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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - Texas A&M introduced to the public its 21st head baseball coach, Michael Earley with a welcome celebration and press conference at Kyle Field’s Hall of Champions on Tuesday.

One week ago Tuesday, the Texas A&M baseball team arrived back in Aggieland after a historic season making it to the College World Series Finals. And what a whirlwind of a week it’s been. Shortly after landing, Jim Schlossnagle accepted the Texas job leaving the Aggies without a coach.

Still 30min away from @earleybaseball’s intro presser at Texas A&M and already a packed house at the Hall of Champions@AggieBaseball #GigEm pic.twitter.com/wUhHXsisbl
— Tyler Shaw (@TylerShawSports) July 2, 2024

Earley reflected on what the last week has been like for him, after following Schlossnagle to Austin and then returning to be the head coach. “Just so many different emotions,” Earley said. “It was extremely difficult. I’m really glad the road led me back to here,” Earley added.

“The future of Aggie baseball,” Texas A&M President General Mark Welsh explained. “None of it is about someone who left. It’s about someone who fought to stay,” Welsh added to a roar of cheers from the 12th Man in attendance.

Expanded News 3 at Six. Aggies back coach, demonstrate character, no indication of staff not trying to win

Earley was the popular choice amongst players.

“To the players, Number one, this is your program,” Earley stated. “To the former players, this is your program. I am just here to give you everything I have every single day,” Earley added.

Michael Earley introduced as A&M's 21st head baseball coach News 3 at Ten

“The consistent theme is they just want somebody who loves them,” Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts said on talking with the team during the coaching search. “They want somebody who pours into them,” Alberts added.

“Schott could not be here today,” Earley laughed. “He was super upset. He had golf he already paid for,” Earley added in a light-hearted manner in his opening speech.

The former hitting coach was one of nine candidates. He wasn’t Alberts’ first choice, but Earley blew him away in his interview.

“After the first zoom I did with him, I’ll just be totally frank, I was very, very pleasantly surprised,” Alberts said.

“I already had the vision of what I wanted to do,” Earley said on his interview process. “I’m ready for this. I’m built for this. I’ve seen what it takes to get almost to the top here,” Earley exclaimed.

The Aggies hope with this hire that their program will stay mostly the same, even down to the “Rattlin Bog.”

“They’re not going to believe this, but this is an absolutely true statement.,” Welsh said. “Since the day I went into a bar in Dublin about 25 years ago, I have had two versions of Rattlin’ Bog on my Spotify playlist,” Welsh added to more laughter from the 12th Man.

Earley also added that he feels connected to Texas A&M. The 12th Man game back in 1922 was on January 2nd which happens to be Michael Earley’s wedding anniversary.