MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — With Nick Schnabel no longer on the Clemson coaching staff, Erik Bakich will have a new third base coach during the coming season.

During Friday night’s 4-1 exhibition win over Coastal Carolina at Pelicans Park in Myrtle Beach, it was Bakich who was coaching in the third-base box. Might he be a permanent fixture there in 2027?

“No, no. Griffin Mazur is out recruiting,” Bakich said after the win. “I will be in the dugout.”

Schnabel has been the third-base coach in each of Bakich’s first four seasons at Clemson. In August, Bakich’s longtime right-hand man announced he was stepping down from his position on the Tigers’ staff to pursue other interests.

Tyler Smarslok has been hired in Schnabel’s place. Smarslok has spent time with the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins. He was most recently the fielding coordinator for the Nationals. He also spent some time coaching with the Minnesota Twins AAA club and at one point served as manager of the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.

As a player, Smarslok was a four-year starter at Kean University as an infielder (2011-14), where he won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Smarslok will be tasked with helping Clemson rebound from a disappointing 2026 campaign that saw the Tigers go just 31-26 and miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Bakich was hired.

Clemson’s newest assistant will also be asked to help shore up a defense that finished 12th in the ACC in fielding percentage (.967) last season.

As for Bakich, since the end of last season, he’s maintained that his focus is to get Clemson back to competing for an ACC Championship, whatever that takes. However, that won’t include coaching third base.

“I will get too many guys thrown out,” the head coach added with a chuckle. “I have coached third base before, and I send everyone. I am not good at it. Unless you think everyone going is a good thing, because that is what will happen. I will just send them all.”