WVU Baseball HC Steve Sabins Details New Role, Won’t ‘Cower in Fear’ of Expectations

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Even though his transition was announced before the 2024 season, and was in the works long before that, it was finally time for WVU Baseball head coach Steve Sabins to sit down with the media on Friday.

After releasing a couple prior statements about taking over the Mountaineers, Sabins revealed some new information and talked continuing the new standard he helped set at WVU.

“Having the opportunity to become a head coach at the place you worked for 9 years is really rare. It’s a dream come true,” said Sabins to open his press conference.

Sabins made it clear, that while this job is much different now compared to when he arrived in Morgantown nine years ago, especially in terms of recruiting, he “will not cower in fear” of the increased expectations.

“To cower in the face of new expectations would be silly.”

As a response to handling increased expectations, WVU Baseball HC Steve Sabins emphasizes he’s been a big part of changing the standard for the program.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) June 21, 2024

He also emphasized that he has played a big role in what the program has accomplished in recent years. Sabins brought up the caliber player West Virginia can “get a yes” from far greater now than it was a decade ago.

“A strong foundation has been laid. New standards have been set. The goal remains the same. Do things that West Virginia Baseball has never been done before.”

Sabins admitted he almost took another position elsewhere before his transitioning was formally announced and also detailed the “put the team first, put the people first” philosophy that he will incorporate from his predecessor.

More on Sabins’ Role

As far as during games, Sabins will continue in his role as the third base coach. While he has never been a head coach, Sabins has been widely regarded as one of the best assistant coaches in the country. He even represented the Mountaineers at the Surefire Forum in 2020, an event that brings together some of the nation’s top coaches to promote the future of the game.

Sabins’ Background

Below is a refresher and re-introduction of West Virginia’s next head coach.

WVU Baseball HC Steve Sabins says he’s going to stay at third base and potentially use technology to run offense from third base box. He says a lot will change because Randy Mazey was the most involved coaches during games in country.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) June 21, 2024

Sabins, just finished his ninth year on Mazey’s staff, hails from Austin, Texas. Throughout his tenure with West Virginia, Sabin helped lead the charge in developing the WVU hitters and has been a big part of the recruiting effort that has brought in some of the best classes in the program’s history.

After initially starting off at WVU as just an assistant coach in 2018, Sabin worked his way up to recruiting coordinator in 2018, and then the top assistant head coach, a position he’s held since 2022.

WVU’s nationally ranked 2018 class, West Virginia’s first top-25 recruiting class ever, stands out as a big feather in the cap for Sabins. He followed up the 2018 class with another top 25 class in 2019, marking the first time WVU signed back-to-back top-25 classes.

Before arriving in Morgantown, Sabins served as graduate assistant, plater development coordinator and then a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma State from 2012 to 2015.

More from Sabins about taking over the WVU baseball program on the heels of the most successful period in school history.

“Nine years ago, Coach Mazey took a risk on me and hired the youngest Power 5 assistant in the country. I was unproven with no direct ties to West Virginia. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and my family. I’ve worked hard every day since to prove him right and make WVU proud. Tabitha and I have poured our energy into this community, welcomed two children, Charlee and Tucker, and Morgantown has become home.”

Click here for more of WV Sports Now’s coverage of the WVU baseball program.