CLEMSON — As it turns out, Erik Bakich’s coaching staff at Clemson will have a different look next season.

Last week’s announcement that Nick Schnabel was stepping away from his role with the Tigers leaves a hole on Bakich’s staff. Schnabel has long been viewed as Bakich’s right-hand man, going back to the head coach’s tenure at Michigan. The two were also teammates at East Carolina. Schnabel served as both the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator during his four years at Clemson.

“That was a decision that he made personally. He made that decision,” Bakich said. “That is a family decision, a personal decision, but it’s a big decision. I don’t know how long it was in the works for, but he informed me of the decision, and that is what led to this.”

Clemson is coming off an extremely disappointing season that saw the Tigers finish 31-26 overall, just 10-20 in ACC play and miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time during Bakich’s tenure.

Now the search begins to find a replacement, and Bakich is casting a wide net. However, whatever direction he chooses to go, expect the head coach to be far more heavily involved in the day-to-day coaching moving forward.

“Right now, as we are looking to get the best person available, I am looking at guys who specialize on both sides,” Bakich said. “To get someone who is either a defensive specialist or an offensive specialist, regardless, I am inserting myself back on both sides, all the way. So I will be working with this person hand in hand. Every day. I am excited about that and being able to hand-pick that guy that is going to fit our staff, fit our culture, fit the system that we want to run and ultimately create a championship team.”

One role the new assistant won’t have to fill is recruiting coordinator. Assistant Griffin Mazur will be handling those duties moving forward.

Mazur began his coaching career as an assistant on Bakich’s staff at Michigan in 2022, and followed the head coach to Clemson, serving as a volunteer assistant in 2023. He has served in a full-time role the past three seasons, working with catchers.

“Griffin Mazur is going to absorb the recruiting coordinator title,” Bakich said. “He is a rising star in the ranks and wants to do the recruiting.