BTN.com staff, BTN.com staff, June 24, 2014

Indiana baseball coach Tracy Smith has accepted the Arizona State job, the school confirmed Tuesday night. Smith led Indiana to back-to-back Big Ten titles – regular season and tourney – and guided it to the 2013 College World Series.

"Tracy's vision for baseball at Indiana came to fruition with the completion of Bart Kaufman Field, standing room only attendance, three Big Ten Championships, three NCAA berths and a trip to the College World Series," Indiana AD Fred Glass said in a team release. "His leadership and dedication to building a program the right way was obviously not lost on the college baseball community. We will all miss his immense talent and knack for leadership. As his friend, I will also greatly miss just having him around.

"We will begin a diligent and thorough search for the next leader of the IU baseball program and believe that with the program's recent success and the substantial investments we have – and will continue – to make in it, including new facilities, this is one of the most attractive openings in the country."

As expected, this wasn't an easy decision for Smith.

"This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever faced," Smith said. "The truth of the matter is, at this stage of my life, I am ready for a new challenge."

Read the complete release at IUHoosiers.com