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College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers hits grounders during infield practice. He led the Coyotes to the 2003 junior college national championship and often mentioned as a potential successor at UNLV.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
A three-paragraph press release issued Tuesday by UNLV officials announced what several long have anticipated: UNLV baseball coach Buddy Gouldsmith won't have his contract renewed next season.
The news was significantly overdue. It likely should have come two years ago.
What was more telling in the release, however, was the final line: "(Athletic Director Jim) Livengood said a national search will begin immediately but he will not comment until the 2010 season is complete."
National search?
That would be a waste the time, money and resources, because the best candidate is right here in the Las Vegas Valley.
Livengood, who was hired in December from the University of Arizona of the baseball-rich Pac-10 Conference, surely will test the waters outside the area as part of his search.
But making a short drive south on U.S. 95 to the Henderson campus of the College of Southern Nevada would be a better use of his time. There, he will find the man who will surely revive the program — a coach several in local baseball circles long have pegged for the position.
CSN coach Tim Chambers is a proven winner and a perfect fit for the position. He would lead the Rebels to their initial trip to the College World Series within four years — guaranteed.
While the UNLV program has been a black eye to the proud Las Vegas Valley baseball community, Chambers has built his junior-college program into a perennial national power. He's one of the nation's most respected evaluators of talent, savvy in dealing with the public and, most important considering the university system's poor economic state, a proven fundraiser.
He will raise the money needed to transform UNLV into a winner, have his pick of the valley's top high school players and put a respectable product on the field that locals can finally be proud of.
Chambers led the Coyotes to the 2003 national title to highlight an 11-year tenure at CSN. The team is competing in the NJCAA Western District Baseball Tournament this week, a few wins away from earning another appearance at the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
UNLV, on the other hand, hasn't made the NCAA Tournament in five years. Playing in the World Series never has been a reality for the Rebels, which is a true shame considering the youth and high school talent in the area.
Chambers would get that talent to play for UNLV. He has 15 locals on his roster at CSN and has earned the respect of the area's high school players and coaches. The same can't be said for Gouldsmith, who rarely signed a local of significance and wasn't respected on the local high-school circuit.
That's not to say Gouldsmith wasn't a good person. He is a man of extraordinary character and good intentions.
Gouldsmith, who has a 200-212 record in seven seasons, did a tremendous job in several aspects of his job. His players graduated and they are solid citizens off the field — two of the reasons why he was given a one-year contract last summer.
Now, it is time to give Chambers a contract.
Good article, but please don't make crazy predictions - "He would lead the Rebels to their initial trip to the College World Series within four years -- guaranteed."
Haha.
Tim Chambers I hope gets the Rebel baseball coaching position.
Don't waste money on a National search Livengood
Chambers would be BY FAR the best choice for this job. He's so well connected to the local high schools that local recruiting would go through the roof. Let's hope they make it happen.
I can really see this happening after this season. The team is so stacked and looks poised to make a National Title run. After this year, he'll be losing Bryce Harper and others to the draft. Could be his swan song before he finally makes the jump to UNLV.
I would love for Chambers to get the job but to assume that he would keep the top talent in town because he secured some of them to attend CSN is a bit of a leap. Most of these kids use CSN to improve there draft status as they can be drafted after each year of JC ball. To say that these kids would want to play for UNLV in a poor baseball conference and stay for three years before being drafted with other top level programs offering them the same oppurtunity is laughable. UNLV is fighting for there lives to be an important player on the basketball court. Baseball is not even remotely close and to say that the top talent would want to come and play baseball against BYU, Utah, Air Force, UNM and the underachieving SDSU when they could go and play a Big 12 or Pac 10 schedule I dont see it happening.
So the only thing we can guarantee right now is UNLV will wind up hiring anyone but Chambers!!
Every time a no brainer search is dumped in UNLV's lap they find a way to screw it up.
I expect this won't be any different.
Chambers is the perfect, only and obvious choice which is exactly why UNLV will screw it up as its screwed up virtually every decision like this one for the past 18 years.
UNLV has a baseball program?
Chambers SHOULD be a shoo-in. The only viable reason for a national search would be to land a guy like Andy Lopez. Other than that, shut it down.
There's plenty of talent in Las Vegas who prefer getting their education before draft dollars. Building a CWS contender with those types of local kids is not far from Chambers' grasp. His sales pitch can compete with anything the Big XII and PAC X has to offer.
I am hearing the former University of Tennessee coach Rod Delmonico has submitted interest in the position. The stuff I read on-line says that Delmonico took Tennessee to the College World Series three times in 1995, 2001 and 2005 from the killer schedules and competition in the Southeastern Conference. He successfully recruited from California to South Florida and got some of the best players in the nation. With the talent that we have locally, I think he would be a great hire and we can dominate this conference.
Here are some interesting stats that I picked up on Rod Delmonico. There is a website where a group want the University of Tennessee to rehire him. The website has some in depth information on his accomplishments. I would love to see him in this conference. If he accomplished this stuff in the Southeastern Conference where multiple teams make it to Regionals every year, he could command our conference.
"The Rod Delmonico Era in University of Tennessee Baseball
Tennessee's all-time winningest baseball coach
Ranks 4th on the all-time Southeastern Conference coaching wins list
Led UT to three College World Series and eight NCAA Regional Appearances
Won four SEC Eastern Division titles, including two overall conference crowns
Captured three straight SEC Eastern Division Tournament titles
Posted nine 40 win seasons and two 50 wins seasons
Averaged 39.7 wins over the era
Coached 34 All-America and 44 All-SEC selections
Coached 66 Academic All-SEC selections and four Academic All-America honorees
22 players were named first-team All-SEC
Coached 95 players who were drafted or signed professional baseball contracts
Produced 10 first round draft picks
Coached 13 Freshman All-America honorees
Coached three SEC Players of the Year
Coached 2005 National Pitcher of the Year
Coached 1994 National Freshman of the Year
Coached 1995 National Player of the Year
Coached Olympians
Named 1995 National Coach of the Year by Baseball America
Named 1994 and 1995 SEC Coach of the Year
38 pitchers have played professionally
48 position players have played pro ball"
A guy that I email with from Tennessee tells me that the University of Tennessee plays the first 1/2 of the season in winter weather and that Coach Delmonico recruited and signed players from 22 different states including California and south Florida to come up to Tennessee and play. He told me that his last year at Tennessee (2007) he had 3 first round draft picks, a pitcher named Luke Hochevar that plays for Kansas City, a catcher - J.P. Arencibia from south Florida that broke A-Rod's high school homerun record and CF - Julio Borbon from the Dominican, who plays for the Texas Rangers.
UNLV does not need a coach from a JC or a CC. UNLV needs to compete nationally and get a coach that has proven experience - somebody that has been to Omaha and knows how to get there. I want to host a NCAA Regional and Super-Regional. I would love to go to Omaha. It is going to take a coach that knows how to get there. It looks like Rod Delmonico has done it over and over. Think Big Livingood!!!!!!
it does not matter who UNLV hires as a head coach, it matters if UNLV is going to start putting more funding the program more money means more wins, no matter who the coach is, example cal state fullerton
I don't see Coach Chambers giving up total control as he has now. Besides, they play real baseball (wood bats)in his division. I would say he has developed the best JC program in the country. I hope Coach doesn't leave, unless it is to go to a MLB organization. Good luck in Lamar Coach, 7 wins till you all bring the title back to Henderson!
So, if Chambers gets the job he will "have his pick of the valley's top high school players." Really? The fact is that the top high school players want to go to a proven national program and/or just want to get away from home to attend college. That's just wishful thinking.
I don't see many of the top local players wanting to waste a couple years -- or more -- helping someone rebuild a bad program when they can go to a program that already is contending for a national championship year in and year out.
sorry teesheff, you are wrong on this one. a lot of basketball recruits want to go out of town, the same is not so true with baseball. the talent will stay here (most of it) if chambers is at unlv. some of these kids are choosing csn over big d1 programs.... and im not talking about kids who are one and done in college. im talking about kids that could go d1 easy and stay at csn for 2 years... ya know why?? because he wins. bottom line.
it would be difficult to choose between delmonico and chambers.. i like delmonicos proven d1 winning ways but chambers has ties in EVERY las vegas high school and club team. you mention his name around any school and all you will hear is good things.
tough call wither way.
From the looks of it, either hire would be a great one and for different reasons. I'd probably prefer Delmonico a little bit more because of his national profile and broader recruiting base.
haha this is great. first of all porkymcporkpork over here. UNLV would be lucky to have tim chambers as a coach. If he isn't one of the most well known amazing coaches out their today i don't know who is. If you want to pull out the RJ today smart one youll find 5 separate articles about CSN baseball. so if i don't know what proving experience as you said sir. I don't know what is. And as for the other person on here. I'm pretty sure the number one draft decided to play for tim chambers at a JC. So you kind of just contradicted yourself seeing he was one of the best high school players. but nice try there. Love people who know absolutely nothing! haha.
As for you Tim, if you do get the job good for you. You deserve it. Kick butt in Lamar. 3.16
:)
Hopefully Livengood will cut his Arizona and B.Y.U. strings and hire Chambers
The rebels past on him the first time, please don't do it again!
Tim Chambers is a pure players coach, the best coach by far in the valley. The best players around will line up to play for him like they do now.
I played for him and so did my "lil" brother. I know first hand what a class act this man is. He is a diamond in this desert, to bad it's hard for some people to see that.
REBELS B!@TCHE$
Rod Delmonico was run out of Knoxville. We don't need him in Las Vegas. However, as a re-tread himself, Livengood will probably hire a Delmonico-type - someone who was canned somewhere else. An agressive, proactive AD would hire a young up and coming coach with no baggage, but a great deal of energy and potential. Livengood's move 10 days before the end of the season shows what we are dealing with. UNLV athletics - always ass-backwards.
You Nevada people are so brainwashed and think that the best talent comes out of NV. If you look at the players on the UNLV roster there is more talent the the university has seen in years. The confrence in a whole has gotten alot better and the Rebels have been snake bitten with injuries this season. The starting roster at the beggining of the year was a roster that could of competed with the likes of TCU and New Mexico. The rebels have had a great year and its about time that all you Nevada people stop being fair weathered fans. In the last 2 years I have been going to the games it has been pathetic the turnout of the locals. They only would come out if the prices was cheaper. Be fans from the heart and stop ragging on the organizaton.
I've seen Coach Chambers at my son's practices countless times in the last 4 years.
Times I've seen a UNLV coach = Zero
Good Luck Coach Chambers, I'm not sure UNLV is a step up!
Smokepork should be smokepickle with the obvious campaigning for Rod Delmonico.
Coach Chambers is a Junior College coach. Enough said
There is no such thing as a perennial powerhouse in a JC.
If Rod Delmonico is so good why doesn't he have a job right now. common sense dummy.
It appears Delmonico also coached the Netherlands to two huge upset wins in the World Baseball Classic. This guy is the real deal and would give UNLV instant credibility. Hope he gets a good look.
Delmonico can get the players here. Someone with his credentials will have no problem getting entrenched in the baseball community. Tennessee is in one of the toughest baseball conferences in the country and he did extremely well. The fact of the matter is a lot of players go to CSN because of the grade situation and the quick two years and either get drafted or go D1. This program needs someone with true D1 experience. And, lilmac, he's been a hitting coach/advisor for FSU and pro teams for the last couple of years. So, FSU, Tennessee and MLB coaching versus CSN coaching experience. Which one would you hire?
upsryan, hate to say it, but the CSN squad would beat most D1 schools. UNLV would be desemated by them. Especially if had to play real baseball (wood bats). Harper would've hit 35 - 40 with metal, Campbell 20 - 25, Weidnaar 10 -15...etc.
Fan--It would be a total step down for Chambers to go to UNLV
Chambers has spent his entire tenure at CSN talking kids out of attending UNLV with negative comments about the program! Why should we now expect him to change his spots??? He is a great coach for the CSN program and JC level. I hope the new coach (hopefully Delmonico) at UNLV creates a strong relationship with Chambers and uses CSN as a resource and not an adversary.
Its funny...people just don't know baseball. Jim Schlossnagle was at UNLV for two years...his second year, which had his first recruiting class, ended 9th in the country. Who did their season end to...Perenial power house ASU and Pat Murphy. Where is Pat..hmmmm...not at ASU. He's the only choice for UNLV. PAT MURPHY. JC COACHES DON'T MAKE IT AS D-1 COACHES. And the MWC is legit. Ohhh you silly wannabes. Hire Chambers and it's really over for UNLV baseball. PAT MURPHY PAT MURPHY PAT MURPHY
Any National coach would only use UNLV as a stepping stone. (Sound familiar?) If you want long term success here, you need to find someone with strong ties to the area. Any outsider would be looking for the next job the day after he signs his contract. Like Chambers or not, Las Vegas is his home.
If I didn't know any better I would suspect Rod Delmonico is posting on this board. Despite the hard sell for Delmonico, let's remember, the guy was canned at Tennessee. However, Livengood will probably hire a coach like Delmonico. He'll go for the big and tarnished name rather than the up and comer, clean guy who has enthusiasm and energy. He'll look at Pat Murphy, too. If he could hire ex-Texas Tech football coach, Mike Leach, he'd do it. Heck, if OJ Simpson wasn't in jail, he would have been a top choice of Livengood for the football job.
The guy I email with from Nashville says that Tennessee's AD terminated the contracts of all big 3 coaches to get his own guys in there. Bruce Pearl for Buzz Peterson in B-Ball, Kiffin then Dooley for Philip Fulmer in Football and Raliegh for Delmonico in Baseball. Rod Delmonico's contract was terminated after he made it to the SEC tourney and beat the no. 1 team in nation - Vanderbilt. He says Tennessee had not been to the CWS in 1951 when Delmonico was hired. When he was hired, Tenn was coming off of its worst record in school history. By year 4 Tennessee hosted an NCAA regional - losing to Arizona St in the final. Year 5 Tennessee hosted another regional and beat Ok. St to go to Omaha!!! He led Tennessee to Omaha in '95, 01 and '05 guys. We can get some CC coach or we can compete nationally and host a regional and get to Omaha. We need to recruit nationally and win nationally.
Thank you smokepork for actually providing proof unlike these idiots who claim Delmonico's name is tarnished and whatever. If you're gonna make accusations please back them up. I dont really have to say anything since Delmonico's stats are all up here already, so someone please bring someone with a better resume (who is actually available) to the table. And if you're calling Rod's reputation tarnished without proof, what are you gonna call Pat Murphy? his program was under investigation. Exactly the type of coach i want representing UNLV. Not.
If coach Smokepickle Delmonico was hired at UNLV, he would be gone after year 2 IF he had any success here.
Hire someone with local roots, someone that will stay for the long haul. I came across this info myself, not by pretending to e-mail with someone from Tennessee.
IF he has any success? He's won everywhere he's coached. That won't be the issue. The issue would be a bigger university (with fans that would welcome him) offering him a job after seeing what he could do here.
That's my point. Do you want to sell your soul for one or two years of moderate success or do you want to hire a proven winner who's in it for the long term? Delmonico or any prominent national coach would leave UNLV at the first sniff of a bigger school. Do you want to go through this again in a year or two?
Coach Chambers has deep roots in Las Vegas. This might be a moot point, I don't know if Coach Chambers would take the UNLV job if it was offered.
Rod Delmonico doesn't need to look elsewhere after two years. This program has every bit the potential to be like Fullerton, Long Beach, or Arizona State.
Chambers has a pretty good thing going where he's at... don't really see him being eager to leave it. But Delmonico is the best coach available and I think that's what you have to go for.
Last I checked, even big time university athletic programs that were in a "rebuilding process" were responsible for maintaining any and all written contractual athletic/academic scholarships that they "award" and or stand behind any and all verbal commitments to any prospective athlete/scholar that they may invite to their so-called esteemed and accredited University. Apparently, this is not the case for the new baseball coaching hierarchy that is now in power at UNLV. However, I believe that perhaps the Junior College environment has different regulations regarding NLI commitment obligations by both the institution and the prospect. What kind of message are the "powers that be", actually sending to our up and coming young Americans by breaking written and verbal agreements and without even so much as a "we're so sorry"!!! I Quote Mr. Chambers, "I just hate having to make these phone calls". This new head coach did not even make the effort to notify said talent and widowed mother in person of the decision to scratch this young man off the team, stating you are not ready to compete at this level as the basis for this decision. Well, he was plenty ready to compete when the recruiters were reeling in their catch. This phone call came after recent confirmation by the Athletic Director "that there is nothing to worry about, all is good". Why you selfish piece! Why don't we just go ahead and admit that it's o.k. to achieve success and $$$$ and who cares who we step on along the way! It is obvious to me that something is awry here (and I ain't to darn bright). Let's give this talented hard working guy the ax and bring in that Harper guy! Whoops - he's spoken for, you get the idea. I could not be more disgusted with this deplorable vision of baseball excellence. Baseball is Americana, it is our national past-time and culture. What makes you think you can "foul" it with your reprehensible tact. I can only imagine how disappointed this young man and family must be.