Rich Maloney leaving Michigan after 10 years as baseball coach
Rich Maloney, left, will not return to the Michigan baseball team for his 11th season as head coach. According to a university release, Maloney and athletic director Dave Brandon mutually agreed not to extend Maloney's contract.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Michigan baseball coach Rich Maloney will not return for an 11th season with the Wolverines, the school announced Tuesday.
In a release, Michigan stated that Maloney and athletic director Dave Brandon "mutually agreed to not extend" Maloney's contract, which ends June 30.
"Rich had several significant accomplishments during his Michigan career, but we agreed a coaching change at this time was in the best interest of the program," Brandon said in a statement. "We appreciate Rich's contributions and wish him well as he transitions to his next career endeavor."
Maloney, who had a 341-224 record in 10 seasons in Ann Arbor, led the Wolverines to three Big Ten titles, two Big Ten Tournament championships and an NCAA Regional title in 2007.
This year's team finished 22-34, the second straight sub-.500 record after finishing with a winning record in Maloney's first eight seasons.
In an interview with AnnArbor.com earlier this month, Maloney discussed the rash of injuries this year's team suffered and talked about turning things around in 2013.
"You got to keep growing as a team, and that’s what they’ve done, even though they've been handcuffed a little bit," Maloney said. "But the great thing is there are some young guys who are getting experience.
"Hopefully, that pays dividends for us next season and we can get this thing going."
In a statement released Tuesday, the Roseville native said he grew up dreaming of playing baseball at Michigan.
"Coming to Michigan as baseball coach was a dream come true. I feel privileged to have worked at such a great athletic and academic institution," he said. "This decision was one that Michigan and I reached together. It's a time of transition for the program and time for me to move my career in another direction."
Michigan said it will begin a national search to replace Maloney, who was instrumental in the fundraising to renovate Fisher Stadium.
"I would like to thank all of the baseball alumni and donors that played an integral role in the stadium project," Maloney said in the statement. "This is one of the top highlights on my list of Michigan memories and I appreciate their commitment to Michigan baseball."
Comments
A2Dave
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.
You gotta win in this league. This is Michigan. Blame it on Brandon if you want, but you have to move up or move out. Coach did a very respectable job, for which he deserves praise and thanks, but it is time to move up.
rf9
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
hey davey go get jake boss whom is an ex assitant and is in the playoffs
rushvillerocket
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
First, my immature comment(s)... I sure hope Berenson, Hutch, and Rosen don't fall under .500 for a couple of years. Second, those who are in on the baseball circle in Michigan know Coach Maloney as the classiest, most personal, and a man of the highest integrity. If you want to talk baseball, he is the man - and he takes time out of his day for you. Whether it be at one of his camps, or around one of the field complexes (watching his own kids play), he always had time for you and your kid. His life was Michigan baseball, and youth baseball in general as well. He would talk baseball with 9-year olds, he has taught many, many local youth the game, and many coaches as well. His lack of success the past two years should be obvious to most as injuries took their toll on significant roster members. Through it all, he maintained a positive approach and continued to teach the game to the young Michigan men. Coach, you are the best....and this is pure garbage treatment from a dictator who has no heart. I guess a clean record, a high graduation percentage, countless fund raising hours, molding young men into Michigan Men, and teaching the game of baseball to hundreds of SE Michigan youth isn't good enough. I am a Michigan fan...but today I look forward to the day Coach Maloney returns to Michigan, coaches from the 1st base dugout, and and applies a 'can of whoop...' to the home team. And, I hope to see the dictator in attendance to see it.
Blue1997
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
@RushvilleRocket - I totaly agree with you. What has probably happened here(based on opinion not fact) is the Business Man Brandon might have told Rich that starting next year he would be implementing a per seat charge for Michigan season Baseball ticket holders which Rich didn't like. Well if you don't like it you can leave. Bye bye Rich. Thank you Coach for all you have done and you are definately a MICHIGAN MAN.
Ed daggett
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
Brandon wants his legacy to be that he named every coach in program thus the departure of Maloney, Warhurst, Burns, Richardson & RR
braggslaw
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
he was run out of town...
semperveritas
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
without a doubt rich maloney was a super teacher and coach and an all around good man. the inability to compete nationally can't possibly be the reason for his demise. everyone knows that poor spring weather and recruiting doom northern schools in national tournaments. the problem was the inability to compete in the league the last 2 or 3 years. that inability led to an empty stadium----game after game. a part of that problem centered on way too many occasions in which baseball and softball were scheduled AGAINST each other. that seems like an AD's failure not a coaches. i wish his contract had been extended for two more years----------
rensational
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
Athletic directors just seem quicker to pull the trigger on coaches they didn't hire. I don't know. I remember looking at the B1G standings the other day, and...for the past couple of years, Michigan has been bad in a conference that's not even that good. It's not just about recruiting and being in the Midwest. It's not like how a few years ago we finished 2nd in the B1G and still didn't make the postseason, reflecting the conference strength. I didn't necessarily see a "mutual agreement" coming, but I kind of see where Brandon could justify it a little.
Joviar
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 11:04 a.m.
Many thanks to Coach Maloney for his dedication to Michigan Baseball. A very knowledgable,loyal, enthusiastic, and positive gentleman. A nice job of fund raising for Fisher Stadium. We will miss you. Good luck in the next phase of your career.
TMC216
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 10:53 a.m.
First Borseth, now Maloney, he won't send the band and then buys a $500K curtain. Brandon's turning into a little Napolean & a PR disaster?!
observer
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 10:52 a.m.
Maloney seemed like a very dedicated coach, who did the best he could under some difficult circumstances. I wish him the best.......it is very hard to recruit against warm weather programs, but I guess that is no excuse.......
Paul R Lamse
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 10:39 a.m.
My guess is that he already knows who he wants. Time will tell.
81wolverine
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
This is a bit of a surprise. Although he's had two down seasons, his first 8 were good. This and his great job pulling together the funding for the renovated baseball stadium should have bought him some more time. I hope Dave Brandon knows what he's doing here. As others have said, it is VERY hard to attract top college baseball talent to play here given how far north it is. Whoever we bring in will face this same barrier. The most realistic goal for Michigan baseball will be to compete for the Big Ten title. Anything on a national level will be too difficult given all the tough teams in the south and west.
talker
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 3:28 a.m.
Michigan has not moved any further north in Maloney's last two years than it was during his more successful first eight earlier years. I guess that his first eight years raised the bar too high and he could not meet expectations. This happens with every competitive D1 program. Furthermore, every program risks injuries but when they occur at an unusual high frequency you have to wonder about problems with the conditioning program and with technique instruction.
heartbreakM
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.
David Brandon: "in the best interests of the program". What he meant: "I didn't hire the guy, and he stunk in my first two years. Let me screw it up myself with somebody is not invested in the program". I don't get it. With all the injuries, the record of success at Michigan, and Maloney's true loyalty and knowledge of things blue, he could have easily continued on. It's a different situation than a high profile job like football coach, and I would think that years 1 to 8 at least earned some respect. Apparently not. It is really hard to compete with the other teams in the country.
rf9
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
is brandon really qualified as an ad or just an overpaid cheerleader ?
just a voice
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Rich did great things his first few years in Ann Arbor, I wish he had been able to build a stronger program here, but damn is it hard to get ball players this far up north, it's amazing Hutch can get the players she does.
Lac Court Orilles
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Dave Brandon likes to fire people. Oooops I meant Mitt Romney likes to fire people. Sorry about that slip up.