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Former U of M catcher new Comet Baseball Coach

By Emma Henson
Staff Writer
“…For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out, at the old ball game.” The 100-year-old song written by Jack Norworth is often heard during the seventh inning stretch at baseball games. Baseball is known as “the national past time,” according to the athlete scholarship Web site article on the history of baseball. Olivet College is making its own mark in history as it works its way up from last in the MIAA in the 2007 season.
Approaching his third season, coach Ted Mahan has turned Comet’s baseball team around and is pushing toward a run at the championship.
Mahan’s baseball career goes as far back as he can remember: “My father played in Saginaw when my brother and I were young boys. We used to be bat boys for his team.” They moved to Davison where he attended Davison High School and continued polishing his baseball skills any chance he could. “I always loved the sport and played as much as possible; two leagues a year, 50-60 games,” said Mahan. He was on the junior varsity team as a freshman and his sophomore year made varsity. During the summer, it was not off season for Mahan - he played on a summer team as well.
Mahan took the field every game as catcher. “No one had volunteered as catcher but me and that’s where I stayed. I liked the action there. I learned all aspects of the game and it was an easy transition later in life for coaching,” said Mahan. It was during one summer game in 1973 that Mahan was recruited by the University of Michigan.
According to the official Web site of Spartan Athletics (www.msu.com), Mahan’s older brother, George, went on to play for the Spartans as a pitcher, while Mahan found a home on its opposing team, the University of Michigan. Mahan played catcher for the Wolverines from 1974-1977 under Moby Benedict. While a part of Michigan’s team, he helped win two Big Ten titles in 1975 and 1976, three NCAA Tournament appearances in ’75, ’76, ’77 and shared the 1977 MVP award with Rick Leach. Leach went on to play outfield for the Detroit Tigers in 1979. Mahan received his bachelor’s degree in education from Michigan in 1977 and moved on to receive his master’s degree in American Culture from Michigan in 1991.
After graduation, Mahan couldn’t find a teaching job, so he turned to General Motors Corp., working at a truck plant for five years. He said he hated it. In the meantime, he took on the head coaching position at Davison High School from 1983-87. According to the Spartan Athletic Web site, “He led the program to three conference crowns, one district title, and an overall record of 127-56.” Before his coaching at MSU, Mahan worked as assistant coach for Michigan from 1988-91. In 1992 he was hired on as an assistant coach for the Spartans by Tom Smith, then took over as head coach in 1996, where he remained head coach for 10 seasons.
“At the time MSU had the worst facilities, but now they are improving,” said Mahan. “Over a two-year period, we had eight guys from one team move on to sign professional baseball contracts. We had a batting average of .344 and 95 home runs. We were second in the country,” said Mahan. After his 2006 season, Mahan’s contract wasn’t renewed, and he was out of work. Soon after, he heard about Olivet’s opening for a baseball coach and contacted the athletic director at the time, Tom Shaw.
Starting in Fall 2006, Mahan became the full-time Olivet College baseball coach and has had teaching responsibilities added as well. “I enjoy teaching and getting on campus three or four times a week. It’s a great place for students. It was very seldom I got on campus at MSU,” said Mahan. According to Mahan, his players often stop by his office just to say hello or ask questions on school work. “I always tell them that a normal student won’t study from 3-10 p.m. You need to have a release from school. Baseball is their release. We focus on having fun, getting better every day, and to keep learning. They’re hungry to do well,” said Mahan.
Some of the changes he began making in the beginning of his coaching at Olivet started with fundamentals. “We went back to the basics. Executing sacrifice bunts, relaying cut off’s and just preparing yourself on a daily basis to have success,” said Mahan. According to the stats last year, the team had moved up to third in the league. “The other teams didn’t expect to see us become that competitive that fast,” said Mahan.
Mahan feels the new facilities that are available will help immensely during the off season. The players are just as excited about them as Mahan. “We have a lot more space than we had in the past. We can do more things. We’re going to be able to have a legit infield for practicing indoors. We’re going to be much more prepared for the season,” said senior and captain Scott Purdy. Purdy was around before Mahan came to Olivet. “He’s a great coach. We’re really lucky to have him here. He knows a lot about the game,” said Purdy.
Mahan is excited to start the season. He believes this will be the year that they can really compete. “We have a lot of our older guys coming back this year. It helps with success. You need to have the juniors and seniors leading the team,” said Mahan. Mahan wants to impart on his players success. “Look at baseball as part of a growing up experience. Be on time, attend class, work hard and success will come,” said Mahan.
Mahan will be hosting a Holiday Camp at the Cutler Event Center Dec. 27 and 28, from 1-6 p.m. for athletes ages 8 to 18. For information, contact Mahan at Tmahan@olivetcollege.edu.