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Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
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WRCisforgotten79 Offline
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Post: #41
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  First Rice alum hired as a head coach at Rice since Willis Wilson??

And I believe our third Latino head coach (Victor Lopez in track, and Julio Morales in volleyball).

I would not describe his personality as odd btw. He's just always been a bit shy which I think is understandable when you grow up as the son of a sports legend (and share the same name).

Nope. Jon Warren (Men's Track and Field) - 2001.
06-09-2021 04:18 PM
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waltgreenberg Offline
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Post: #42
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
5 year contract...

Quote:Mark Berman
@MarkBermanFox26
According to college baseball sources Detroit Tigers (
@tigers) assistant hitting coach Jose Cruz Jr, who will be named the new
@RiceBaseball head coach, has signed a five-year contract with Rice.
06-09-2021 04:20 PM
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Fort Bend Owl Offline
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Post: #43
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:18 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  First Rice alum hired as a head coach at Rice since Willis Wilson??

And I believe our third Latino head coach (Victor Lopez in track, and Julio Morales in volleyball).

I would not describe his personality as odd btw. He's just always been a bit shy which I think is understandable when you grow up as the son of a sports legend (and share the same name).

Nope. Jon Warren (Men's Track and Field) - 2001.

oops my bad.
06-09-2021 04:22 PM
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RiceFootball2K5 Offline
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Post: #44
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 03:41 PM)interwebowl Wrote:  You all are missing the point. Junior was not hired because of any skill set other than the fact that JK liked him. He has been a loyal contributor to all of JK's plans since moving back from Miami. That select committee of advisors was stacked with one of Cruz's besties from Rice and that guys's bff who took the RBI to new heights (really lows) to accommodate Joe's wishes to not emphasize baseball. Berkman and Hallmark would not just bow down to JK and therefore could not be hired.

Thus Cruz. He has a wealth of knowledge but an odd personality. With strangers, he can be a bit aloof and that may not serve him well on the recruiting trail especially if he is competing with the televangelist HBU hired. Sarah is one of the sweetest people you could meet at Reckling and will be a nice change from the previous anti-vaxxer first lady of Rice baseball. My take is that this train wreck of a program is going to require that Cruz has the ability to do what he wants and just have the idiot AD rubber stamp all requests in order to pull itself out of the ditch of frustration Joe and Bragga put it in. Even that may not be enough. Hopefully someone will finally hire Joe for one of those many, many, many, many jobs he applies for or at least the new President sends him packing. Until then the cancer is still lurking in the body of Rice athletics.

This is mostly right, especially that JK needs to go. Hopefully he knows his days are numbered. That said, I’m still happy with the result and glad the committee members pushed JK the right direction. If we weren’t going to land a marquee college coach—and we weren’t—I’m glad we are turning to a Rice man with MLB pedigree and a local product with connections at that. Will be interesting to see what he can do (provided JK gets out the way or preferably gets out of town).
06-09-2021 04:23 PM
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mrbig Offline
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Post: #45
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Wade Townsend endorsed the hire on Twitter.

I loved the hire … until I read this!

I think Berkman was a little splashier just because of his long and more recent career with the Astros, but I am thrilled with this hire considering Berkman’s unavailability!
06-09-2021 04:24 PM
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Barney Offline
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Post: #46
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 03:36 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I think he brings the positives of Berkman without the negatives.

No, he hasn't been a college--or HS, other, AFAIK--coach. But at this level the name of the game is recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. And I'm guessing he understands that and will make appropriate staff hires. And he understands player development as well as anybody in the business.

+1
06-09-2021 04:28 PM
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waltgreenberg Offline
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Post: #47
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:24 PM)mrbig Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Wade Townsend endorsed the hire on Twitter.

I loved the hire … until I read this!

I think Berkman was a little splashier just because of his long and more recent career with the Astros, but I am thrilled with this hire considering Berkman’s unavailability!

Berkman certainly has more local buzz (but not by all that much given the Cruz family is Astros loyalty). However, absolutely no one can sell Rice better than Cruz jr, given not only did he and his brother graduate, but both of his own sons attended Rice (and one has already graduated, though I fully suspect Antonio will now be returning for his final year of eligibility).
06-09-2021 04:31 PM
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bigowlsfan Offline
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Post: #48
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
I just noticed in his peak year, he was a 30/30 guy in MLB; impressive.
06-09-2021 04:33 PM
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ExcitedOwl18 Online
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Post: #49
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:24 PM)mrbig Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Wade Townsend endorsed the hire on Twitter.

I loved the hire … until I read this!

I think Berkman was a little splashier just because of his long and more recent career with the Astros, but I am thrilled with this hire considering Berkman’s unavailability!

Wade is very conspiratorial about politics and the academic side of the university but he’s been spot on re: Rice Athletics lately.
06-09-2021 04:33 PM
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Tomball Owl Offline
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Post: #50
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 03:34 PM)Wayne’sWorld Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 02:47 PM)esposito Wrote:  Can someone close to him ask to bring back the OER full time?! No more of that new logo garbage.

Maybe it’s just me but I really like the Owls on the bat jersey

It's just you.

You lost me at "I Root for UT".
(This post was last modified: 06-09-2021 04:42 PM by Tomball Owl.)
06-09-2021 04:37 PM
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georgewebb Offline
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Post: #51
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:22 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:18 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  First Rice alum hired as a head coach at Rice since Willis Wilson??

And I believe our third Latino head coach (Victor Lopez in track, and Julio Morales in volleyball).

I would not describe his personality as odd btw. He's just always been a bit shy which I think is understandable when you grow up as the son of a sports legend (and share the same name).

Nope. Jon Warren (Men's Track and Field) - 2001.

oops my bad.

Or Efe Ustundag (men's tennis) 2012. See https://riceowls.com/sports/mens-tennis/...undag/1599
06-09-2021 04:44 PM
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Volente Beach Owl Offline
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Post: #52
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
I wanted Hallmark but will support Cruz fully. He was our first truly major recruit and has become the "first family" of Rice baseball.

I do have concerns that JK's ego wouldn't let him hire Hallmark, which if true, is pathetic. But today is not the day to discuss that... Congratulations to Jose.
06-09-2021 05:26 PM
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waltgreenberg Offline
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Post: #53
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
Apparently, Jose is staying with the Tigers through the weekend, and the introductory press conference will be on Monday...

https://riceowls.com/news/2021/6/9/baseb...4ouMjtH0v0
06-09-2021 05:33 PM
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Viejobuho Offline
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Post: #54
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
Congrats to fellow letterman, alumnus and Puerto Rican new coach.

Great , great hire!!!
06-09-2021 05:44 PM
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westsidewolf1989 Online
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Post: #55
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 04:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Wade Townsend endorsed the hire on Twitter.

We need to hire Wade as director of mental performance. Not even joking
06-09-2021 05:47 PM
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Tomball Owl Offline
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Post: #56
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 05:47 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  
(06-09-2021 04:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Wade Townsend endorsed the hire on Twitter.

We need to hire Wade as director of mental performance. Not even joking

Hire Wade as the How to Beat Texas Coach!
06-09-2021 05:48 PM
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bigowlsfan Offline
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Post: #57
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 05:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Apparently, Jose is staying with the Tigers through the weekend, and the introductory press conference will be on Monday...

https://riceowls.com/news/2021/6/9/baseb...4ouMjtH0v0

By Monday the Tigers will be mathematically eliminated from the AL central race, I suppose.
06-09-2021 06:15 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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Post: #58
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(06-09-2021 05:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Apparently, Jose is staying with the Tigers through the weekend, and the introductory press conference will be on Monday...
https://riceowls.com/news/2021/6/9/baseb...4ouMjtH0v0

That seems reasonable.
06-09-2021 06:46 PM
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tanqtonic Online
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Post: #59
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
Congrats to Junior.

But I do have to say that for all the ‘splash’, I absolutely hope this doesn’t go down the Tony Gwynn path.
06-09-2021 06:52 PM
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Buho00 Offline
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Post: #60
RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
Love the hire as a Puerto Rican Owl and I see a ton of upside.

I expect/hope that Enrique Cruz will be an assistant, he compliments his brother, would make a good recruiter and has coaching experience, plus a CWS champion. Will be interesting to see if Janish is offered an assistant spot and who'll be pitching coach. Perhaps most importantly, Cheito will bring Wayne back to the program. Great hire!
06-09-2021 06:53 PM
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