Matt Tyner isn’t shy about bold predictions or potential bulletin board material.
“To all of our opponents: I’m going to make this the toughest place you guys ever decided to play. We’re going to come at you as hard and as fast as we possibly can. Welcome to the jungle, baby,” said the new Towson head baseball coach.
And with that a new era in Tigers baseball is born.
Tyner was introduced Friday as Towson’s new head coach. He arrives in Baltimore after four seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at University of Richmond. Before that he made stops in Bellarmine (Kentucky) and Butler. And he’s well-versed in Baltimore’s love for baseball. He was drafted by the Orioles in 1980. He spent three seasons in the minors before his pro career ended because of multiple surgeries on his elbow.
“Baltimore was a crazy town for baseball,” said Tyner. “They had 20-game winners left and right. They had Hall of Fame baseball players.”
Now he’s back with new, aggressive goals.
“When we smell and sense blood we’re going to take advantage of it. We’re going to pounce on it,” added Tyner.
Tyner replaces Mike Gottlieb as head coach. Gottlieb was fired last month after 30 years leading the Tigers. His teams put up losing records in each of the past four seasons.
Now the transition begins for the players.
“I think he (Gottlieb) was a great coach but I feel like a change was due,” said Towson pitcher Skyler Morris. “I can’t wait to see what Coach Tyner has in store for us.”
If Friday was any indication, Morris and the rest of college baseball will find out pretty soon.
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