Former Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Steve Bieser will replace Tim Jamieson as the coach of the Missouri Tigers, according to a news release from Mizzou Athletics on Thursday.
Bieser was the head coach for four years at SEMO, guiding the Redhawks to an NCAA Regional in 2016. He previously served as an assistant coach at SEMO and was the head coach at Vianney High School in St. Louis.
The Saint Genevieve, Missouri, native said he is excited to join the Tigers.
“There is a strong tradition and rich history of Missouri Tiger baseball,” he said in the news release. “I understand the responsibility and I am fully committed and ready to continue building the tradition. As life-long Missourians, my family and I feel truly blessed to be part of the University of Missouri and the Columbia community.”
Bieser played professional baseball for 13 seasons, making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 1997. He boasted a 138–97 record as head coach of the Redhawks, earning two Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Infielder Andy Lack recently finished his senior year at SEMO. He is thankful for Bieser’s impact on the Redhawks.
“Coach Bieser has been a great role model and leader for us to follow day in and day out for the previous years here,” he said in a Twitter message. “He truly is the definition of what you’d call a ‘winner.’ Mizzou is very lucky to get him.”
Jamieson was Missouri’s coach for 22 years before stepping down after the Tigers’ lackluster 2016 season. This is Mack Rhodes’ second head coaching hire as director of athletics.
“Steve Bieser is a rising star in the college baseball ranks and a proven winner,” Rhoades said in the statement. “He has an impressive track-record of success, winning championships at each stop in his coaching career. He will be a tremendous role model for our student-athletes and has demonstrated a unique ability to develop his players athletically, academically and socially beyond what they believed they could achieve.”
_Edited by Alec Lewis | alewis@themaneater.com_
