FOUNDERS PARK
New USC baseball coach Kevin Schnall arrived at Founders Park Friday night for a fan reception in a helicopter. It appeared to be a smooth ride, something the Gamecock baseball team has not experienced in the last two seasons. Schnall vowed to change that.
After addressing a crowd of over a thousand fans in a brief presentation, Schnall and Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati held a press conference of about 25 minutes in which they were asked questions regarding the hiring process and the future plans for the program.
Key Comments from Donati and Schnall
- Donati: Wanted to find someone who could build the program the right way, someone to come in and put forth the standards they have known here, someone with high integrity and who has built programs.
- Donati: They lucked out that Schnall was available and wanted to come to South Carolina.
- Donati: They met for about three hours and they had a great chemistry.
- Donati: Schnall is an unbelievable person and coach, a very detailed guy, he wanted someone players would look up to and who could develop the players.
- Schnall: He will always love Coastal Carolina, he shared a dugout with Gary Gilmore for 23 years, one of the best to ever do it, he’s big reason he is where he is tonight.
- Schnall: Forever indebted to former Coastal AD Matt Hogue for hiring him.
- Schnall: Ray Tanner built the biggest, baddest program in the country, set the standard for college baseball.
- Schnall: Except for the day they won the national championship at Coastal, this is the second best day of his professional life.
- Schnall: Exactly what staff will look like is to be determined, will put one together that will rival any in the country, you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.
- Schnall: Carolina embodies everything that’s great about college baseball. He’s always wanted to measure himself against the best, the SEC is the major leagues of college baseball.
- Schnall: Wants to have guys who are obsessed with getting to first base, guys who can slug, guys who can go from first to third, an offense that is dynamic.
- Schnall: Said one of the first things he negotiated with Donati was to play Coastal Carolina. He agreed, so the Gamecocks and Chants will play.
- Schnall: Number one priority in recruiting is dominating the state of South Carolina.
- Schnall: Monte Lee was a star and very helpful, and Stuart Lake was also very helpful in learning about the players.
