Mike Deegan is looking forward to becoming the Denison University head baseball coach.
The Marietta College assistant said he's very grateful for the chance he had to learn under Pioneer boss Brian Brewer.
"He gave me a shot at a very special job," Deegan said. "At the time I was working for Coca-Cola, and had no coaching experience. He brought me along, and I'm forever indebted to him for that."
"It's a profession I'm meant to do," Deegan said of coaching baseball. "Playing for Don Schaly, and coaching under Brian Brewer, you get a whole different perspective. Marietta College baseball is really the standard baseball program across the country."
Brewer gave a lot of credit to Deegan for the program's success, and said that he will be a hard guy to replace.
"Mike has been highly instrumental in our success," Brewer said. "He's been a big part of it. We made him our recruiting coordinator, and the talent we've had here the past 3-5 years really speaks for itself. It's a big, big loss for us. We're sad to see him go, but at the same time, we're very proud of him."
During Deegan's tenure at Marietta, he served as a recruiting coordinator and hitting instructor.
"First and foremost, Mike is a first class individual," Brewer said. "He's gonna help balance the academic and athletic pieces. He's a great motivator for the kids and a great person. He is highly knowledgeable of the game and highly motivated."
As tough of a task as it may be, Deegan said he hopes to help turn the Denison program into a powerhouse much like the one in Marietta.
"That's our goal," Deegan said. "Obviously, Denison hasn't seen that kind of success yet, but it's a goal of ours."
Deegan said he isn't sure yet what kind of coaching style he will take on, but knows exactly what he wants out of his team.
"I think as a coach you just have to be yourself," Deegan said. "I'm driven, and I want to be successful. I know what we want to look like. We want to be tough, disciplined, and committed. Sometimes it takes yelling, sometimes it takes pats on the back. I really don't have a particular style, but I know what we're trying to do as a program."
