Ex-Astro Lance Berkman would love to succeed Wayne Graham as coach.
Former Astro an Owls star during 1990s
As Wayne Graham prepares for his final few weeks in the dugout at Rice, one of his star pupils has expressed interest in the job.
Lance Berkman, a former longtime Astro and an All-American and national player of the year for the Owls, said this week he would like to be considered to replace the Hall of Fame coach.
“I’ve said that before. I’ve told coach that I would love to coach at Rice after he’s finished,” Berkman said during an appearance Thursday on the Josh Innes Show on 790 AM. “We’ll see how things shake out. They’re still playing.”
Graham, the oldest coach in Division I baseball at 82, said in April that he has been informed by the school that his contact wouldn’t be renewed when it expires after the season.
Berkman, a star outfielder and first baseman for the Owls from 1995-97, is expected to be among the candidates for the job.
“Like I told coach, ‘Look, I love you and respect you and I believe imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and I’d love to follow in your footsteps when the time is right,’ ” said Berkman, who is currently the head coach at Second Baptist. “I’d love to have the opportunity.”
Graham has won more than 1,100 games in 27 seasons at Rice, winning the school’s only national championship in 2003. The Owls have made the NCAA Tournament 23 consecutive seasons. Coaching this season without an extension, Graham made the announcement in late April about his future to end speculation about his future.
“I thought it was affecting my team, so let’s clear the air so we can move,” Graham said.
Berkman, who briefly served as a volunteer assistant with the Owls on 2012, was asked whether it would be awkward replacing Graham.
“It’s awkward in a way because I have a strong affinity for coach Graham and I want the best for him and I would love to see him go out in as positive a manner as possible,” Berkman said. “But, at the same time, I think coach would even agree and understands that there is a time for everything and his time there may be drawing to a close as it inevitably will for everyone. Like I tell my high school guys, everybody has a last game. I experienced that as a player and it’s no different in life.
“I think coach has a good handle on that. I think he realizes that. I’m just hopeful that however this thing shakes out in the end that coach feels honored and appreciated, even though he may not in the short run. I hope long term he knows how much we love and care about him and want what’s best for him.”
With two weekends left in the regular season, the Owls (21-26-2) are in jeopardy of finishing below .500 for the first time since Graham took over in 1992. Rice is fighting for a spot in the Conference USA tournament heading into a weekend series against UAB at Reckling Park.