LINCOLN — When word spread last month that Darin Erstad was finished playing major league baseball after 14 seasons, his phone started ringing.
Several big-league organizations expressed an interest in the ex-Nebraska All-American, who capped his career as something of a player-coach for the past two seasons with the Houston Astros.
If ever there was an ideal pedigree to transition from playing to coaching, Erstad had it.
But he never let talks advance to receive an offer.
“When the Huskers called,” Erstad said, “that’s all I needed.”
Nebraska announced the hiring of Erstad on Thursday as a volunteer assistant. The 36-year-old former No. 1 draft pick and two-time American League all-star will begin full-time work this month as the Huskers’ hitting coach.
He might as well take an additional responsibility: attitude coach. In three years at Nebraska, 11 with the Los Angeles Angels, one with the Chicago White Sox and two with the Astros, Erstad earned a reputation as one of the most hard-nosed, intense competitors in the game.
It may rub off on the Huskers, who could use a spark. NU slid to ninth and 10th in the Big 12 the past two years after qualifying for the NCAA postseason in nine of the previous 10 seasons.
“I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could influence them in a positive way with my style, my heart,” Erstad said. “I’ve always needed that team atmosphere. That’s where my drive, my energy came from.
“The more you get into professional sports, the further it gets from that team atmosphere. I just believe so strongly in what that did for me as a person as I grew up. That’s it for me. That’s all I need. To get to wear a Husker uniform and do that, it’s pretty cool.”
Head coach Mike Anderson passes his job with the NU hitters to Erstad. The eight-year head coach, who arrived at Nebraska as an assistant for Erstad’s final college season in 1995, said he believes their styles mesh well.
“Darin’s right on page with us,” Anderson said. “He gets it. It’s a pretty awesome situation. I won’t look at him as a volunteer coach. He’s an assistant coach. The one thing you can’t do is go half into it. And if you know Darin Erstad, he’s not going to go half into anything.”
NCAA rules prohibit Erstad from recruiting off campus as a volunteer, but his travel with the team and coaching responsibilities are not restricted in comparison to other assistants.
He said he informally discussed coaching as an option with Anderson two years ago. Last fall, Erstad said, when he knew his playing career had likely ended, he considered it more seriously.
“To have the opportunity to do this, I’m just very fortunate,” said Erstad, who purchased a home in Lincoln in 2008. “I got a taste of it the last couple years in Houston.
“They brought me in to take care of a couple young guys. It kind of took the edge off sitting on the bench, doing nothing. I really enjoyed it. And it’s a perfect situation here. I just could not imagine wearing another college uniform.”
Erstad said he had not devised aspirations beyond this position in coaching.
“I’m inexperienced,” Erstad said. “I’m very excited to get to learn.”
Nebraska’s full-time assistants, Dave Bingham and Eric Newman, have 11 years of combined experience as Division I head coaches. Bingham coached Kansas during Erstad’s 1993-95 playing career at Nebraska.
Regarding the Huskers’ recent struggles, Erstad said he did not know enough detail to comment. He attended several games this spring at Haymarket Park, but with three children ages 4 and under, he said: “I spent more time at the playground than in my seat.”
Erstad collected 1,697 hits in his pro career, including a major league-best 240 with the Angels in 2000. He won a World Series in 2002 and tied a record with 25 hits in those playoffs.
When he was a college baseball player, his teams never made the postseason.
“I’m pretty motivated to do things that I’ve never had an opportunity to be a part of,” Erstad said. “The College World Series would be right at the top of that list.
“I only play this game to get to the highest level. I didn’t get to experience any of that in college. I’ll be just as happy now, getting to watch a bunch of players I helped coach get to experience that.”
NOTE: Freshman right-handed pitcher Kurt Giller has left the NU program and plans to transfer, Anderson said. Giller, a 21st-round draft pick out of Toronto last year, finished 0-1 with one save in eight appearances last season before undergoing arm surgery in April.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com
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