Lamar University introduced new head baseball coach Sean Allen at a press conference in the Glen and Teri Morgan Baseball Complex, June 25.
“Sean stood out by far,” LU president Jaime Taylor said. “It’s amazing when you look at his background, what he’s done. First of all, he’s coached some amazing programs — the University of Texas for seven years, Ohio State University, most recently University of Southern California — and he’s done it all. Because of that, he was recognized as D1 Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021.
“He’s had a long history of sustained success, and, more importantly, has a deep understanding of Texas baseball, which is very important here at Lamar University.”
Taylor said Allen has an impressive résumé, but that was not the only reason the administration knew he was the right choice, citing the new coach’s character..
“It’s not just what he’s done, it’s how he’s done it,” Taylor said. “He builds relationships, he knows how to develop the student athletes and he creates a strong culture, which is everything we believe in here.”
Allen is joining LU after the team won the Southland Conference which strengthened the culture surrounding the sport, Jeff O’Malley, vice president and director of athletics, said.
“(That culture) was built over decades by players, coaches and teams who compete the right way and build something that still matters today,” O’Malley said. “A lot of wins, a lot of great players, a lot of great coaches and a lot of respect across college baseball.
“Our job now is to build on that, and to do that we have to make the right hire. When we launched this search, we had an outstanding interest from across the country and from every level of baseball. But, as the progress moved quickly forward, one thing became very clear — Sean Allen stood out.”
While Allen has been at the University of Southern California for the past two years, O’Malley said he is no stranger to Texas baseball.
“His background fits Lamar in a very real way,” O’Malley said. “Sean understands Texas. He played at the University of Houston. He coached at the University of Texas and at Sam Houston State. He knows this state, he knows how to recruit to it and he knows how to win in it.”
Allen said an important part of a successful collegiate team is support from the university, which he has already seen at Lamar.
“Over the last 25 years I've been fortunate to be a part of some of the best programs in college baseball,” Allen said. “I've seen firsthand what it takes to win at the highest level and understand what it takes to succeed in this new era of college athletics.
“One common thing amongst the programs that are thriving in today's world is an administration that believes and supports the student athletes and coaches, and it's clear to me from the beginning that with Dr. Taylor and Jeff's leadership, Lamar University is committed to doing exactly that.”
Allen said the support from the administration was not the only reason he knew LU was the right spot. He spoke to Taylor and O’Malley directly.
“When we sat down and talked about the vision for Lamar baseball, where you believe this program can go, and the steps already in place to get there, I was all in,” he said. “I was all in, because your vision aligns perfectly with the type of program that I want to lead.”
The vision for Cardinal baseball is not only one of championships but of growth, Allen said.
“We're going to work tirelessly to bring championship baseball back to Beaumont, and continue the championship tradition,” he said. “We're going to do it the right way, but our mission goes far beyond winning games. We will develop young men into better baseball players, but even more importantly, we will create an environment that helps them grow into men that this community can be proud of. Our players are going to show up every day, ready to compete, ready to sacrifice for one another, and ready to represent Lamar University with pride.”
Allen said an important part of growth is obsession, one of the core values he implements with his teams.
“Some people hear the word obsession and they think it’s extreme, and they’re right, because greatness is extreme,” he said. “I want our players to become obsessed with growth, obsessed with preparation, obsessed with being accountable, obsessed with becoming the best versions of themselves on and off the field. People who achieve extraordinary things choose to live differently. They make decisions that most normal people are unwilling to make. They embrace discipline, they embrace sacrifice, they embrace hard things. They run toward the competition, not from it.”
Allen said he hopes to recruit a team, not just individual baseball players. He said that recruitment is more than accumulating talent. It is building a roster of the right type of players.
A recording of Allen’s introductory press conference can be found here.