Over the past 19 seasons Dave Van Horn has transformed a nationally competitive baseball program into a first-rate superpower in the sport. The Omahogs have earned that monicker, visiting the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, six times since 2004. And they enter the 2022 season will aims to return after falling one game short of college baseball’s Land of Oz last season.
And now they have a fully functioning baseball development center to not only help this team reach its goal but to help bring in players who want to train like the best and play with the best.
Coach Van Horn and the Razorbacks athletic department hosted a walk-through yesterday, allowing full media access for the first time. As Matt Jones at WholeHogSports notes, the coaches and administrators are grateful, proud, and eager to show it off.
With all the details $27 million can buy, there are attention grabbing moments waiting around every corner inside the Razorbacks’ new home. They include a clubhouse on par with the highest levels of baseball, spacious meeting and recreational areas for players and a centralized weight room that seems to anchor the building.
The facility is considered to be the best in college baseball and on par with its football and basketball cousins on campus. WholeHogSports has a nice photo gallery from yesterday’s walkthrough.
In addition to becoming the center of the baseball team’s universe, the Hunt Baseball Development Center will play a big role in recruiting. No other program in the country has something like this facility. Coach Van Horn is all too happy to show it off.
“You’ve got to get players,” Van Horn said. “You can coach guys up, but you’ve got to have good players. This building is going to help us get more players.”
The Razorbacks open their season in three weeks on February 18 when they host Illinois State at 3:00pm.