Though the temperature may say differently, it is officially spring sports season in college sports. Amidst the 30-degree weather, possible snow and whipping winds, baseball practice is underway. For one IU team though, it’s also a start to a new era. The IU baseball team is now under new head coach Jeff Mercer. Mercer steps in after former coach Chris Lemonis left to take over as the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Mercer takes over a Hoosier program that went 40-19, only their seventh 40-win season in their history.

The 33-year-old, who was signed this summer to be the 25th head coach in program history, comes to Bloomington after a successful stint at Wright State that saw him become the 2018 Horizon League Coach of the year after an impressive 39-17 season and a trip to the NCAA regionals. Although Mercer is just in his first season with the Hoosiers, he has been connected with the state and the program  for far longer. Mercer was born in Bargersville, Indiana, and when he was young, his father, Jeff, served as an assistant on the program’s baseball team from 1988 to 1989 and helped found the Indiana Bulls baseball organization. Though he began his new job in July, Mercer did not get to truly know his players until the season got closer, therefore, he did not know their competitive level, but he does now.

Mercer and his Hoosiers are still getting to know each other on and off the field. But with one series down and a battle in Knoxville with the Tennessee Volunteers, he looks to build on the success of the team last year and exceed the expectations of this year.