Rogers' Around the Bases

Oklahoma expected to hire Giese as pitching coach

11/4/2011 6:20:07 PM

CB TICKET: Insider thoughts, plus the why on Giese

Oklahoma suffered a tough loss last week when talented pitching coach Tim Tadlock left the program to become the associate head coach at Texas Tech, where he played his collegiate career.

Though fully replacing Tadlock will be difficult, the Sooners are expected to make an excellent hire in highly-touted pitching coach Jack Giese.

Giese spent last season as the pitching coach for the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Short-Season A affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays. Before his stint in the professional ranks, Giese was the pitching coach at Howard Junior College in Texas, where he helped guide the program to the 2009 JUCO national title and a record-setting winning streak.

Sources close to the situation indicated last week the Sooners likely would approach a pitching coach that might not come as a splash to some, but ultimately would be an excellent hire. Though few could've expected Giese to be the Sooners' hire, he certainly would bring an impressive resume of developing solid pitchers to the table.

Two separate sources told me early Friday night they'd be impressed with a Giese hire.

Stay tuned to Perfect Game USA for the latest in college baseball.

PERFECTGAME.TV