Chad Holbrook wants to return to dugout sooner rather than later
Some coaches opt to take a break from their sport after leaving their job before pursuing other opportunities.
Former Gamecocks baseball coach Chad Holbrook isn’t one of those coaches.
Holbrook said he’s anxious to return to the dugout and continue his coaching career and is hoping the right fit will come along quickly.
“I don’t know if I’m the type of guy that wants to take a year off,” Holbrook told The State. “I’m ready to accept the next challenge. I don’t know what that challenge is going to be right now. … If the right opportunity presents itself, then certainly I look forward to coaching and being on the field again real soon.”
Holbrook said nothing is close to being finalized at this time and there isn’t a job that he has his eyes on. But his ears are open, and he has had conversations with several people in the college baseball world.
Should he return to coaching, he isn’t opposed to being an assistant, which he did with enormous success at North Carolina and South Carolina . Holbrook also would be open to running his own program again after an up-and-down five years doing so at South Carolina.
“I just want to be a baseball coach. Being a head coach or being an assistant, that doesn’t really matter to me to be honest with you. I just want to be a baseball coach at a great place and coach kids and be around kids and enjoy my time in between the white lines mentoring and leading young people,” he said. “I’m open to any and every opportunity that’s in front of me.”
Holbrook said he believes he can improve upon the coach he was at South Carolina. There isn’t one specific area Holbrook plans to coach differently, but he feels like he has grown as a coach.
“Anybody that works for a living evaluates themselves and they learn from day-to-day. Are there things you may tweak going forward? Absolutely,” Holbrook said. “I’ve certainly learned an incredible amount of things in regards to baseball and coaching and building relationships. The University of South Carolina baseball program and certainly coach (Ray) Tanner have taught me great lessons that will last me a lifetime, and I’m forever grateful for that.”
While Holbrook waits, he said he’s enjoying spending time with his family, including watching his sons Reece and Cooper play baseball.
If the right opportunity does not come along this offseason, he would have no problem staying in Columbia short term.
“I’m enjoying spending time with my kids and watching them play some ball. … Right now, I’m trying to be the best dad and husband and the best person I can be,” Holbrook said. “I love Columbia, and my kids are in a great situation with their school and with their friends and obviously it’s an important time in their development. The last thing I want to do is take them out of their comfort zone. We’re in a really good spot right now. … I certainly think I have a lot more years in the tank, and hopefully, I’ll get an opportunity to be a coach again real soon. But if not, in the short term, I know I live in a great community and a great town. My kids are in a great school. I’m a lucky person.”
This story was originally published June 17, 2017 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Chad Holbrook wants to return to dugout sooner rather than later."