Jayhawks ‘excited’ by new coach

Ritch Price’s naming as the new baseball coach at Kansas University ends the wait for KU players who have spent the past month wondering whom they would play for next spring.

“I’ve heard of him before, and I’m excited more than anything,” KU junior-to-be Ryan Baty said. “From the end of the year until now, there’s been a lot of excitement to get the thing going and get things rolling.”

Sophomore pitcher Tom Gorzelanny said he had been keeping track of the search committee’s process and was on his way home to see if any news on the search had been posted on the Internet.

Both Baty and Gorzelanny had heard of Price before, but neither had talked to him.

“I know a guy who went to Cal Poly,” Gorzelanny said, “and he didn’t tell me much, but I heard this guy was a pretty good coach. It didn’t really matter. I didn’t really have a preference. I was just kind of getting anxious to see who it would be. I had my hopes, but I knew the group would make a good decision.”

Price, who compiled a 217-228 record with Cal Poly, was chosen over three other finalists KU pitching coach Wilson Kilmer, Cal State-Chico coach Lindsay Meggs and Baylor assistant Mitch Thompson.

Kilmer, who has spent 15 years with the Jayhawks, said he was disappointed not to be offered the job and didn’t know if he would be back with the team next season.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Kilmer said. “I don’t know if there are any options there, so there’s no reason to comment on that. It’s totally his decision on what staff he brings.”

Thompson, who has spent eight seasons at Baylor and graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1988, said he also wanted the job, but was happy to stay with the Bears.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed,” he said, “but I want to congratulate Kansas on their hire and wish coach Price the best of luck in the conference and at Kansas. I just wish him the best of luck and wish things work out for everybody. I’m in great shape here at Baylor and I’m just tickled I get to stay here at Waco. I was in a win-win situation.”

Meggs, who has known Price for years, said that his lack of Division I experience was the main reason he wasn’t offered the position.

“They called and made it clear that their biggest concern was Division I coaching experience and I understand why they went that way,” he said.

Mark Marquess, whose Stanford team swept Cal Poly in a three-game series last season on the way to the College World Series, praised Price in a statement.

“Ritch is one of the top young coaches in the country,” Marquess said. “He’ll do a great job out there at Kansas. Not only is he a great baseball person, but he is also wonderful at all the other duties that go along with coaching. You guys got a good one.”