In what many have called a “no-brainer” hire, Southern Miss pitching coach Christian Ostrander has begun to step into his role as the program’s newest head coach. Ostrander, who is taking over for outgoing coach Scott Berry, will officially be introduced by the school on Tuesday afternoon.
Going into the announcement, Ostrander joined SuperTalk Mississippi’s Eagle Hour to discuss.
Joining the legacy
Ostrander knows he has big shoes to fill, becoming the school’s 14th head coach and just the fifth since 1959, following in the footsteps of Pete Taylor (1959-83), Hill Denson (1984-1997), Corky Palmer (1998-2009), and Berry (2010-2023).
“Obviously, I know this is a tremendous program with tremendous expectations. What Coach Berry’s done here and those before him – Coach Palmer, Coach Denson, and stuff – is remarkable,” Ostrander said. “To be a small part of that and to have that opportunity and for [Berry] to have that conviction about me being the next guy means more to me than anything.”
Between Taylor, Denson, Palmer, and Berry, the four legendary coaches have compiled a joint record of 1,774-1,292-4 while building the Golden Eagles into one of the college baseball’s premier programs.
Management style
Even though this will be his first head coaching job on the Division I level, Ostrander’s extensive career does include a 10-year period as a head coach in both the high school and the junior college ranks – experience he believes will help in his new role.
“I have been a head coach for a 10-year period of my career. Not at this level, but still, you’re managing people and handling things,” Ostrander said. “I know there may be a little higher rigor at this level than the junior college or high school ranks.”
While at Jones County Junior College from 2010-2017, Ostrander compiled a 255-109 record and led the Bobcats to two MACJC state championships. He also spent two seasons at Gulfport High School from 2007-08, leading the Admirals to the Class 5A playoffs both years.
As for management style, Ostrander said there won’t be much of a mix-up between how he was as an assistant coach and how he’ll be as a head coach.
“My management style is just going to be the way I treat people and everything every day. Get after it, have fun, treat people right, and you know, do everything we can to make this program the best we can.”
Coaching the pitchers
Over the last six years, Ostrander has put together some of the most consistent pitching staffs in America, leading many fans wondering if he’ll continue to coach the position now that he’s been named head coach.
“I know I’m going to be a head coach, but I’m still the pitching coach,” Ostrander explained. “That’s what I feel like has helped me get to this point. I’m not going to give that up – something that I think I might be decent at – just because you get this opportunity.”
Since coming to Hattiesburg from Louisiana Tech in 2018, Ostrander’s pitching units have helped the program to five NCAA Tournament berths and two super regional appearances. His position group has also produced multiple All-Americans as well as Conference USA and Sun Belt Pitchers of the Year.
Minimal staff changes
Apart from graduate assistant Brent Jones, who recently accepted an assistant coaching position with Pearl River Community College, Ostrander said the staff will virtually be the same as this past season.
“Everybody else on staff is remaining. I’m very excited about keeping that consistency,” Ostrander said. “But we will be adding one new body. I’m not prepared to say who that is right now, but we will be doing that, and I feel very good about that as well.”
While Ostrander did not give too many hints on who the new hire will be, he did say it’s a name some Golden Eagle fans will be familiar with.
Diving into the transfer portal
Amid the upcoming Major League Baseball Draft – which could shake some things up in Hattiesburg – an already solid roster and the addition of a talented class of 2023 means Southern Miss won’t need a full-on blood transfusion.
That being said, Ostrander said he’s not wasting any time hopping on the recruiting trail or diving into the transfer portal, considering how important both are to the current landscape of college baseball.
“The day after we got beat out to Tennessee that night, we had a recruit in that next day at lunch, so it’s no rest for the weary,” Ostrander said, adding that he expects his team to add at least three transfer players. “Not that we’re wanting to be a team that relies on the portal. We don’t. I don’t at all. But sometimes… you’ve got to add in this new age that we’re in with the portal.”
As of now, six starters from this past season’s team are set to either graduate or be drafted. The Golden Eagles have already picked up their first transfer of the offseason with the recent commitment of BYU starting shortstop and Oxford native Ozzie Pratt.
The future of the program
With Southern Miss looking to overcome the super-regional hump and return to the College World Series for the first time since 2009, Ostrander said in order to do that, finding balance is a must.
“I mean I’m a pitching and defense guy. Always have been and always will be,” Ostrander explained. “But I love the home run too. Who doesn’t? But I’m going to tell you that we’re going to try and have a balanced (attack).”
As for what Golden Eagle nation can expect when they come out to Pete Taylor Park next spring, Ostrander kept it pretty simple.
“We’re going to get after it, and we’re going to put a good product on that field. We’re going to play the game the right way. I can guarantee you that.”
Ostrander will officially be introduced as the new head baseball coach at Southern Miss on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Trent Lott Center on campus. All fans are welcome to attend with a brief reception to follow.
