Congrats VandyBoys! Commodores In Three!
Vanderbilt battles back to win final two, snatching national title from Michigan’s grasp
Tim Corbin and Eric Bakich will take the same field wearing different uniforms for the first time in the National Championship Series.
Series features old friends turned national championship competitors
Tim Corbin is quick to tell anyone willing to listen that “Vanderbilt is not Vanderbilt without Eric Bakich.” Eric Bakich does not hesitate in confirming that the blue print for his success at Michigan came directly from their time together in Nashville.
Bakich was on Corbin’s Vandy coaching staff for nearly a decade prior to becoming a head coach and eventually accepting his current post in Ann Arbor. He has used the things he learned there so effectively, the two will meet in Omaha for the National Championship this week. Their mentor-protégée relationship goes much deeper than baseball and extends even further than the time together in the Music City.
From the moment an even more youthful Bakich pulled into a parking lot on the campus of Clemson University in 2002 to join Jack Leggett’s high profile staff alongside the likes of Corbin and Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan; they both knew the relationship would last a lifetime. Bakich opened his trunk full of agility equipment in pursuit of a meaningful role as either a coach or trainer. In reality, he was opening a window into his passion and work ethic for Tim Corbin, a passion which the veteran head coach rates as second to none.
One year later, the duo left for Vanderbilt together. Bakich would remain with Corbin from 2003-2009, when he departed for the head coaching job at Maryland. They have remained in direct contact all along the way. Their entire families remains extremely close.
Bakich speaks of Corbin as much like a father figure as a coaching mentor. “I’ve learned so much from him about what it means to be a father and a husband,” he stated earlier this week. Extending the compliment, “Vanderbilt was always destined to be the skyscraper it is today because of the commitment level of Tim and his wife Maggie.”
The two coaches share an uncommon depth of mutual respect and admiration. When Michigan picked up its first win at this year’s College World Series, Tim Corbin slipped quietly into the back of the press room and caught Bakich’s eye with a simple smile and a raised fist of support.
It was clear they were rooting for each other, as pleased with the other’s success as their own, until now. The line is now drawn clearly in the sand and they will both be attempt to bring the 2019 CWS trophy home for their respective programs.
Yes, high stakes baseball is at play in the National Championship Series. The two professionals will treat it as such. For these two old friends, however, it is as much about lasting memories and realized dreams. They are making sure to soak it all in.
The young Michigan coach didn’t mind opening up on this scenario being a dream come true, “we’ve talked about it and we always said if we are going to meet, we wanted it to be here.” Now that it has happened, Tim Corbin provide perspective on their shared sentiments this way, “we’re just happy our teams have played well enough to allow our families the opportunity to spend this extended time together.”
Coach Corbin called being at the “pinnacle” together, “special.” The journey here for these two head coaches has certainly been that.
The two programs are in many ways mirror images of one another. Their game management approaches are completely intertwined. With styles so similar, minds so in tune, with teams so stout, this once in a lifetime meeting between coaching comrades should be extremely fun to watch.