Florida State baseball officially adds Rich Wallace to coaching staff

It’s official: The Florida State baseball staff will add Rich Wallace from Notre Dame. Wallace served as a Fighting Irish assistant under Link Jarrett since August 2019.

“Rich helped guide our transition at Notre Dame through diligent personalized recruiting, a vast national recruiting network, and tireless hard work,” Jarrett said. “His on-field instructional versatility lends itself well to working with multiple positions while focusing his attention on the catchers. His work in helping the hitters, baserunners and defensive alignment was paramount in our team’s success and will be vital at FSU.

“As Notre Dame’s recruiting coordinator, Rich navigated the university’s rigorous admission standards by finding the top athletic and academic players in the nation and they achieved at the highest level upon arrival. His wife Alex and daughters Easton and Maxx are fantastic and we look forward to their entire family’s arrival in Tallahassee.”

“I’m thankful to Coach Jarrett for this opportunity to return to my home state and work towards our ultimate goal of a national championship at Florida State,” Wallace said. “I’m excited to get started in Tallahassee and meet the players and staff that make FSU such an iconic program.”

During his time in South Bend, Wallace primarily assisted with hitting and recruiting and will most likely handle the same roles at Florida State. Wallace already has ties to the Sunshine State with his experience at Jacksonville and UCF.

From the official FSU release:

• Served as Notre Dame’s recruiting coordinator and third base coach from 2020-22.
• Coached two All-Americans, three All-ACC selections and 14 players were named to the All-ACC Academic Team at Notre Dame. Has produced 53 MLB Draft selections and over 60 all-conference honorees.
• Notre Dame had the second-best winning percentage nationally between 2020-22 (86-32, .729) and led the ACC with a .677 win percentage in conference play.
• 2022 College World Series – only the third in Notre Dame history.
• Back-to-back Super Regionals for the first time in Notre Dame history.
• Finished 41-17 in 2022, most wins for the Irish since 2006.
• Won the ACC regular season title in 2021, the first in program history.
• First baseman Niko Kavadas was a first team All-American in 2021, Notre Dame’s first since 2002. Kavadas set the school record with 22 home runs that season, finishing second in the ACC and third nationally.
• Spent the 2018-19 seasons back in his home state as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville. In 2018, Wallace and the Dolphins reached the NCAA Tournament as a two-seed, the highest in program history. That season, the Dolphins led the ASUN in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored and fielding percentage. JU won 73 percent of its ASUN games under Wallace and were 76-45 overall in Wallace’s two seasons.
• Was the recruiting coordinator at Creighton (2015-17) and High Point (2009-14). Was named the Big East Recruiter of the Year by D1Baseball in 2016 at Creighton.
• Began his coaching career at UCF (2004-08), coaching the catchers and outfielders while coordinating the camps. UCF won the ASUN regular season title in 2004 and reached the NCAA Tournament.
• Played four years at UCF from 2000-03 and led UCF with a .380 batting average and .529 on-base percentage as a freshman. Remains in UCF’s Top 10 in single-season hit by pitch (16 in 2000 and 2002), single-season on-base percentage (.529 in 2000) and career hit by pitch (46).

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