“Embarrassing” “Fantastic coach” - College baseball fans left debating over Texas A&M’s potential new HC Dan Heefner
On Thursday, multiple reports claimed that Dallas Baptist Patriots coach Dan Heefner is the front-runner to take up the vacant coaching job at Texas A&M. The Aggies lost coach Jim Schlossnagle to the Texas Longhorns only days after he led the program to its maiden CWS final.
Amid reports of Heefner taking up the job at Texas A&M, fans on X had divided opinions on the coach being hired by the Aggies.
Some felt that Heefner might not be a great candidate to replace Schlossnagle and blamed Texas A&M's athletic director Trev Alberts. Others pointed out that the Southeastern Conference might be too challenging for a coach like Heefner.
"Embarrassing and predictable hire. I'm ready to axe Alberts after this pathetic showing over the last week," one tweeted.
"If true, not sure this would excite the fan base. He may be good, but hasn’t played SEC level competition. Not the PR move you want to make right now," another tweeted.
"That's a disappointing hire given the names that were on the list. He'll be given the benefit of the doubt, but this feels like us bargain shopping," one fan tweeted.
Meanwhile, certain groups of fans backed Heefner's arrival at Texas A&M and described him as an underrated coach. They also outlined how the Aggies are heading in the right direction with their choice to succeed Schlossnagle.
"Fantastic Coach," one tweeted.
"Good hire imo Sustained success at DBU (top 10 in wins since 2015) and knows Texas," one user tweeted.
"Anyone who would be mad about this hire doesn’t understand real coaching and player development," another tweeted.
A look into Dan Heefner's impressive record at Dallas Baptist
Dan Heefner took over as the head coach of the Dallas Baptist Patriots in 2008. He previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the team.
The Patriots have made 10 NCAA tournament appearances under Heefner in the past 16 years. They also made it to a Super Regional in 2011.
Heefner has racked up an impressive 652–326–1 record with the Patriots. He has won four MVC tournament championships, one MVC regular season championship, one C-USA regular season title in 2023 and one C-USA tournament in 2024.