Some members of the Clemson baseball team played for former Tiger head coach Monte Lee.

Now, Lee is on the other side of the Clemson-South Carolina baseball rivalry, as the Gamecocks’ associate head coach.

So, what does that dynamic with Lee bring to the rivalry?

Erik Bakich, who replaced Lee as Clemson’s head coach after the 2022 season, weighed in on the aforementioned question ahead of this weekend’s series between the 10th-ranked Tigers (7-1) and No. 12 Gamecocks (8-1).

“Monte’s a great dude,” Bakich said. “I’ve known him for a long, long time, and he’s well respected in the coaching community. I think everyone was more happy that he got to continue to coach. So, separating out him as a person from the uniform he’s wearing, it’s understanding that he’s a great person.”

Bakich also understands that the dynamic is different when the Tigers and Gamecocks take the field, and Lee is among those sporting enemy colors.

“Now, between the white lines, he’s them and we’re us, and two programs don’t like each other,” Bakich said. “But it’s not going to take away from the respect that our players and our coaches have for him as a coach and a person.”

Lee was named South Carolina’s associate head coach/recruiting coordinator on Aug. 18, 2022, following seven seasons at Clemson (2016-22) during which he compiled a 242-136 overall record and led the Tigers to four NCAA Tournament berths and the 2016 ACC Tournament title.

Clemson, which won the ACC championship last year in Bakich’s first season as Clemson’s head coach, went 1-2 against the Gamecocks in last year’s series. Bakich and the Tigers will try to avenge that series loss this weekend.

The series opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at Founders Park in Columbia.

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