Pinch-hitting with LSU up 7-3 at Alex Box Stadium, Bianco homered on the first pitch and flipped the bat. One who loves baseball, found a woman who felt the same, and let his kids find their own passion for the game. I saw him over there and I was like oh my God, I did not want him batting, Mike said. Bianco has also coached five C Spire Ferriss Trophy winners, given annually to the best college baseball player in Mississippi. Youve got to grow up and youve got to live and get an education. Bianco Earns Head Coaching Experience
The Rebels also set a new standard with a third consecutive 40-win season as Ole Miss advanced to the Tempe Super Regional and posted a 40-25 mark on the year. A graduate student and the son of Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco, Drew Bianco put up what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the young college baseball season. In 2016, Mike Mayers (St. Louis) became the 14th Bianco-coached Rebel to see his big league dream come true, earning a start for the Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball. Since then, Bianco has become the winningest coach in program history, led the. They were a consensus top-five team by the end of the year, and spent most of the season as one of the nations best teams. So I hope people understand. Mike became the head coach at Ole Miss in June of 2000. At Oxford High School youll find him in a hat and a pair of headphones next to the home dugout. We got to come out and catch ground balls, practice with the Ole Miss baseball team, and my dad just always helped us out with the game. Trent Dilfer might want to rethink this hot take. He sits in the diamond suites at Swayze Field, on the third base side straight back behind the Ole Miss dugout. Ole Miss Rebels Baseball Mike Bianco's son committed to LSU baseball and no, you shouldn't be angry about it Ole Miss' head coach decided long ago that he didn't want his sons playing. With the conclusion of the 2006 season, Ole Miss found itself holding a spot as one of the top teams in the nation and atop the Southeastern Conference. 2, according to NCBWA. Top Recruiter
The Rebels entered postseason play tied for their highest ranking in program history at No. A road SEC win at Texas A&M on May 8, 2021gave Bianco 900 for his career, including 800 in a Rebel uniform to become one of 16 active head coaches with 900 career victories and one of just two in the SEC alongside LSUs Paul Mainieri and Arkansas Dave Van Horn. Not only have fans and the media covering college baseball noticed Ole Miss' resurgence under Bianco, some of the top talent in the country is also taking a close look at the Rebels. The Rebels broke the 40-win mark for the first time under Bianco, setting a school record at 48-20 on the season and claiming the SEC Western Division Championship. WHAT?!?!?!!? A non-fan tries to introduce his son to the wide world of sports via the town baseball clinic. Bianco learned the game from Bill Brinker at Seminole High School, Mike Easom at Indian River Community College and then Skip Bertman at LSU. In 22 seasons leading the program, Bianco has delivered 18 postseason appearances, including eight Super Regional berths and a pair of trips to the College World Series. Contact Annie Costabile at 601-961-7293 oracostabile@gannett.com . So they will, Ben to Louisville in July and Drew to his parents'alma mater LSU next summer. Its a Sunday afternoon, with 80 degree sunshine and the perfect amount of breeze floating across the park, and the Biancos are at the diamond to watch Mike, Camies husband, Rons son and the father of Michael, Ben, Drew, Sam and Catherine, coach the Ole Miss Rebels. The weekend proved to be historic for the Rebels. Seth Smith and Stephen Head both competed for the 2003 edition of the Collegiate National Team. Red Cup Rebellion, an Ole Miss Rebels community, Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics, Mike Bianco's son committed to LSU baseball and no, you shouldn't be angry aboutit. "To get the best college baseball experience, Camie and I thought it would be best for the boys not to be coached by their dad, and easier on me," Bianco said. They were in the same ballpark for Drews Senior Day ceremony as the LSU veteran played his final home game in Baton Rouge. May 8, 2020 Sam Bianco stands in front of brothers Drew, left, and Ben at their family home in Oxford. Bianco, a redshirt junior, elected to leave the program after four seasons in Baton Rouge. 2 in the nation, highlighted by four prospects who were taken in the MLB Draft but chose instead to play in Oxford. The Rebels looked destined for a deep postseason run in 2020. 1 in the nation in attendance in 2021. Camie was a student athletic trainer and a diamond girl. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Personal Background
1 ranking in national recruiting rankings by both Baseball America and D1Baseball.com. Several players pulled in honors in 2007 as Ole Miss added a third SEC Freshman of the Year in Jordan Henry and seven Rebels took slots on All-SEC teams. OXFORD, Miss. When the Rebels hosted again in 2009 at the newly renovated Oxford-University Stadium, new attendance marks were again set; Ole Miss hosted the then-largest crowd in school history as 10,323 fans came to see the Rebels take on Virginia in game two of the Super Regional. Mike is on the road coaching Ole Miss to a win against Southern Miss in Pearl. He wants his sons to be their own man. OXFORD Ole Miss fans feared they might have lost their three-run lead when Maryland 's Nick Lorusso sent a bases-loaded fly ball to the warning track in right field in the seventh . Chad Smith became the latest Rebel to make it to the "big leagues" in 2022, debuting for the Colorado Rockies. Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco. The fact that Bianco made it over the fence like he did and came up triumphantly with the ball should be a good sign for Houston this season, even though the team came up short to Incarnate Word on Sunday, 10-8. Henry also joined Nathan Baker and Zach Miller on the SEC All-Freshman team. Every Rebel who started a game in 2018 recorded a home run, but no one contributed more to the offense than the hot bat of Ryan Olenek, who had a record year that saw the junior hit .350 with 83 hits in 61 games, including the third-longest hitting streak in program history at 23 games. Ole Miss has ranked among the nations top 25 attendance leaders in all of Biancos 22 seasons. We make jokes about it all the time and how fun its going to be. Follow The Grove Report On Facebook and Twitter. Follow on, Shelton Sampson Jr., 5-star 2023 WR, announces SEC commitment, Suni Lee, Auburn star and Olympic gold medalist, flips while throwing out first pitch for Minnesota Twins, Former Alabama LB reportedly back in NCAA transfer portal, Nate Oats weighs in on Brandon Miller not earning SEC weekly awards, Nate Oats comments on Brandon Miller's 'pat down' intro routine: 'It won't happen again', Texas A&M guard reportedly fully cleared for basketball activities, 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Joe Lunardi's latest projections include 8 SEC teams, Overrated? He decided to stay at LSU. Prior to Biancos arrival, Ole Miss eclipsed four draftees just three times. State and LSU, Bianco received his first head coaching opportunity, taking over the reins of McNeese State. In other words, get out from under the family and find your path, even if it means father and son will become fierce rivals on the field when LSU and Ole Miss battle in baseball as elite college programs fighting to win it all. Its Tuesday night now and Oxford just finished adding another game to the win column. Drew Pomeranz was selected fifth overall in 2010, becoming the highest-selected Rebel ever, part of a class that featured five Ole Miss pitchers taken in the top 100 picks. Most recently, Gonzalez was the shortstop selection on the All-SEC First Team, while Elko'sfinal collegiate season landed him on the All-SEC Second Team. His 2000 team batted .305 and set a new school standard for hits in a season with 600. Growing up with an SEC coach as your dad had its advantages, Drew said. Its gotta be their love, Bianco said. Head won it in 2004, followed by Brian Pettway in 2005, Scott Bittle in 2008, Pomeranz in 2010 and Auston Bousfield in 2014. Prior to Johnson being hired at LSU, Mike Bianco was the initial top choice. Dad felt the mix of emotions he might have had coaching his son. Ole Miss picked up right where it left off in 2021, topping three top-10 teams at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown to earn its first No. Hes a dad first, and a coach second. Their season ended with a 6-1 loss to Eastern Carolina in the American Conference Championship game. Mike was a transfer player coming in on scholarship. A trio of Rebels collected Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America accolades in pitchers Brady Feigl, James McArthur and Andy Pagnozzi. The pitching staff was the strength of the 2017 squad, cracking the country's top 25 in six different categories; Ole Miss led the SEC and ranked third nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.21), while finishing ninth in the country with 1.22 walks and hits per inning (WHIP). He also was named Co-Player of the Year in the SEC and was selected as one of five finalists for the 2004 Golden Spikes Award, amateur baseball's most prestigious award. The winning tradition has led to a wealth of success in the nations strongest baseball conference. That run was enough for the Rebels to earn the No. While his bat isn't much to write home about - Bianco is a career .186 hitter in college seasons thus far . Ole Miss named Mike Bianco head coach of the Rebel baseball program on June 7, 2000. Growing up in south Florida, everyone played baseball, he said. Alex Presley (Pittsburgh) became the sixth Bianco-coached Rebel to get the call to the majors in 2010. The game began with a special moment as Ron Bianco, the father of Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco, threw out the first pitch. He recorded zero home runs and managed to tally four RBIs. Bianco the son of Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco appeared in 50 games (and started 32) as a redshirt junior this spring. CCCAA Baseball Whittier, CA Joined: Sep 2011: Roster: 2: Alumni: 53: Coaches. 1,846. With 40 regular season wins, the Rebels tied a school record and eclipsed the victory mark for the sixth time under Bianco. Ole Miss also saw its first SEC Freshman of the Year as outfielder Seth Smith earned the honor from the league. With the success on the field and support in the stands, Oxford has evolved into a top destination for fans of postseason baseball. The 2012 season saw the Rebels advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in the Bianco era as Ole Miss advanced to the championship at the College Station Regional hosted by Texas A&M. In the 2014 NCAA Regional, the Rebels ranked second nationally with 49,314 fans packing the stadium for the six-game event as Ole Miss began its run to the College World Series. More: Here's what LSU's pitching rotation should be in SEC Tournament, More: LSU baseball will reach NCAA postseason if it stays hot | Guilbeau. Drew Bianco heads to Houston following his four seasons at LSU. However, things were different this time around. In Omaha, the Rebels faced No. The Rebels were the only team in the SEC to post a winning record in conference play each of the previous four seasons. 6 by Collegiate Baseball. "I don't really know if I can put it into words," he said. Row 1. Ole Miss' head coach decided long ago that he didn't want his sons playing college ball under him, so put away those #FireBianco hashtags and settle down. The 2014 season will go down as one of the best in Ole Miss history. 5 seed Arkansas. 2 seed. But the latest reminder, the one that came this week in the announcement that his son, Drew, has signed to play baseball at Ole Miss rival LSU, says a lot about Mike Bianco and family. Despite Rebel captain Tim Elkos warning of dont let the Rebs get hot, the college baseball world did just that. I'd like them to go somewhere where they make it or don't and sink or swim on their own. Known by fans and peers as a classy winner on the field and a gifted, caring family man off the field the veteran Rebel baseball could be called an extreme competitor. Rebels coach Mike Bianco is the favored option among the large contingent of former Bertman players. Thats the toughest part about his job:the games he has to miss because hes at his own. In total, the Rebels have hosted 10 NCAA Regionals in the past 18 full season, further evidence that under Mike Bianco, Ole Miss baseball has truly become a national name. The Rebels became one of only two schools to have hosted an NCAA Regional each of the previous four years and one of only four schools to have advanced to Super Regional play three-straight years. 12 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Shes panic attack at every Ole Miss baseball game, Drew Bianco told Oxford Eagle sports writer Jake Thompson. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Having them in the infield its funny. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Mike Bianco is the head baseball coach at Ole Miss, and he played at LSU as a catcher from 1988-89 and worked as an LSU . The talented youth made an immediate impact on the diamond as three freshmen found themselves in the everyday lineup, while five more saw action on the mound. For the first time in program history, the Rebels finished No. If they dont I dont really care. He's also the son of Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco. Theyre still my parents. They key for the Biancos though is that they realize baseball isnt bigger than family. Ron, Camie and Camies parents, Patty and Jerry Marquette, are all there to give the three boys a big hug and congratulations following their win. During the 2021 campaign, Doug Nikhazy became the programs fourth two-time All-American and its third unanimous All-American. That couldn't have happened in Oxford five minutes from my house.". But its a safe bet that Drew Bianco will get plenty of support from Rebel fans. Mike Bianco played for LSU under Skip Bertman in 1988 and 1989. Photo by John Davis That streak also includes 16 consecutive years ranked in the top five. They play next to each other on the field Bens at first, Drews at second and Sam plays short. Once sitting at 7-14 in the SEC and left for dead by fans and media across the country, Biancos Rebels responded with one of the most miraculous turnarounds in college baseball history to not only right the ship, but finish on top. But credit Mike for not letting selfish reasons interfere with letting Drew make his own decision. Youve got to respect Mike Bianco, the Ole Miss baseball coach. Like Camie, he doesnt miss a game, but when he has to choose between his grandsons and his son he chooses the Chargers. After being picked to finish sixth in the SEC Western Division in his first season, the Rebels defied expectations, finishing second in the West with a 17-13 record and an overall record of 39-23-1. More than 10,000 fans packed Swayze for all four of Ole Miss NCAA Regional contests in 2018 for a grand total of 42,437 over the weekend. For Mike its been a lifetime spent around the sport. The Rebels also won the SEC West crown in 2018, becoming just the second in program history to win both a divisional and tournament title in the same season. The Rebels won 48 games for the first time since heading to Omaha in 2014, were crowned SEC West Co-Champions, and went on to win the SEC Tournament Championship. F inal. There are advantages to it, but there are also disadvantages. For 17 years Camie Bianco has sat in this seat, right above the home dugout at Swayze Field. One of the two top-15 series happening this weekend didn't end how the Rebels wanted it to, as they suffered a 9 . Award-Winning Rebels
But the latest reminder, the one that came this week in the announcement that his son, Drew, has signed to play baseball at Ole Miss rival LSU, says a lot about Mike Bianco and family. in 1963 and 64 and won national titles with @Delaware_FB. "I didn't mean anything," Drew said. Stuart Turner and Bobby Wahl became All-SEC and All-America honorees, while Turner was named the winner of the Johnny Bench Award as the top collegiate catcher in the nation. He is the cornerstone in this baseball family. The Rebels closed out the year with a trip to the NCAA Regional in New Orleans as the No. The Rebels advanced to the championship game before falling to the top-ranked Hurricanes. 4/1/2021 - 4/3/2021. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. It is about winning, but not winning at all costs. I love Ole Miss, and my dad. . Ole Miss named Mike Bianco head coach of the Rebel baseball program on June 7, 2000. Despite the youthful team and the difficult schedule, the Rebels were relentless and determined to continue the programs excellence under Bianco. MVP Hustle 7U Casillas Norwalk, CA San Diego STARS San Diego, CA MVP Hustle 7U Arteaga Fontana, CA Corona Hitmen Corona, CA MVP Hustle Arteaga Black Fontana, CA RJBA7U-Wade TEMECULA, CA Sin City Thunder 7u LAS VEGAS, NV The Lot Quartz Hill, CA ZT Elite 7U Prospects . Michael F. Bianco (born May 3, 1967) is an American baseball coach and former catcher, who is the current head baseball coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. The 2019 squad set program records for walks drawn (351), fielding percentage (.978) and stolen bases (93) en route to a strong year. Cole Thompson Feb 15, 2023 6:15 PM EST As Ole Miss baseball begins its victory tour as national champions. None were more important though than Mikes first coach, his father, Ron. Foundation of Success
National Treasure
A kid from south Florida fell in love with a Louisiana girl at the baseball field, Mike said. Rookie hurler Hunter Elliott received three different Freshman All-American designations, receiving plaudits from Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and D1Baseball. Ole Miss won the game, 8-5, Drew nearly had a chance late in the game, as he came to the on-deck circle. This is kind of a situation of Dont count your chickens before they hatch. A lot of people probably assumed that Bianco may head back to Oxford and play his senior season for his dad and the Rebels, but he chose otherwise. Following the season, six Rebels were taken in the 2016 MLB Draft to mark the 12th-straight year at least four Ole Miss players were chosen. It was special to be there today.. A team that was highly-regarded as one of the favorites to reach the College World Series this summer, a feat done only once in. After all, hes part of the family. If baseball is the foundation this family was built on, Camie is the stitching that holds it all together. GEAUX TIGERS pic.twitter.com/tSkwlaVX5r. Ole Miss made a spectacular run and nearly won it second straight SEC Tournament, falling one out short in a walk-off defeat to eventual NCAA Champion Vanderbilt. The Rebels have taken that crowd support and turned it into a distinct home field advantage. His best season came during the 2021 season in which he hit seven home runs and recorded 21 RBIs in 50 games played to go along with a.378 on-base percentage. 1998-2000:Head Coach, McNeese State
Shes seen more baseball games than any scout, Mike said. Power hitting was the Cowboys' trademark under Bianco, as they hit 212 home runs in his three seasons, including a school-record 81 in 1999. Following his playing career, he joined Jim Wells' (former head coach at Alabama) coaching staff at Northwestern State, where he served two seasons from 1991-1992 as a graduate assistant. Its one of the many diamonds theyve grown up on. Ron played baseball at the University of Delaware. They don't have to be the coach's son. Yarbrough was tabbed as an All-SEC and All-America selection at the conclusion of the season and was one of six Rebels drafted in the 2012 MLB Draft. His dad was a catcher at LSU under coach Skip Bertman in 1989 and '90 and twice went to the College World Series,. 1 in the country, including series wins over Florida and Vanderbilt, Ole Miss fought through the gauntlet to earn another postseason berth, the 13th during Biancos tenure. The Rebels again had two players gain national recognition as Zack Cozart and Cody Satterwhite were named All-Americans and three Rebels gained All-SEC honors. All rights reserved. It was the second season in which Bianco was named the national coach of the year, receiving the honor from Collegiate Baseball after leading Ole Miss to a 16-1 start to the 2020 season prior to the halting of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Wills 1 Total Connection. In a recent interview with RebelGrove.com, the senior Bianco said that he and his wife decided 15 years ago that they didn't want any of their boys (Drew's brother, Ben, is a year older and also being recruited by top-flight programs) playing under their dad. 19 pick from the Toronto Blue Jays. Such has been the story of the 2022 Ole Miss baseball season. Full name is Andrew Joseph Bianco son of Mike and Camie Bianco . Bianco, the son of Mississippi coach Mike Bianco and a graduate transfer from LSU, also made an electric play a week ago when he perfectly timed his jump at the wall to take away a homer. He was the starting catcher and team captain for the Tigers' 1989 team that finished third at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Bianco and the Rebels hosted four straight NCAA Regionals and two Super Regionals from 2004-2007. He is the son of Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco. Its a tradition that through the years has become the familys favorite. Hes not a coach in that moment. He has racked up 854victories, holding a 854-485-1 (.638) record. ___ AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 I want them to make their marks on their own. Here is a look at LSU baseball infielder Drew Bianco, whose hometown is Oxford, Mississippi. The 39 wins were then one shy of the school record for a single season, while the 17 conference wins tied the school record at the time. Seventeen of Bianco's 22 recruiting classes at Ole Miss have garnered top-20 national rankings, including 10that have placed in the top-10. If his Rebels had beaten Arizona and coach Jay Johnson in the best-of-three Super Regional title game last June 13 in Tucson, Arizona, to reach the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, Bianco could be LSU's coach today. MLB Rebs
The Rebels posted a 44-22 record, marking the first time in history that Ole Miss had turned in back-to-back 40-win seasons. defeating Oklahoma in the College World Series. "Dad said, 'You're two or three hits away from batting .250. Since then, Bianco has become the winningestcoachin program history, led the Rebels to the only national championship in program history and established Ole Miss as one of the premier programs in college baseball. Ben, who made the Dandy Dozen,leads Drew in home runs and Drew, one of The Clarion-Ledger Top 20 Underclassmen selection,leads Sam in stolen bases.