Former assistant named new coach

Former IU assistant coach Tracy Smith left Miami University of Ohio to replace Bob Morgan as IU's next baseball coach Wednesday.\nSmith re-joins the Hoosier staff after leading the RedHawks the past the nine season with a 317-220-1 record in Oxford, Ohio.\nThe Kentland, Ind. native said he was thrilled at the opportunity to come back to Bloomington.\n"Growing up in the state of Indiana, it is something else," Smith said. "It was always a place that always held something very special to us and for reasons other than the athletic program. We just love Bloomington and to have a chance to come back to a community that you love and something you love -- it was a no brainer."\nSmith marks the second coach to come from Miami to IU within the past year. In December, Terry Hoeppner left the RedHawks to become the new head man for IU football. To rejoin his old buddy from Oxford is nice, Smith said.\nAs the newest member of the IU coaching family, Smith has a large task looming -- to get IU baseball back on a national level.\nBefore Morgan decided to resign June 5, the Hoosiers had \nlosing records three of the past five seasons, including a 26-30 mark this season.\nGetting the Hoosiers to play in the NCAA Regionals on a consistent basis, the last time coming in 1996, will be one of the main tasks ahead.\n"We want to get Indiana baseball to a level where we are competing," said Smith, who served as IU's pitching coach from 1995-1996. "If we aren't playing (in the College World Series), or our goal isn't to get to a College World Series, then why am I coaching? It will be a process, but it is a realistic goal to get that done at Indiana University in the Big Ten Conference."\nSmith knows about getting teams to the NCAA Regionals as he took the Miami twice in his nine years. Smith's most recent time came this season when the RedHawks lost to Arkansas, pounded Quinnipiac College 35-8 before bowing out to College World Series participant Texas.\nFinding someone who has a diverse background as a coach was important, Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said in a statement.\n"Tracy Smith is a proven winner," Greenspan said. "His assistant coaching resume shows his background in player development, and we were most impressed with how he rejuvenated Miami's baseball program."\nA part of getting IU on an national level will be to beef up the schedule Smith said. In the past under Morgan, IU played a non-conference schedule that lacked much name recognition. With Smith in charge that should change. While at Miami, the RedHawks weren't afraid to take on the big boys. In 2003 Miami went down to Stillwater, Okla., to match up with Oklahoma State and later went out to the University of Arizona. In 2004 the schedule got tougher with a trip the University of Florida and defending College World Series Champions Rice. This season the RedHawks went to No. 20 Alabama and took two of three from the Crimson Tide. By taking winning the series it marked the first time since 1993 that Alabama lost a non-conference series at home.\nPlaying a tough schedule of the Big Ten Conference will be a trademark under Smith, he said.\n"We will always play the most competitive schedule that we can, given our geographical location and our budgetary concern," Smith said. "It is a motivating factor and I think it needs to be done. If you are playing those teams when you get to the Regional it isn't a shock when you play those teams."\nImproving facilities is another obstacle for Smith to overcome at IU. Currently Sembower Field seats 2,250, but does not have lights for night games or lockers adjacent for the team. At Miami with Smith in charge, the RedHawks opened their new ballpark, Stanley G. McKie Field at Joseph P. Hayden Jr. Park. The new ballpark at has a 12-seat luxury suite in addition to two heated dugouts along with an indoor facility.\nEven with the task ahead, Smith said it can be done, because it has been before.\n"We (won the Big Ten Conference) in '96 and we can do it again," Smith said. "I want to get it back where it is the expectation and where it is not the once in a while thing"