South Carolina Baseball: Former Gamecock back in Columbia as part of the coaching staff

South Carolina baseball fans were sad to see Scott Wingo leave the program, even if it was an expected move. The Gamecock legend was not brought on as a full-time assistant coach when coaching staffs expanded to allow three full-time assistants, so he left to take an on-field role at the University of Manhattan.

While not expected to be in the same role as Wingo, another former Gamecock middle infielder is back with the program as a member of the coaching staff.

According to a report from TheBigSpur's John Whittle, LT Tolbert, who played for head coach Mark Kingston during the latter's first year as the South Carolina baseball head coach, is finishing his degree and joining the program as a student assistant coach.

Tolbert, who played for three seasons in garnet and black before getting drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, will coach 1st base in games and will help with the infielders.

During his South Carolina baseball career, Tolbert hit .282/.353/.404/.757 with 44 extra-base hits and 115 RBI. He was an excellent bat-to-ball contact hitter and played a solid shortstop. USC currently has multiple players who fit that same profile on the roster.

Sophomore Will Tippett, freshman Lee Ellis, senior transfer Parker Noland (Vanderbilt), and brand new transfer Jordan Carrion (Florida, Florida State) will be among those battling for playing time up the middle of the Carolina infield this spring, and all four of those players fit a similar profile to Tolbert. Perhaps his presence can be a benefit to those players as they look to complement what is sure to be one of the best lineups in all of college baseball.

Tolbert retired from professional baseball in 2022 and got into coaching. Working for his alma mater is his first coaching job at the collegiate level.