The Arizona Baseball Torch Has Been Passed

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AP

Arizona head coach Jay Johnson watches Coastal Carolina celebrate their 4-3 victory to win the championship after Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, June 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Ted Kirk)

Evan Schubert, Co-News Editor

Sixteen College World Series appearances. Eight National Championship appearances.  Four National Titles. The Arizona coaching job is unarguably among the elite. This position withholds the credit for the heavy hitting ‘76 squad, the untouchable ‘86 team led by chip Hale, Scott Engle and all of 242 MLB draft picks. The torch has been passed and now up to bat is Jay Johnson. After holding his first head coaching job at Nevada, he has now entered his own era at one of the premier college sports programs in the country.

Omaha is the ultimate goal, being reached four times previously by the Wildcats and in his first season, Coach Johnson came out swinging. Attending the College World Series tournament for the first time since the 2012 national champions, Jay led his team to an impressive 40 win season and above all, the most coveted accomplishment in college baseball. In his debut at the helm, the Arizona Wildcats made it back to the grand stage, the College World Series National Championship. Matched against a Cinderella team, Coastal Carolina, The Cats took a dominant one game lead before losing the following two games to lose the best of three series. The appearance alone more than suffices, however fans eagerly anticipate finding out as to what the Jay Johnson legacy will leave at Arizona.