It had been a whirlwind for Will Bolt as he finished the season with Texas A&M and then quickly accepted the open head coahing job with Nebraska. While Bolt accepted the job a week ago, he was officially introduced as the Huskers’ coach on Thursday. He called it “the honor of a lifetime.”
https://twitter.com/Husker_Baseball/status/1141760528534183936
Athletic director Bill Moos said he respected Bolt’s playing and coaching careers. Along his journey, Bolt was willing to take a head coaching job at a small school where he did everything, including drive the bus. That prompted Moos to call Bolt the “full package.”
The first thing Bolt did when he took the podium was thank former Nebraska coach Darin Erstad for all he poured into the baseball program. Bolt called Erstad “the greatest Husker I know.” Bolt went on to say how he is so thankful for all the university has done for him and that he is excited to give back to it.
Bolt also knows Nebraska baseball and has a long connection with the Huskers.
“I’ve had the opportunity [to] literally sit in every chair that you can sit in with Nebraska baseball”,” Bolt said.
His senior year was the first year at Haymarket Park and he continued on to be a student assistant and graduate manager with the program. He remembers doing anything to help as a student assistant, including stocking the coaches’ lockers with shampoo and soap.
Will has worked hard to get to this point and Moos called him a scrapper. When Bolt was asked what style of baseball he wanted to play, he had a quick response: “Winning.”
Bolt is alsoa competitor. He said he learned how to compete from guys like Dave Van Horn and Rob Childress, whom both highly recommended Bolt to Moos.
So, how far is Nebraska from competing for Big Ten Championships and College World Series appearances? Bolt said all you have to do is look at how close the Huskers were this past season. The team was just one game away from a Big Ten Championship and a pitch away from being 2-0 in the regional.
Right now Bolt is focused on getting to know the players and getting his staff settled in. There is plenty of work to do and he said recruiting will begin immediately. Bolt also said Nebraska has a lot of offer between great facilities and the unbelievable fan base.
Bolt and his wife, Lauren, have two sons, Jaxon and Austin, and one daughter, Bella. They were all in attendance along with assistants Jeff Christy and Lance Harvell.
Chris Schmidt will have a one-on-one interview with Bolt today on Hail Varsity Radio. You can tune in Thursday from 4-6 p.m. CT.
