On April 30, the College announced that Cory Stevens will become the next Head Baseball Coach at Wabash effective July 1.  The story appeared on our homepage and for all of us in the Admissions Office it was a bittersweet day.

We were all happy to learn that Cory will be our coach for years to come.  He has worked very hard on the recruiting trail and has been a great partner in our efforts to bring the best and brightest young men to Wabash.  Cory supports our office by attending off-campus events, attending luncheons, and speaking with any prospect regardless of their skill level on the diamond. Personally, I can't think of a more deserving candidate and this announcement was good news for Wabash.

With Cory assuming the head coaching duties July 1, it meant that Tom Flynn would be leaving Wabash. While it's good news for Tom and his family as they enter a new, exciting chapter in their lives, it came as bad news for all of us.  We have come to look at Tom as a shining example of how to recruit the best student-athletes to a Division III institution and while we're happy for his family, we are sorry that he is leaving ours.

When Tom came to Wabash six years ago, he became the first full-time baseball coach that I can remember at Wabash.  The baseball coaches I knew were assistant coaches for the football team and had the task of simultaneously recruiting for both sports.  It didn't take long for Tom to change that approach and make a positive, lasting impact.  

Six years ago, you would be hard pressed to find 8 students (not just athletes) combined between Chicago, Cincinnati, and Northeast Ohio in the freshman class.  Now, we expect about 8 baseball recruits from Chicago and Cincinnati each year. 

Tom established contacts in schools in both of those major cities and near his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio that the Admissions Office now uses to locate the next generation of Wabash men.  I can think of at least 10 current Wabash men from my own recruitment territory that wouldn't be if it weren't for Tom.

On behalf of the entire Admissions Office, we'd like to thank Tom for all of his help and wish him well in his next endeavor.  I said earlier that he's leaving our family, but he really isn't.  He will always be our colleague, our friend and truly "some Little Giant."