FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt has removed the interim tag and named Tim Tadlock the ninth head baseball coach in school history.
Tadlock will be formally introduced at a news conference tomorrow at noon inside the stadium club at Rip Griffin Park. The news conference will be streamed live on texastech.com.
“I am very excited to announce Tim Tadlock as Texas Tech’s new baseball coach,” Hocutt said. “Tim has prepared himself for this tremendous opportunity and honor to lead our baseball program. As one of the nation’s most respected recruiters and coaches he has demonstrated the ability to attract, teach and win at the highest level. There are great days ahead for Texas Tech baseball.”
Tadlock, who was named the interim head coach on May 21, becomes the ninth head coach to lead the Tech baseball program and follows Dan Spencer who spent four years as head coach. Tadlock joined the program as associate head coach in the fall of 2011 and spent one season under Spencer in 2012.
“I am very proud and honored to have been given this great opportunity to lead the Texas Tech baseball program,” Tadlock said. “I appreciate the commitment that the Texas Tech administration has given to me. We will honor the legacy at Texas Tech and we are looking forward to hitting the ground running.”
Regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country, Tadlock produced several of the nation’s top recruiting classes at Oklahoma while helping lead the Sooners back to the College World Series in 2010, the Sooners first trip to Omaha since 1995.
Tadlock worked with the Red Raider defense during the 2012 season where they finished with a .971 fielding percentage, which ranks second all-time at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders also ranked second in the league in batting average (.292) and led the Big 12 in doubles (117) and triples (24).
He helped mentor three Red Raiders who all ranked among the top 12 hitters in the Big 12 Conference, while second baseman Jamodrick McGruder (.358) was third, catcher Bo Altobelli (.346) was eighth and Barrett Barnes (.325) was 12th. McGruder, one of Tadlock’s top offensive threats, led the Big 12 in 10 offensive statistical categories.
In addition, five of Tech’s position players earned All-Big 12 recognition during Tadlock’s first season at Tech, including McGruder (first team), Barnes (first team), first baseman Scott LeJeune (second team), Altobelli (honorable mention) and shortstop Tim Proudfoot (All-Freshman Team).
It didn’t take Tadlock long to make his mark on the recruiting trail at Oklahoma, as his 2006 recruiting class ranked fourth nationally by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The No. 4 ranking was the best for the Sooners since 1987.
Tadlock also had top-25 nationally ranked recruiting classes by Baseball America in 2006 (11th), 2009 (16th), 2010 (21st) and 2012 (13th). In addition, OU’s 2012 recruiting class received a No. 4 ranking this fall by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
During his tenure at Oklahoma (2006-2011), the Sooners made five trips to the NCAA Tournament with two Super Regional appearances in 2006 and 2010 while making it back to the College World Series in Omaha in 2010. It marked OU’s first time to make five post-season appearances in a six year span since 1987-1992. The Sooners had unparalleled success at the plate under Tadlock’s guidance. Oklahoma batted over .300 during all six of his seasons – first time for OU since 1995-2000 – and his 2009 and 2010 clubs combined for 195 home runs, the most ever at Oklahoma in consecutive seasons while leading the Big 12 in homers both years. The Sooners 104 home runs in 2010 rank second all-time in Oklahoma history.
While an assistant at Oklahoma, Tadlock mentored 41 players who were selected in the Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft. In 2011 the Sooners had 11 players taken in the draft which tied an all-time Big 12 record (Texas, 2007). In fact, during three of Tadlock’s six years with the Sooners at least nine players were taken in the draft.
After beginning his college coaching career as an assistant at Hill College for four seasons, Tadlock became the head coach at Grayson County Junior College, where he led the Vikings to back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association World Series titles in 1999 and 2000. During his nine seasons at Grayson, Tadlock posted a 435-127 (.774) overall record while being named National Coach of the Year following both title runs (1999-2000).
Overall, Tadlock guided the Grayson program to five championships along with five District V championships and while eight Vikings earned All-America honors during his tenure as head coach.
The Red Raiders benefited from six players that transferred to Tech from Tadlock’s program at Grayson while he was head coach. Included in those student-athletes are Texas Tech All-American shortstop Cameron Blair (2004-05) and former Major League catcher Trey Lunsford (1999-00).
During his tenure at Grayson (1997-2005), Tadlock recorded the highest winning percentage of any collegiate baseball coach, including all two and four-year institutions, with a .774 winning percentage. While at Grayson, Tadlock also served as the school’s director of athletics, a position he began in August 2000.
After a prep career at Denton High School and two years at Hill College, Tadlock was a two-year starting shortstop for the Red Raiders while helping Texas Tech to its first-ever 40-win season as a senior in 1991 (42-18).
In his two-year career at Tech, Tadlock played in 120 games, batted .289 (120-for-415) with 96 runs scored, 19 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 68 RBI, 71 walks, 65 strikeouts and was 28-of-41 in stolen bases. Tadlock played for legendary coach Larry Hays while at Texas Tech.
Tadlock graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Texas Tech in May 1992. He also earned a master’s degree in education in August 1994 from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Tadlock and his wife, Kelly, have two children, daughter, Chloe (11 – April 10), and son, Benjamin (8 – Aug 4).
