Is it normal for 8-9 players to leave a college program in the same year ? I would assume a couple leave most programs but this amout has me wondering.

Wow, mass exodus. Seems like that's a high number. Is it a really large roster? Maybe kids are leaving for more playing time elsewhere?

Roster was about 32 and yes I assume playing time is an issue. I don't think that amout of kids leaving is good for any college program or recruiting though. Kids mature at different stages. I think maybe this staff may give up
too early on certain players.

Coach

I would say that it is not normal

Keep an ear to some FL school. I hear a mass exodus may be coming unless a coaching change comes forth...

From what I have observed you do get about a half-dozen more or less leaving at a large number of programs each year. At my son's school, 5 our of about 26 left either just before or shortly after the start of this season.

If you look in the stats or archives of most websites and track a given class, I think you'll see pretty big roster changes/dropoffs/transfers from year to year at many schools.

The real question is the reasons? injury, playing time, personality conflicts....what is driving this at a particluar program is the issue. The stats don't tell you that, a little digging around becomes necessary.

Every year I ask my son if he is happy were he is. He knows he cannot quit something he starts and I am against switching unless he is is raelly not happy.
I asked him the question this year as the season winds down and I knew he wanted to stay were he is.
The team is not doing well, he didn't pitch a lot but he loves the team. He has made friends and loves the city. He is looking forward to next year and improving.

My son is in the same situation and is determined to win the job and plans to work hard in the summer to accomplish that.

Before my oldest started playing college baseball, I too would've said he'll never transfer, whatever happens, stay and work through it. The reality is there are as many different situations as there are players, and my son's developed to the point I was totally in agreement with a transfer. Of his entering class of 14 players 3 years ago, 3 remain as seniors next fall. Playing time is often an issue, but I'm well familiar with several tranfer situations where the players played plenty. My guy is thrilled to be where he is now, and was absolutely miserable by the time he left his previous school. He enjoyed the school and his teammates, but the baseball program just wasn't working for him.

It is truly amazing to me how many college players don't much care for their coaches. I've spoken to a lot of my son's summer league teammates the past two summers, and overheard them telling stories of their experiences, and there is much nonsense that goes on in the college baseball world at all levels.

There are surely many great college coaches out there, but wearing the title "coach" isn't a guarantee of anything. IMHO, because baseball flies under the radar a bit, compared to football and basketball, behavior might get tolerated that would be taboo were the sport more visible. Players checking out colleges should listen very carefully to what current players say, and don't say, about the head coach. Assistants have a different function, and a recruit should never lose sight of the fact that the program is run by the head guy, not the more personable assistants.

We're fortunate my guy landed in a great situation where he thinks the world of his coaches, the school fits well, and life is good. They don't always get it right on the first try. We did parental and player "due diligence" on the first school, and thought the school decision was great, but head coach left, things changed, etc.

Bottom line I guess is don't pre-judge the perceived negativity of a transfer, and keep an open mind.

We are going through it right now. In my son's case his decision had little to do with baseball. He was the #2 pitcher on the team as a sophomore. It had everything to do with the school. He was simply very unhappy with several aspects of the school. Me and his mom agonized over this, along with our son. However we are supporting his decision and are doing what we can to help transition to another school. As others have said, BE SURE AND READ THE NCAA'S TRANSFER HANDBOOK.

I've learned a lot of valuable information thanks to this website. Even at that you cannot always anticipate what's going to happen in the future.

Hindsight is 20-20. In looking back his mom and I take a lot of responsibility for "pushing" him toward this particular college. The worst part of all of this has been that he has developed very close relationships with many of his teammates.

I'm a big believer in things working out for the best. Sometimes transfers are for the best.