Gene Stephenson throws support behind new Wichita State baseball coach Brian Green

Gene Stephenson didn’t know much about Brian Green when the new Wichita State baseball skipper was hired.

The program he built was being turned over to a coach without Shocker ties, tasked with the challenge of returning WSU to the postseason for the first time since Stephenson was commanding the dugout a decade ago.

So the legendary Shocker baseball figure started doing his own research, reaching out to the rolodex of coaching connections he made throughout his lifetime in college baseball. One message that stuck out was from LSU head coach Jay Johnson.

“He sent me a note that this guy, Brian Green, is a steal,” said the 77-year-old Stephenson. “He’s an honest man, he’s a dynamic guy, he wants every day to be the best it can be. (Johnson) said there’s no downside to this one.

“And he wouldn’t lie to me because he knows I would come down to LSU and kick his (butt).”

Green brought that kind of energy to his introductory press conference in the home locker room at Eck Stadium last Thursday. His energy was as advertised and his message was clear, if not bold.

He not only believes he can take the Shockers back to the NCAA tournament; he believes he can take the program back to Omaha, where the team hasn’t been since the 1996 College World Series.

It’s the type of vision that can resonate with an alumni base and fan base that was still trying to process WSU athletic director Kevin Saal’s decision to move on from interim coach Loren Hibbs, a former WSU baseball star and a Shocker through and through. Green seemed to win over many by the way he addressed the elephant in the room by almost taking a pledge in front of Stephenson sitting in the front row of the press conference.

“I’m not a Shocker, that needs to be said,” Green said. “But I’m blue collar, I’m tough, I’m excited, I’m passionate, and most importantly, I recognize the absolute privilege it is to be a member of this team and I will honor and cherish that. I’d like to think that at least gives me a chance to maybe walk through the doors and ask for support in the sense that I will earn it every day, I promise you coach (Stephenson). I promise you the effort will come from me as the leader of this team, out of respect to you and all of these people in this room.”

Green had not spoken with Stephenson before seeing him in the room and walking over for a bone-crushing handshake and quick chat before the press conference began. His message was exactly what the legendary WSU coach wanted to hear.

Gazing out the window in the All-American club at the top of the Eck Stadium press box, Stephenson has long been waiting to see a coach put those words into action.

“We raised all of the money to build this thing (Eck Stadium) and we built it and now look at it. We can’t fill it,” Stephenson said. “Why? I’ll tell you why, it’s because the community needs to know you’re going to play your (butts) off every time out and you’re going to have energy and play the game with excitement and joy. When you do that, people love you and you win games. And this team last year was devoid of that.

“I always hear, ‘You can’t get that kind of energy from kids today.’ Bull (crap). That’s a cop out. If you demand it from guys and they respect you, they’ll run through walls for you. Every day you have to build that trust in one another. And I think (Green) is going to be energetic and he’s going to get guys to play hard every day and he’s going to bring some attention to detail, which is something that we haven’t had that I would like to see.”

Another WSU baseball alumni sitting in the crowd who was already imagining the ways Green’s energy could help was Tyler Weber, a 2008 graduate who now helps run WSU’s collective, Armchair Strategies.

“I thought (Green) did a very good job of endearing himself to Wichita State fans by showing how much he knows about the history,” Weber said. “He’s not from here, but he understands the Shocker way. I really like how he talked about getting the baseball team out in the community. I think that’s a huge piece here is getting the college kids in the community again and bringing back awareness to Wichita State baseball. He wants to get players in with the community, in with businesses, in with people we want to fill the stadium. That’s what I’m excited about.”

Another important Shocker baseball figure who was quick to embrace Green was Brent Kemnitz, Stephenson’s long-time pitching coach who has since transitioned into a fundraising role in WSU’s athletic department.

Ever since Green’s hire was reported early last week, Kemnitz’s phone has been buzzing — from former players and donors who are curious about the new manager. Kemnitz said he has seen Saal’s coaching search process up close and trusts his process and has been encouraged by the feedback he is receiving from coaches all over the country.

“I have coaches everywhere telling me how great of a hire this is and how we’re going to love him here and that’s all unsolicited,” Kemnitz said. “So I think (WSU baseball fans) all have to come together and get behind Brian. He’s not a Shocker, like he said in his press conference, but he has a huge respect for our history and you can tell how touched he is to be a part of this program. So we need everybody to come together behind him and support him. The last thing we need right now is separation.”

When asked if it was important to see an alumni running the program, Stephenson, Kemnitz and Weber all had similar responses — they don’t care who’s in charge, they just want to be proud of WSU baseball again.

They’re convinced Green is the one who can do that.

“Yes, we all love having alumni associated with the program, but what I want to see even more is the program back and see us back to winning, back to regionals, back to winning conference championships,” Weber said. “Those are the things that I want to see as an alumni. So whoever is running the ship, it doesn’t matter to me, if they can get us to where we want to go.”