John Anderson had long believed in Ty McDevitt’s potential to succeed him as the Gophers baseball coach. However, it wasn’t until McDevitt faced significant challenges that the path to his coaching role became clear.
In the summer of 2021, McDevitt noticed some physical changes, which he attributed to two major events: the distressing 6-31 season due to pandemic restrictions and the joyous birth of his daughter, Mila, in August.
Throughout the fall and winter of 2021-2022, McDevitt experienced worsening symptoms, including loss of balance and tremors, eventually diagnosed as chronic Lyme disease. Forced to step away from coaching during the 2023 season for treatment, he battled the disease caused by an unknown tick bite.
Alec Crawford filled in as pitching coach during McDevitt’s absence, but the team’s performance suffered with a 10-14 record in the Big Ten and an 18-34 overall record.
As Anderson’s retirement approached, speculation about his successor was minimal. However, some alumni favored Brian Raabe or Tim Huber for the position.
McDevitt returned as pitching coach for the 2024 season, and the team showed improvement, finishing with a 25-23 overall record and an 11-13 record in the Big Ten.
On May 22, McDevitt was announced as the new head coach, with Anderson expressing full support for his recommendation. McDevitt aims to build a competitive team primarily with local and Midwest players, focusing on developing talent rather than outspending other conferences.
Despite challenges such as limited resources and opposition to baseball in the U.S. Bank Stadium, McDevitt is determined to restore pride to Gophers baseball.
With endorsements from supporters like Billy Soule, McDevitt’s appointment is seen as the right choice for the program’s future success.
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