Bertman fires the whole crew....

[Greenhead22]

LSU fires head baseball coach Smoke Laval

Published: Jun 4, 2006

Smoke Laval's Tigers were penalized for a poor finish and a soft nonconference schedule, according to NCAA selection chair Larry Templeton.

LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman fired head baseball coach Smoke Laval and his assistant coaches Sunday morning, according to a source close to the situation. LSU is expected to make a formal announcement this afternoon.

Laval coached five seasons at LSU, winning one Southeastern Conference championship and appearing in two College World Series. The Tigers failed in 2005 to win a regional for the first time in 11 seasons, and this season they failed to receive an invitation to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 seasons.

Bertman fired Laval, recruiting coordinator and hitting coach Turtle Thomas, pitching coach Brady Wiederhold and first-year volunteer assistant coach Justin Hill, a former LSU pitcher.

More on this story as it develops.

[rebelduckaholic]

You knew it was coming

[stitch]

Binaco or Wells?.....I believe it will be Wells....

[RebelYelp]

some Tulane fans believe their coach is gone... especially since they don't have the $$ to get into a bidding war... guess we'll see how it plays out.. make no mistake about it, there's a ton of great young coaches out there, which is what LSU needs. One issue they might run into though.. since becoming HC, smoke went to omaha twice, and won the SEC once.. granted, i realize they've been on a steady decline since his arrival, but alot of young coaches might not want that kind of pressure..... there again, the right coach, in baton rouge is almost assuredly taking a team to omaha if they stay for any period of time

[jkb87]

ok here it is........wells is gonna leave and go to bama, bobby pierce is gonna leave troy and go to bama, and mark smart the asst. at troy and former west al coach is gonna get it.........

[stitch]

Wells to LSU, Cohen will go to Bama

[Jeff]

Heres an odd twist, Bertman hints that he is interested. I feel that if he was ready to retire five years ago, then this isn't the time to come back. Also not sure how good of a small ball coach he is. I like the idea of a new young coach.

[jkb87]

Wells to LSU, Cohen will go to Bama

who is Cohen, and if hes goin to bama he better have alot better ties and alot more presentable situation that coach from troy

[stitch]

Cohen is the head Coach at Kentucky, he and his wife are from Tuscaloosa. His father was head of the law school at one time, his wife's family is very well connected......

[Greenhead22]

Cohen played at MSU in the late 80's, early 90's. Hopefully he will take over at MSU when Polk retire.s

[duckkiller]

I really dont think Wells will leave Bama and I dont think Bianco will leave Ole Miss but none of these schools or other schools in the SEC can pay out what LSU can when it comes to baseball

[Greenhead22]

I don't know about that, Bianco makes almost double what the #2 paid baseball coach in the sec makes.

[stitch]

Just figured it out......Coach Polk and Coach Bertman are big buddies. Coach Polk wants to coach one more year. If Bertman fills the LSU job this year, it will start a chain reaction where Cohen will end up somewhere other than State (most State people want Cohen there). Because of their friendship, Bertman will take over LSU for one year, then Coach Polk and Bertman will retire at the end of next season.....Wells will go to LSU, Cohen will go to State.

[Jeff]

Just a thought of a different nature. In other NCAA sports, there is a big move to hire a coach from the pros. I wonder how a MLB coach would do in the NCAA? I am by no means a sports guru, but I can't think of anyone that has done this, but I am almost sure it has to have been done at one time or another.

[RebelYelp]

you never know....Casey Stengell was at Ole Miss once upon a time........