Greg Beals will leave Ball State University to become Ohio State University's coach in a move to be announced Thursday, a source close to the program told The Ball State Daily News.
Beals will replace Bob Todd, who retired this year after 23 seasons at the helm of the Buckeyes. Beals and athletic director Tom Collins could not be reached for comment late Wednesday night.
Beals leaves Ball State with a record of 243-202 in eight years. He replaced Rich Maloney in 2003 after Maloney left for the University of Michigan. Beals reached the 200-win mark in 2009, becoming the second-fastest Cardinals' coach to accomplish the feat. Only Maloney won 200 games quicker.
The Cardinals won the Mid-American Conference Tournament in 2006, the only time under Beals' direction. Ball State advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where it upset the University of Kentucky, before being eliminated.
Beals has coached many successful players at Ball State. Brad Snyder and Kolbrin Vitek were named MAC Player of the Year during his tenure, and both were selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.
Beals' final year at Ball State ended short of expectations. The Cardinals were preseason-MAC favorites, but were denied a regular season conference title on the last day of the regular season and lost early in the MAC Tournament. Ball State finished 29-29, though it upset the University of Arkansas and the University of Louisville, two top-25 teams.
Beals has strong Ohio connections. He is a native of Springfield, Ohio, and was an assistant coach and player at Kent State University before being hired by Ball State. Some of his top recruits, including Vitek, Blake Beemer and Perci Garner are from Ohio.
Beals' departure will start another coaching search at Ball State. Already this school year, Collins has had to hire a women's volleyball coach, field hockey coach, women's tennis coach and soccer coach.
Mike Stafford, pitching coach and Ball State's top assistant, is likely to follow Beals to Ohio State, where he was an All-Big Ten pitcher in 1998.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
