"Smoke" Laval has resigned

[Coastal89]

BATON ROUGE -- Raymond "Smoke" Laval has resigned as head coach of the LSU baseball team, athletic director Skip Bertman announced on Sunday.

Bertman will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday to discuss the future of the LSU baseball program. Watch it live in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies. Not a member, join now to watch it live or on-demand after 5 p.m.!

“I have enjoyed serving as the coach of the Tigers for the last five years and will always remember the many players who came through this program during that time,” Laval said. “I feel like we accomplished a lot and achieved some great things in reaching the College World Series twice and competing in four NCAA Tournaments.”

Laval ends his LSU career with a record of 210-109-1 and an SEC mark of 88-60-1. The Tigers played in the College World Series in 2003 and 2004 and won the SEC Championship in 2003.

Bertman said a search for a replacement will begin immediately.

“This is one of the finest baseball programs in the nation, with the greatest fans in the country, and we plan to bring in a coach who reflects that level of excellence,” Bertman said.

[TexasTerror]

Bertman...would he bring back himself?

[JohnStOnge]

Bertman...would he bring back himself?

No special inside information, but I think the obvious choice is to go after is Mike Bianco of Ole Miss.

[GeauxColonels]

No special inside information, but I think the obvious choice is to go after is Mike Bianco of Ole Miss.
I would tend to agree. Either him or the coach at Alabama. I definitely think it would be a horrible mistake for Bertman to come back and coach, only to go through a coaching search 2 or 3 years down the road. Get it right NOW so you don't have to worry about it later.

Also, I think "Smoke" was given an ultimatum....resign or be fired. Skip would rather his friend resign than have to go public and say he fired him.

[GeauxLions94]

I would tend to agree. Either him or the coach at Alabama. I definitely think it would be a horrible mistake for Bertman to come back and coach, only to go through a coaching search 2 or 3 years down the road. Get it right NOW so you don't have to worry about it later.

Also, I think "Smoke" was given an ultimatum....resign or be fired. Skip would rather his friend resign than have to go public and say he fired him.

Rumor (and it's just that) in this area is that Jim Wells (Alabama) will be the new head coach with Mitch Gaspard (head coach at Northwestern State) joining him as top assistant. xcoffeex

[jstate83]

No special inside information, but I think the obvious choice is to go after is Mike Bianco of Ole Miss.

On him like size 2 jeans on a size 20 woman.

From reading all the stories and listening to the report's in this area, whenever OLE MISS wrap's up their season, it's his job to turn down.

LSU better have some good perk's to up the antie even for them.
This guy has built a really good YOUNG team, and OLE MISS can match them dollar for dollar in facilities and pay,(if they choose), ...................most likely thru perks.

CAN YOU SAY "PERK WAR" for a coach......................cause that's what this will come to.

[JSUCroft]

Bertman...would he bring back himself?


Damn I was thinking the same thing.

[GeauxLions94]

it's his job to turn down.

LSU better have some good perk's to up the antie even for them.
This guy has built a really good YOUNG team, and OLE MISS can match them dollar for dollar in facilities and pay,(if they choose), ...................most likely thru perks.

LSU will throw the kitchen sink at Bianco, but I say he stays in Oxford where Ole Miss can match anything that comes his way. He just built a new house there in a pretty affluent area of Oxford (not next to John Grisham's house) and the whole atmosphere of OU-Swayze Field (the setting with the hills all around) is better than what I think the new Box will be able to produce. :twocents:

Bianco and David Wells are the two favorites, but I think that George Horton (Cal State Fullerton) will end up with the job by the fact he's won a national title and has huge connections on the West Coast. :twocents: :twocents:

[dirtbag]

Bianco and David Wells are the two favorites, but I think that George Horton (Cal State Fullerton) will end up with the job by the fact he's won a national title and has huge connections on the West Coast. :twocents: :twocents:

Texas A&M threw the bank at Horton last year when they were hiring and he wasn't interested.

I'm definitely not saying the A&M job is better than the LSU job, but I doubt LSU would offer him more than A&M would, and IMO LSU's fans aren't going to be happy with a "California coach" who doesn't meet the standard set by Berkman pretty quickly. I just don't see that attracting Horton.

My LSU friends are acting like they won't be happy with anyone but Bianco.

[GeauxColonels]

Texas A&M threw the bank at Horton last year when they were hiring and he wasn't interested.

I'm definitely not saying the A&M job is better than the LSU job, but I doubt LSU would offer him more than A&M would, and IMO LSU's fans aren't going to be happy with a "California coach" who doesn't meet the standard set by Berkman pretty quickly. I just don't see that attracting Horton.

My LSU friends are acting like they won't be happy with anyone but Bianco.
Either way, you're going to have fans that aren't happy until the coach brings the National Championship back to Baton Rouge. Personally, I don't think a West Coast coach would leave Cal State-Fullerton to come to Baton Rouge. What other sports does he have to compete with over there? None. Baseball is KING on that campus. This is EASILY a football, first school...but baseball does get a GREAT deal of support. Personally, I would LOVE to see Bianco here. I think it's more complicated than him building a good program and a new house. He PLAYED at LSU and COACHED here under Bertman. That being said...there's always going to be the proverbial "monkey" on ANY coach's back until he gets to the CWS and wins. Period. End of Story.

[dirtbag]

Personally, I don't think a West Coast coach would leave Cal State-Fullerton to come to Baton Rouge. What other sports does he have to compete with over there? None. Baseball is KING on that campus. This is EASILY a football, first school...but baseball does get a GREAT deal of support.

Of course, I thought the exact same thing when Texas was looking to replace Gustafson...

[Coastal89]

Coastal's Gary Gilmore. Gilmore is now 407-249 in 11 years at Coastal and holds a 660-351 overall record in 17 years as a head coach. Five straight NCAA berths, six 40+ win seasons in the last seven years.

[jstate83]

LSU will throw the kitchen sink at Bianco, but I say he stays in Oxford where Ole Miss can match anything that comes his way. He just built a new house there in a pretty affluent area of Oxford (not next to John Grisham's house) and the whole atmosphere of OU-Swayze Field (the setting with the hills all around) is better than what I think the new Box will be able to produce. :twocents:

Bianco and David Wells are the two favorites, but I think that George Horton (Cal State Fullerton) will end up with the job by the fact he's won a national title and has huge connections on the West Coast. :twocents: :twocents:

Yep......................His family is set in an area where "affluent" is an understatement.:nod:
People there have ton's of money, they just don't like to "show" just how much.

That will probably be the difference in him staying at Ole Miss.

OLE MISS is renovating the baseball stadium.
By the time they finish, it will probably have more "features" than the NEW Baseball Park LSU is planning.

[dbackjon]

LSU still searching.

Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin was asked to come to Baton Rouge for a second interview - he declined.

[jstate83]

Ole Miss gave Bianco a contract extension as soon as they lost that last game to Miami.

They closed that deal fast.