A look at potential replacements for Pete Hughes
There isn’t a timetable for Oklahoma to choose a successor to Pete Hughes. It took a little less than four weeks for OU to hire Hughes away from Virginia Tech in the summer of 2014. The one that ultimately landed Sunny Golloway the job took much longer. But that one also started with a search committee and included the fiasco that had former Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson taking the job for a day.
You can forget two coaches with Sooner ties. Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock, a former OU assistant, isn’t leaving Lubbock. He signed a six-year $4.2 million contract last year. The deal also includes a major buyout if he tried to go to another Big 12 school.
Golloway hasn’t coached since he was fired by Auburn before the 2016 season. He currently lives in Oklahoma, but he won’t get his old job back. He and athletic director Joe Castiglione did not part on the best of terms.
When Castiglione hired Hughes, the then Virginia Tech coach wasn’t on the radar. The Sooners could come up with a similar surprise this time.
Here are seven potential candidates in alphabetical order:
• Matt Deggs, Sam Houston State coach: Deggs has guided the Bearkats to two-straight 40-win seasons and a berth in the Super Regional round this year. He knows the recruiting area as well as anyone. He’s been an assistant at Arkansas, Texas A&M and Louisiana-Lafayette and coached in the junior college ranks at Texarkana College.
• Tim Jamieson, former Missouri coach: He spent this out of the sport since being fired by Missouri after the 2016 season. The Tigers were a solid program during his 21-year tenure as head coach, but struggled after the school left the Big 12 for the SEC.
• Skip Johnson, current OU pitching coach: Johnson has a lengthy track record of recruiting and developing players as a head coach at Navarro Junior College and as Texas’ pitching coach for nine seasons. He interviewed to be Augie Garrido’s replacement last season. OU’s pitching staff had an open-and-down year. But OU could do a lot worse than hiring a guy with proven recruiting ties throughout the area.
• Dan Heefner, Dallas Baptist coach: OU gauged Heefner’s interest four years ago and was rebuffed. The Patriots’ longtime coach reportedly ignored overtures from Texas and Baylor last season. He should be on the shortlist due to his accomplishments. The 38-year-old Heefner has guided the small school since 2008, but he doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to change jobs.
• Randy Mazey, West Virginia coach: He guided West Virginia to the NCAA tournament this season, which is no small feat for a northern school. Mazey has ties to the area. He spent six seasons as TCU’s pitching coach, helping Jim Schlosnagle build that program into a powerhouse. Of current head coaches, he could be OU’s best option.
• Bill Mosiello, TCU assistant coach: The 52-year-old career assistant is one of college baseball’s most well-traveled coaches. Mosiello has a strong reputation as a recruiter and developer of hitters and defenders. Since he joined TCU’s staff, the Horned Frogs have been annual College World Series participant. There are two major drawbacks. Mosiello has never been a college head coach. He was also Larry Cochell’s assistant at OU from 1996-2000 and walked out on the job in the 2000 season.
• Tim Walton, Florida softball coach: The former OU pitcher hasn’t coached baseball since he was a volunteer assistant at Oral Roberts in 1997. The former Patty Gasso aide has built a powerhouse program in Gainesville. This wouldn’t be a bargain-basement hire. Walton makes over $300,000 season at Florida.