The University of Mississippi Athletics
Mike Bianco Hired As Ole Miss Head Baseball Coach
6/7/2000 | Baseball
June 7, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - University of Mississippi Athletic Director John Shafer announced the hiring of Mike Bianco as the Rebel head baseball coach in a Wednesday afternoon press conference on the Ole Miss campus. Bianco is the 19th head baseball coach in Ole Miss history, and the sixth of the school's modern era dating back to 1947.
"Several weeks ago when we set out to find a new baseball coach for Ole Miss, we knew there would be a tremendous volume of interest from quality applicants from all over the country," said Shafer. "While we already had some names in mind, the response from many qualified coaches was overwhelming.
"After much research and a personal visit, it was apparent to me that Mike Bianco was the man to lead our baseball program into the next century. Mike possesses great credentials, first as a player at LSU, then as an assistant coach for the Tigers, and most recently, as a program-building head coach at McNeese State. During the interview process, it was obvious he is a man of integrity and possesses great character and class. Mike is a winner on and off the field. He cares about his players, their education and welfare. I have no doubt that, under his leadership, the Ole Miss baseball program will compete for championships every year. (LSU head coach) Skip Bertman told me that Mike is a rising star in the baseball coaching ranks, and I'm proud that star will be shining over Oxford for years to come. Today, we feel like we hit a grand slam."
Bianco comes to Oxford from McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., where he produced three seasons of at least 30 wins in as many seasons at the helm of the Cowboys. His 2000 McNeese State team went 39-20, including winning a school-record 20 Southland Conference (SLC) games en route to claiming a share of the regular-season title, and made the school's third-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys' appearance at the NCAA Regionals in Lafayette, La., was also McNeese State's first since 1993. In recognition, Bianco was named the Southland Conference's Coach of the Year.
"This is truly is a special day for me and my family," said Bianco. "As a player and a coach, I always felt Ole Miss has what it takes to be a national contender with strong academic standards, first-class facilities and a unique college town in Oxford. Ole Miss has all the ingredients to play big-time baseball in the Southeastern Conference. Last weekend, my wife, Camille, and I visited the campus. We were so impressed with the class and style of this university and its charming community. The most important thing to me is the well-being of my family, and Camille and I believe, without a doubt, that Oxford is a great place to raise our children.
"As the head coach at Ole Miss, my first priority will be to contact the returning players and signees because I believe the players are the most important part of any program. I hope to contact each one of them personally in the next couple of days. My next priority will be to assemble a coaching staff to put Ole Miss back in the forefront of college baseball, and I'm excited about that opportunity."
A 1989 graduate of LSU, Bianco was a catcher for two seasons from 1988-89 for legendary Tiger head coach Skip Bertman. He was the starting catcher for the 1989 LSU team that finished third at the College World Series. While working behind the plate for LSU, Bianco caught major league pitchers such as Ben McDonald, Russ Springer, Curtis Leskanic, John O'Donoghue, Chad Ogea and Paul Byrd.
Following his playing career, he joined Jim Wells' (current head coach at Alabama) coaching staff at Northwestern State, where he served two seasons from 1991-92 as a graduate assistant. He then returned to Baton Rouge, where he joined Bertman's staff at LSU as an assistant.
He spent five seasons at LSU from 1993-97, and during that time, the Tigers advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., four times and claimed three national championships. LSU also won three Southeastern Conference crowns and two SEC tournament titles in that five-year span.
After the Tigers' 1997 College World Series title run, Bianco was named the head coach at McNeese State in July of that year.
"Mike Bianco is a can't miss," said LSU head coach Skip Bertman. "Mike is eminently qualified to coach in the Southeastern Conference because he knows the game and he knows how to run a program. John (Shafer) made a great hire."
He led his first Cowboy team to a 30-26 record, finishing third in the Southland Conference and qualifying for the conference tournament. His 1999 squad, that featured All-America first baseman Ben Broussard, produced a 31-25 record.
Power hitting was the Cowboys' trademark under Bianco as McNeese State hit 212 home runs in his three seasons, including a school-record 81 in 1999. This past season's Cowboy team batted .305 and set a school record for hits with 600.
Bianco's 2000 McNeese State team raked in individual postseason awards. Four Cowboys were named to the SLC's first team, including the conference's Hitter and Newcomer of the Year in Chris Williamson, and the SLC's Pitcher of the Year in Chris Howay.
In his first two seasons at McNeese State, Bianco had nine players sign professional contracts, and two players were selected in Monday and Tuesday's 2000 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
Bianco, 33, was born May 3, 1967, and is a native of Seminole, Fla. He is married to the former Camille Marquette, and the couple has three sons: Michael, Benjamin and Andrew.