IU Baseball

[WayneFleekHoosier]

3 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Hanley, Malamazian and Bitove to the portal.

Hanley is a big ooooof.  And Malamazian too, to a degree.  Mercer has been gosh awful.  Not sure why he’s getting another chance. 

[Aaron]

4 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Hanley is a big ooooof.  And Malamazian too, to a degree.  Mercer has been gosh awful.  Not sure why he’s getting another chance. 

Probably because IU can't justify a nearly one million dollar buyout at moment with two yrs left on deal. On the bright side, Denny confirmed he is coming back. Outside Owen ten Over, not sure there is any other player on this roster that is a must keep after losing Hanley.

Just a bunch of avg. after that. That Mercer extension in 2023 which looked necessary at time given you lost two coaches previously, is now an anchor around IU's neck. Going to have to grin and bear with it for one more year in 2027 unfortunately then likely a change as no way they let him go into last year of deal. 

[Magisterium]

On 6/23/2026 at 7:39 PM, Aaron said:

Probably because IU can't justify a nearly one million dollar buyout at moment with two yrs left on deal. On the bright side, Denny confirmed he is coming back. Outside Owen ten Over, not sure there is any other player on this roster that is a must keep after losing Hanley.

Just a bunch of avg. after that. That Mercer extension in 2023 which looked necessary at time given you lost two coaches previously, is now an anchor around IU's neck. Going to have to grin and bear with it for one more year in 2027 unfortunately then likely a change as no way they let him go into last year of deal. 

I guess if nothing else it would allow Dolson to concentrate on the rumored updates to Mem Stadium, at least until next May-June.

[LamarCheeks]

IU assistant Denton Sagerman taking job in Cleveland Guardians organization ... 

 

[Magisterium]

On 6/23/2026 at 7:39 PM, Aaron said:

Probably because IU can't justify a nearly one million dollar buyout at moment with two yrs left on deal. On the bright side, Denny confirmed he is coming back. Outside Owen ten Over, not sure there is any other player on this roster that is a must keep after losing Hanley.

Just a bunch of avg. after that. That Mercer extension in 2023 which looked necessary at time given you lost two coaches previously, is now an anchor around IU's neck. Going to have to grin and bear with it for one more year in 2027 unfortunately then likely a change as no way they let him go into last year of deal. 

I would hope the buyout becomes substantially smaller in a year than it evidently is now.

[CSP]

JFC-- Koskie, Hanley, and Cooper is an absolutely devasting blow. 

Next season will be an absurd waste of a year. 

[TheWatShot]

On 6/23/2026 at 9:39 PM, Aaron said:

Probably because IU can't justify a nearly one million dollar buyout at moment with two yrs left on deal.

The idea that a school that just won a natty in football and is filling its stadium every game can't afford to fire its baseball coach with 2 years left is seriously crazy to me. I'd say it's far more likely they just don't care if baseball is any good or not. 

[Pagoda]

Football is helping definitely helping our AD revenue... though it's still only been one year of increased revenue we can benefit from.  

I think IU like many other schools is dealing with soaring player costs in FB and MBB.  2024 the roster cost for those two sports was a little over $10M.  For 2026 it's $50M+.  

For right or wrong, I agree it appears baseball isn't a priority.  Maybe IU should find a way to do more with baseball.  But then again, there are trade-offs, do you want a sweet portal player in FB or a new baseball coach?  I'd take the player.

[Aaron]

On 6/29/2026 at 11:23 PM, TheWatShot said:

The idea that a school that just won a natty in football and is filling its stadium every game can't afford to fire its baseball coach with 2 years left is seriously crazy to me. I'd say it's far more likely they just don't care if baseball is any good or not. 

Its almost certainly a combo of both and whether paying a one million dollar buyout for a baseball coach is a good ROI in athletic departments mind. You can certainly disagree but that is almost certainly how IU is looking at it. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

[Aaron]

On 6/29/2026 at 5:57 PM, Magisterium said:

I would hope the buyout becomes substantially smaller in a year than it evidently is now.

I believe it would still be guaranteed, but the fact there would be one year left at 400-500k over 2 years at nearly 1 million right now is a game changer after 2027. Athletic departments rarely let coaches go into the final yr of deal so its basically put up or shut up for 2027 and either extend or fire him after that.

Without results next spring, extending him would be indefensible as it wouldn't cost that much more to make a change. Now it can be argued it is a poor financial choice to make a change even if many disagree. There is no such argument after 2027.