David Pierce named 13th head coach in history of Texas baseball program

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — Less than a month after longtime University of Texas baseball head coach Augie Garrido stepped down to become a special assistant to the athletic director, the Longhorns have found his replacement.

David Pierce, who spent the last two years in the same position at Tulane University, will be introduced at a press conference Thursday as[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)] the 13^th head coach in the 112-year history of the Texas baseball program.

“As a kid growing up in Texas, I dreamed of being a Longhorn and wearing the burnt orange,” Pierce said. “Today that dream is coming true. I am truly honored and grateful to become a part of The University of Texas community and to serve as head baseball coach.

“Texas is second to no one. Just growing up, I was on the field when David Denny broke the doubles record at Texas. I played against a lot of the guys in the mid-’80s and just understood the tradition and the history and the expectation of being a Longhorn. I understand it’s a position that’s going to hold a lot of responsibility, and I’m ready to accept that.”

Texas men’s athletic director Mike Perrin said there were numerous reasons the university hired Pierce, not the least of which was his history coaching and recruiting in Texas.

“We are so excited to have David Pierce taking over our baseball program,” Perrin said. “He is a terrific coach who was a part of some of college baseball’s finest teams during his time as an assistant at Rice and has produced consistent winners as the head coach at Sam Houston State and Tulane. David has deep roots in Texas and has strong recruiting connections throughout our state and surrounding states. But beyond that, he is a great man who has a passion for leading and developing young men in all aspects of life.”

Pierce, 53, posted a record of 76-46 (.623) in his two years coaching the Green Wave. His five-year career record as a head coach — before heading to New Orleans to take over the Tulane program, he coached at Sam Houston State for three seasons, twice being named Southland Conference Coach of the Year — is 197-109 (.644). He served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, from 2001-02, in between two stints as an assistant at Rice in 1991 and from 2003-11.

“In talking to David and visiting with others in the college baseball world, it was clear that he is highly respected,” Perrin said. “He is well thought of, a tireless worker and a tremendous student and strategist of the game of baseball. The time spent researching and meeting folks around college baseball during our search has been invaluable. There are a lot of wonderful people in the sport, and David is a big part of that. We think he is a great fit to continue the proud tradition and history of Texas baseball.”

Tulane went 41-21 in 2016, winning the American Athletic Conference regular-season title and reaching the NCAA Regional round for the second time in as many years under Pierce. The Green Wave ranked first in the entire nation with 13 shutouts and ranked 23^rd nationally in earned run average (3.24) and WHIP (1.24). Tulane also boasted a powerful lineup that ranked 13^th in the country with 66 home runs. Pierce said that he expects his new team to feature similar offensive and defensive balance.

“I think Texas baseball fans are going to be excited to see the energy and passion of our team, the will to go out and play as hard as we can and try to do things that represent both the university and the athletic department well,” Pierce said. “We’ll look to run a high-paced offense that has the ability to score in multiple ways to go along with the pitching and defense that gives us a chance to win championships.”

“After playing high school baseball in Houston and then staying home to play baseball at the University of Houston, it was always exciting, but I think my true excitement has come since I started coaching,” Pierce said. “It’s been a journey. I just completed my 27th year and never lost sight of coming back home and having this type of opportunity.

“I’ve played against (Cliff Gustafson’s) teams and I have coached against Coach Garrido’s teams. Even back in ’91 when I was at Rice and (Garrido) was the head coach at Cal State Fullerton, we crossed paths. Coach Garrido and I have become friends and have had some fierce competitions, especially in my days at Rice. Both of those guys are so significant to the legacy of Texas Baseball, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to follow them and continue the tradition they’ve established.”

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