Southeast Missouri State's Bieser hired as Missouri baseball coach

Steve Bieser is moving on after leading the Southeast Missouri State University baseball team to new heights in his four seasons at the helm.

The Redhawks coach was announced as the new head coach of the University of Missouri baseball team Thursday afternoon.

Bieser, who in his four seasons at the helm led the Redhawks to three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles for the first time in league history, replaces Tim Jamieson, whose resignation after 22 years was announced June 11.

“I am truly honored and humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of the University of Missouri community and serve as the head baseball coach,” Bieser said in a news release. “I can’t express enough the gratitude I have for interim chancellor (Hank) Foley, athletic director Mack Rhoades and the search committee for having the confidence in me to lead this program.

“When I started my coaching career, I had always dreamed of the opportunity to lead this program. There is a strong tradition and rich history of Missouri Tiger baseball. I understand the responsibility, and I am fully committed and ready to continue building the tradition. As lifelong Missourians, my family and I feel truly blessed to be part of the University of Missouri and the Columbia community.”

The Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, native was named the OVC Coach of the Year twice in four years and compiled a record of 138-97 during his time at Southeast, including a 79-39 mark in conference play. Bieser and the Redhawks were 3-2 against the Tigers during that time.

Bieser will be introduced at a news conference at 11 a.m. today at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

“Steve Bieser is a rising star in the college baseball ranks and a proven winner,” Rhoades said in a news release. “He has an impressive track-record of success, winning championships at each stop in his coaching career. He will be a tremendous role model for our student-athletes and has demonstrated a unique ability to develop his players athletically, academically and socially beyond what they believed they could achieve. He boasts remarkable intellectual horsepower and has a very cerebral approach to the game of baseball. He is a relationship-builder and will be a great fit for Mizzou. We are excited to welcome Steve, his wife, Diahann, and their children, Cole, Whitley, Briley and Carley to the Mizzou family.”

Southeast has announced it will begin a national search for Bieser’s replacement immediately.

Bieser signed a four-year contract extension with Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 22 at a base salary of $91,632 per year. Bonuses were available as well, including $1,000 for being named OVC Coach of the Year, $2,000 for winning the OVC regular-season championship and $2,500 for winning the OVC Tournament and reaching an NCAA Regional, all of which Bieser and the Redhawks achieved this season.

According to the terms of the contract, providing Southeast athletic director Brady Barke with written notice of his intent to interview with Missouri would waive terms of liquidated damages otherwise stipulated — a buyout “amount equal to one-half the remaining base salary that would have been due him under the current agreement.”

With Bieser’s resignation announced exactly three years to the date the contract was set to expire — June 30, 2019 — that amount would be $137,448.

Bieser, a 1989 graduate of Southeast, led the Redhawks to a school-record 39 wins this season.

He returned to Southeast in 2010 after a 13-year professional career and a seven-year head coaching stint at St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, to serve as Southeast’s pitching coach under Mark Hogan.

Vianney was 137-51 during his time there and won state titles in 2004 and 2006.

Bieser served as Southeast’s interim coach in 2013 after Hogan’s retirement and had the interim tag dropped following that first season.

He coached three OVC pitchers of the year, including the program’s highest draft pick ever in fourth-round selection Joey Lucchesi, an OVC Player of the Year, 11 first-team all-conference selections, eight second-team selections and two all-freshman selections.