Courtesy: FSU Sports Information
As Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.” This saying stands particularly true for former FSU baseball player and new volunteer coach, Clyde Keller. Keller played for the Seminoles from 1987-1989, where his talents wowed FSU baseball fans as he helped drive the team to Omaha for the College World Series. He was one of four players in FSU history to play all nine positions while being the number one pitcher on the team’s roster.
Courtesy: FSU Sports Information
Following his FSU career, Keller was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals where he played three years for their minor league team. He was then traded to the New York Mets, where he excelled for a year before suffering an injury that ultimately put a stop to his playing days. This, however, is where his coaching career began.
Courtesy: FSU Sports Information
After working with youth baseball in Tampa for several years, Keller decided that he wanted to move up with his coaching career. He decided to call his old coach, FSU Head Baseball Coach Mike Martin, for some insight. What he didn’t expect through this phone call was the curveball his former coach would throw his way. “It was kind of a funny story. My middle son, my 13-year-old, encouraged me to get into a little higher level of coaching so I decided to update my resume, and then we’re calling some sources and of course I wanted Coach Martin as a reference,” said Keller. “So I called him to ask him for his permission to put him on my resume and we got to talking, one thing led to another, and here I am at Florida State, happy as can be.”
Coach Martin, knowing Keller is a Seminole through and through, is overjoyed to have him back in Tallahassee. “I was ecstatic because you don’t get a guy like this with a phone call,” said Martin. “There are others that are interested in him, and yet here is a guy that wanted to come back to try to keep Florida State Baseball moving upward.”
Courtesy: FSU Sports Information
Ecstatic to be back with the baseball program that helped make him the man he is today, Keller is ready to become a part of the coaching staff that encourages and pushes the FSU baseball team to the next level. This season, he will primarily be working with the outfielders and coaching 1st base during games. “I hope that I bring a little bit of experience and knowledge to the game that they may have not heard from before,” said Keller. “The main thing for the players is to answer those two questions: Did I get better today? Did I help my teammates get better today?“
While the Seminole Baseball team is preparing for their 2016 season kicking off Friday, February 19th against Rhode Island in Dick Howser Stadium, Coach Clyde Keller is ready to suit up in Garnet and Gold again. “I think a lot of people, when they first come to Florida State, they think it’s a really cool place. As you get older, you kinda understand how special it is,” said Keller. Coach Keller is the perfect example of how special Florida State is, showing us that you really can always go back home.
Courtesy: FSU Sports Information