TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida athletics staff is fully aware of the recent accomplishments of college baseball programs around the state.
The Florida and Florida State programs are in Omaha, NE for the College World Series. Twelve miles away from campus, the University of Tampa Spartans are celebrating a ninth national championship on the Division II level. The Bulls are ready for their own success and believe new head coach Mitch Hannahs will bring it.
"We're so glad to have him as part of our Bulls baseball program," Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly said at an introductory press conference on Friday afternoon inside the Yuengling Center.
Hannahs spent the last 11 seasons as the head baseball coach at his alma mater Indiana State. The Sycamores never had a losing season with him at the helm. They earned NCAA Tournament berths five times, including a Super Regional appearance in 2023. Hannahs also saw 14 of his players selected in the MLB Draft.
"I was very happy. Our family was very happy at Indiana State University. We had a very good program going," Hannahs said.
He admitted to having doubts about taking the job at USF and wasn't sure if he was up to transitioning from Terre Haute, IN to Tampa. However, his meetings with USF gave him a sense that Tampa could be a good place to call home.
"From the very first conversation that I had with those folks, it was very comfortable. It was one of those conversations that you felt like you were connecting with long-lost friends," he said. "I told my wife...'I want to win for these folks.'"
Winning hasn't been common for USF baseball recently. The Bulls finished the 2024 season with a 26-29 record, marking their third straight losing season.
Hannahs has a plan to turn things around.
"We will have unwavering expectations," he said. "Those expectations that we uphold as a coaching staff for those young men are vital for their success....If you don't develop confident, independent [and] stubborn players, you're not going to be successful."