky)- I don't really think anyone needs too much info on Nick. We know him pretty well. The buyout, if the amount that is rumored is correct, will probably keep us from hiring him.

7. Dan Heefner(DBU)- He's not coming unless he backs off some of the hardline religious stuff. It won't work at a public university. He can get away with it at a private Christian bible college. Also, he IS NOT a fan of alcohol and would not be a fan of it in our stadium. BUT if he backs off some of that stuff, he's the hire no questions asked. And btw, I am not talking have bible studies or praying before games.

8. Rob Vaughn (Alabama)- He would be my hire. He's recruited well and has done really well in the portal. He also fits the addage of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" because we've owned him since he's been at Bama. I think he'd kill it here and I think we can get him.

9. Skip Johnson (Oklahoma)- This is kind of the Selmon connection. Skip has obviously shown he can coach (CWS Runner Up 2022) but has kind of been up and down in his tenure there. I think if we pushed though, we'd get him.

10. Will Coggin(UGA HC)- I don't think Will needs an intro. Everyone knows his pros and cons at this point. He'd be higher up my list than most, but I think he knows what it takes to win here because he saw it. I would need to know what he wanted to do about the pitching though first and foremost. He has it made at UGA with Wes.

11. Josh Elander (Tennessee HC)- Josh has been with Tony every step of the way at Tennessee. So it would take a good offer to pull him from there. But he has seen how Tony has built that program from legit the ground up, and he'll have a higher starting point. The question for us is, Is it truly all Tony at Tennessee or do these assistants have that same fire and bravado as he does?

12. Erik Bakich(Clemson)- This is probably the guy I would throw the kitchen sink at. He has won everywhere and has been elite everywhere. He took Michigan to the CWS finals....MICHIGAN. In baseball.