Are college coaches at death risk?

The Post and Courier

Coolbaugh

Some things in baseball are hard to figure out.

The infield fly rule.

Managers in player uniforms instead of regular clothes.

The Pittsburgh Pirates.

Just as strange: Professional base coaches who work in a game in which hitters swing wood bats are required to wear protective helmets while base coaches in college baseball, with theoretically stronger aluminum bats in use, do not.

Major league and minor league coaches have been ordered to wear batting helmets in response to the death last summer of double-A Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh.

The 35-year-old former big leaguer was struck in the head by a line drive during a game in Little Rock against the Arkansas Travelers.

Some major league coaches began wearing helmets voluntarily last season and welcome the protection.

Others think it's ridiculous, or should be a matter of personal choice.

The same mixed feelings can be found in college baseball, but all three of the NCAA Division I head coaches in the Lowcountry acknowledge a mandate likely is coming.

'All for it'

"It would not surprise me one bit," said Citadel head coach Fred Jordan, the Bulldogs' veteran third base coach. "And I wouldn't have a problem with it, if that's what the powers that be decide to do."

John Pawlowski would vote "Yes" to helmet legislation.

"Regardless how good an athlete or good a coach you are out there in that coach's box, it's very dangerous," the College of Charleston head coach said. "I'm all for it if it's something safety-oriented."

Charleston Southern head coach Jason Murray pretty much agrees.

"Any time you're looking at what's best for safety issues, I think it's just a matter of voting on it as coaches at the Division I level," Murray said. "Whatever is best for keeping people alive, that's the key."

But baseball is a macho game. Youth league base coaches stand two-thirds as close to home plate while adult-sized 12-year-olds swing big barrel aluminum bats. They are significantly more distracted, but rarely do you see one wearing a helmet.

Jordan, Pawlowski and Murray could not name a college third base coach they have seen voluntarily don a helmet.

"Maybe guys haven't really thought about it an awful lot," Pawlowski said.

Watching carefully

The Coolbaugh news rattled baseball families at all levels of the game.

He left a pregnant wife and two sons.

"It was a tragedy," Jordan said. "It made a lot of coaches aware because at times that ball will find you. With certain hitters we've got, I'll back up."

Asked to name the scariest batter he has seen as a third base coach, Jordan said Philip Hartig, a record-breaking Citadel slugger who played from 1998-2001.

"He was a dead pull hitter at times," Jordan said. "I'd back way up. If the umpire said anything to me about it, I'd challenge him to stand in there."

Murray, who serves as Charleston Southern third base coach, has been hit wearing a helmet.

Jordan, Pawlowski and Murray could not name a college third base coach they have seen voluntarily don a helmet.

"Maybe guys haven't really thought about it an awful lot," Pawlowski said.

Watching carefully

The Coolbaugh news rattled baseball families at all levels of the game. He left a pregnant wife and two sons.

"It was a tragedy," Jordan said. "It made a lot of coaches aware because at times that ball will find you. With certain hitters we've got, I'll back up."

Asked to name the scariest batter he has seen as a third base coach, Jordan said Philip Hartig, a record-breaking Citadel slugger who played from 1998-2001.

"He was a dead pull hitter at times," Jordan said. "I'd back way up. If the umpire said anything to me about it, I'd challenge him to stand in there."

Murray, who serves as Charleston Southern third base coach, has been hit by line drives twice this season, both times in the leg.

"I wasn't able to get out of the way," he said. "It's a topic to be concerned about."

Overreaction? Maybe.

But not for wives and girlfriends not wanting to be the next Mrs. Amanda Coolbaugh.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com.