Monday Morning Rumor: Might Marty Lees Be The Key To Pat Casey?

There's been no announcement yet from Oregon St. baseball coach Pat Casey as to whether he will retire, and take an administration or not, but there is a rumor circulating (with some credibility behind it) that sheds new light on the matter.

Word is that another program has made an offer to Associate Head Coach Marty Lees to make him a skipper. So the issue is what Oregon St. can, or should do, to retain Lees. And when.

The wonderful coach in waiting scenario rares its head again. Lees, with the title he has, and given his primary responsibility for recruiting, is in a position some have construed as coach in waiting to replace Casey, though the expectation is that the waiting would last a little longer.

So considerations for Casey are whether he is ready to transition his career now, and if not, does he want to persevere without Lees? Casey has the internal clout that puts this decision primarily in his lap, not Athletic Director Bob De Carolis, though De Carolis' input will clearly be a factor in what will really be a series of decisions, all impacting the Beaver baseball program, one that Casey has hand-built into the nationally prominent position it is in today.

Nothing but Casey's primary options are known for sure. Well, one thing actually is; Casey's decision will one way or the other ripple far and wide in the west coast collegiate baseball scent. Stay tuned...

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com