One quote summed the Texas offseason, especially given what’s happened since it was issued. Moments after David Pierce’s Longhorns wrapped up a .500 campaign with a win over Oklahoma at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in May, Pierce set the tone for an offseason chock full of time to tinker given that there wouldn’t be so much as a Big 12 tournament appearance for the burnt orange.

“I’m not going to sit here and be 27-27 and not make some changes,” Pierce said. “So there’s definitely going to be some changes.”

While players have entered the transfer portal and the expected roster turnover has taken place, the biggest change has been volunteer coach Phil Haig moving on and getting replaced on the staff by five-time Major League Baseball All-Star Troy Tulowitzki. The blockbuster move was made official on July 25, the same day Tulowitzki announced his retirement from a 13-year Major League career.

A player who won two Gold Gloves, two Silver Slugger awards, compiled a .290/.361/.495 career line and has the third-best fielding percentage (.985) in the history of the game, Tulowitzki is making the rare leap from an active MLB player to a collegiate assistant coach. In a conference call with reporters on Monday, Tulowitzki discussed why he wanted to get into coaching at the collegiate level, what drew him to Texas and what he’s planning on bringing to the table for a program looking to bounce back from a forgettable season.