Perkins grad Kyle Hallock is ready to lead BGSU baseball into new era

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Kyle Hallock was offered the baseball head coaching job at Bowling Green State University during a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Only 31, he was prepared for the moment. "My wife and I try to anticipate should important questions ever come our way," the 2007 Perkins High School graduate said. "We knew what our answer would be. We accepted it very quickly." Hallock was on the call with BGSU athletic director Bob Moosbrugger and longtime head coach Danny Schmitz, who will move into an advisory role with the baseball program and work to cultivate alumni relations. Hallock currently is the interim head coach but said the "interim" tag will be removed after required paperwork is completed. When asked Thursday afternoon how many calls he took in the 24 hours after he was named head coach, Hallock said: "I'd comfortably say it's over 250. With emails, voicemails and calls you're over 300. "It makes you feel supported. It gives you confidence that a lot of people think you can do something special. I can't thank those people enough." It's been a whirlwind week for Hallock, who went from no job and plenty of uncertainty to a promotion at an NCAA Division I program. He capped a memorable Wednesday by celebrating his son Klay's first birthday. "Cake everywhere," he said. "It was a thorough cleanup by my wife and I. It was another good day. They call it a hit streak in baseball. It's our streak at home." Hallock, who didn't want to move from the area, hit a home run earlier in the day. He said Schmitz offered a few hints that he might be close to stepping down after 30 years leading the Falcons, and added that his mentor is "in a very good place with this." "Coach Schmitz has a very important role. He's more than welcome at any practice," said Hallock, who was promoted from pitching coach. "I will be leaning on his experience." Moosbrugger stressed in a conference call Wednesday morning that working with alumni will be crucial for the program in the coming years. BGSU announced in mid-May that it was dropping baseball, but a group of alumni stepped in and raised $1.5 million to save the program. The university announced Tuesday that baseball will be back. Schmitz, whose BGSU teams won seven conference championships (regular season or tournament) and qualified for the NCAA tournament three times (1998, 1999 and 2013), says he's looking forward to what the future holds. "I want to thank (Columbus Clippers manager) Andy Tracy and everyone involved with the process of reinstating BGSU baseball," Schmitz said in a news release. "I couldn't be more proud of the collective effort and I'm thrilled to no end that the baseball family came together. Their efforts were truly remarkable. "I am so thankful for 30 incredible years as head baseball coach at BGSU. I am going out on my own terms and fully trust the staff that is in place. This program has new life, and I think it's time for a new direction. I am excited to be staying on at BGSU and will help the department and baseball program in any way that I can." Hallock said that more than 200 alumni pledged money to save Falcons baseball. One of them was Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Orel Hershiser, who talked to the current players on a Zoom call Tuesday after Moosbrugger announced that the program would return this fall. Hallock, who was punching in numbers for the call, got a head's up that an important alum would be joining the conversation. "When Orel Hershiser got on the call I had to let him into the meeting. I got chills; he is a great guy," Hallock said. "Big-leaguers are special for a reason. He showed why. People thought he started (during his career) but the 'Bulldog' rolled in and closed that day. He was electric." Hallock, whose parents Daniel and Jennifer still reside in Perkins Township, will now turn his attention to getting his team ready for next season. The Falcons were just 2-11 in a coronavirus-shortened 2020. "We played a solid schedule against a lot of mid-majors in the South that have won championships," he said. "We were competitive most days, and we're in the process of learning what it takes to win the three hours during a game and the five hours of a day together." He said most of the players from this year's team will return. Twenty-nine Falcons put their names in the NCAA transfer portal last month, including Vermilion's Mason Montgomery. The freshman infielder said Wednesday he is staying with the program. "From what we hear, most of the guys are staying," said Montgomery, who thanked Schmitz for his dedication to the program and said his teammates were ready to line up behind Hallock. "Coach Hallock is going to bring great energy and bring a lot of confidence for the players," Montgomery said. "I'm excited to get back in the fall and get back to work." Hallock said this year's team included just two seniors, as well as 14 freshmen, 12 sophomores and six juniors. Hallock is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference, having played at Kent State from 2008 to 2011. He played on four consecutive MAC championship teams and played in three NCAA regionals. He had a successful minor league pitching career before transitioning to coaching. Hallock spent four years as the pitching coach at Malone University before coming to BGSU in 2018. Ryan Shay, a former Falcons baseball player and six-year assistant coach, will remain on the staff as an assistant coach. After BGSU announced last month that it was dropping baseball, Hallock fielded some coaching offers. He and his wife, Morgan, put their house on the market and sold it quickly. As if he weren't busy enough, Hallock now has to plan a move. The young couple, who also have a 3-year-old son, is looking for a home in Bowling Green. The new coach has just one request: "I'm just asking for a finished basement so the boys can play."