Former Alabama and MLB Infielder Matt Downs Analyzes UA Coach Brad Bohannon [Audio]

During a Monday morning press conference on the University of Alabama campus, former Kentucky and Auburn assistant coach Brad Bohannon was introduced as the Crimson Tide’s new baseball coach.

Bohannon has the task of returning Alabama baseball to SEC and national prominence as the program has failed to appear in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons and has not won an SEC title since 2006.

One of the players that was a part of the 2006 SEC Championship team was Matt Downs. Downs belted seven round trippers and recorded 62 RBIs in his last season in Tuscaloosa. After being selected by the San Francisco Giants in 2006, the Bibb County High School alum saw big league action with the Giants and Houston Astros.

Since the 2014 season, the former major leaguer has been the head baseball coach at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama.

During his visit with Wimp and Barry Sanderson on Inside the Locker Room, Downs assessed Alabama’s hiring of Brad Bohannon.

The Alabama baseball alum shared an important trait that he believes is critical to succeeding as a baseball coach.

“I heard a long time ago that great managers are not Xs and Os. Great managers are guys that can handle clubhouses, egos and personalities.” Downs said.

Downs described the characteristics that makes Bohannon great at recruiting.

“He can take any personality, any ego, any type of kid, relate something to them, and keep them on the hook, and try to make a friendship there where the kid feels comfortable and he relates to them and recruits them well.” Downs said. “He’s not turned off by a certain personality from a kid from California, or a kid from New York or a kid from south Florida. He has a way to relate to these kids, and strike up conversations, and keep them on the line, and keep them on the hook and get them to sign.”

Downs also discussed the story of how Jonah Todd went from MMI to a key contributor for Auburn, the advantages that Alabama baseball can offer to recruits and the strengths that Bohannon can bring in recruiting to the Crimson Tide.

Inside the Locker Room airs every weekday from 7-9 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the radioPup app.