Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan catches up with old friends from Clemson prior to Friday's practice at Kingsmore Stadium. (Photo: John Paternoster/UAA Communications)
Friends & Foes: Gators-Clemson Series Stirs Memories for O'Sullivan, Bakich
Friday, June 7, 2024 | Baseball, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
CLEMSON, S.C. — A larger-than-normal group of reporters surrounded Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan on Friday when practice ended. O'Sullivan's former officemate, Clemson coach Erik Bakich, faced a similar scene after the Tigers finished their workout.
They knew what was coming since Florida (32-28) advanced on Monday afternoon to face the No. 6 national seed Tigers (44-14) in this weekend's Clemson Super Regional at Kingsmore Stadium.
"It's a bit surreal to be back in Clemson after 17 years of not coming back,'' O'Sullivan said.
O'Sullivan might not have been back before Friday, but he goes way back with the Tigers and Bakich. He was an assistant coach on former Clemson coach Jack Leggett's staff for nine seasons before being hired at Florida in the summer of 2007. In 17 seasons since O'Sullivan has done for the Florida baseball program what former UF football coach Steve Spurrier did for the football program: turn the Gators into a national power year in and year out.
Meanwhile, Bakich is in his second season at Clemson and has the Tigers in a super regional for the first time in 14 seasons. After the best-of-three series concludes, one of them will be heading to the College World Series.
In 2002, they both went to Omaha as assistants at Clemson. O'Sullivan was the pitching coach. Bakich worked with the outfielders and infielders. The Tigers won 54 games that season, and their first two games in the CWS before they got knocked out of the tournament with back-to-back losses to South Carolina. Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, who has led the Commodores to two national titles, was also on the Clemson staff at the time.
While O'Sullivan and Bakich kept their distance before an official super-regional meeting following both teams' practices Friday, Leggett came by to say hello to his former protégé.
"We took a couple of pictures together," O'Sullivan said. "I still stay in touch with him quite a bit."
Clemson coach Erik Bakich and former Tigers coach Jack Leggett raise their hats after the Tigers' win in the Clemson Regional last weekend. (Photo: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports)
When a reporter asked if the 70-year-old Leggett, who retired in 2015, provided a scouting report on the Tigers, O'Sullivan said: "Absolutely not. I can't even get him to go out to dinner with me right now."
Leggett officially rejoined the Tigers when Bakich took over the program two years ago following 10 seasons as head coach at Michigan. Leggett assists with player, staff and program development inside an office he helped build.
When Bakich and O'Sullivan worked together 22 years ago, the offices were smaller, and Kingsmore Stadium was not nearly as nice. But Bakich knew he was lucky to be where he was with Corbin and O'Sullivan sharing the same office.
"I'll just say there was quite a bit of testosterone in that office," O'Sullivan said.
"I just remember recognizing that in the moment,'' Bakich said Friday. "I think it was instantly recognizable that I was sharing an office with two assistant coaches who were going to go off to be outstanding Hall of Fame head coaches. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. It changed the trajectory of my life."
Same for O'Sullivan.
He has long credited Leggett for giving him his break after his playing career ended, and he was trying to find his way in the coaching world.
"I was probably 28 when he asked me to come on board as his pitching coach,'' O'Sullivan recalled. "I obviously owe everything to Jack."
O'Sullivan's deep Clemson roots have company in the Florida dugout. Pitching coach David Kopp was a standout pitcher for the Tigers from 2005-07, and a second-round Cardinals pick. Buddy Munroe, Florida's director of baseball operations, spent the 2007 season as a Clemson catcher before following O'Sullivan to Florida and finishing his career with the Gators.
Clemson has made it to the CWS 12 times in program history, but only twice (2006, '10) since the 2002 team that included future big-leaguers Khalil Green, Jeff Baker and Steve Jackson. Bakich has rejuvenated the program, and O'Sullivan is not the least surprised.
He recommended Bakich for the job to anyone who called after the Tigers made a move after the 2022 season.
"Honestly, I think he was the perfect fit for Clemson," O'Sullivan said. "He's always had energy. He's smart. He's very detail-oriented. I don't think there was anybody else who should probably be considered on the list."
Both downplayed their connection Friday, stressing how this is about these two teams rather than their backgrounds. That's true, but a good story is a good story. They were in this together that summer long ago.
Now, they are opponents seeking the same prize.
The Gators are trying to advance to Omaha away from their home stadium for only the second time in school history. The Gators won the NCAA East Regional in Tallahassee to earn their first CWS berth in school history 36 years ago. Bakich has the Tigers on the verge of rejoining the elite in Omaha after so many years away.
They haven't shared an office in a long time, but memories of that time will swirl inside the ballpark this weekend.
"Coming back into his home roots, and being able to possibly advance and get to Omaha from here, I'd say it's definitely a big weekend for the team and Coach O'Sullivan,'' Gators pitcher Brandon Neely said.
