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The near-month-long search to replace head baseball coach Erik Bakich, who took the same position at Michigan, has ended at last. On Wednesday, Maryland hired Kansas State associate head coach John Szefc, according to the Washington Times.
Since 2003, Szefc has been an assistant for the Wildcats, as well as Kansas (2009-2010) and UL Lafayette (2003-2008). Previously, he was the head coach at Marist, where he compiled a 212-137-1 overall mark, along with three appearances in the NCAA Tournament over seven seasons.
"I've been an assistant for the last 10 years and drawn good experience off that, but my heart has always been in being a head coach and building my own program," Szefc told the Times. "I always kept an eye on different opportunities, for the most part on the East Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region. And lo and behold this whole thing came about."
He'll take over for Bakich, who at 34 is the youngest baseball coach in any BCS conference and went 70-98 in three seasons at Maryland.
For more on the Terps, check out Testudo Times, SB Nation's Maryland Terrapins blog.