New Florida State head baseball coach Link Jarrett covered a lot of ground during a 40-minute introductory press conference Monday morning.

From his five-point plan for success in college sports to his thoughts on his staff and recruiting, plus his feelings for the Martin family, Jarrett covered every topic confidently and thoughtfully.

Here are 10 of the biggest takeaways from Day 1 of the Link Jarrett Era:

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Midway through his introductory press conference, Link Jarrett outlined a five-point plan for success that he believes is essential for any college sports program -- not just baseball teams. He said all five areas need to be "run at an elite level" for a program to achieve sustained success.

He didn't number the different categories in terms of importance, but this was the order in which he discussed them:

1. Player evaluation: Making sure you sign the right players, and not just talented ones, but the ones who can play the game the way you want it played. He said that criteria often is determined on a position-by-position basis.

2. Recruit at a high level: While proper evaluation is essential, it takes more than that to be successful. "You have to convince these types of athletes to come to Florida State." He said a winning program must be able to evaluate and recruit at a high level -- doing one or the other well is not enough.

3. Player development: The coaching staff must be able to develop each player individually to bring out the best of his abilities. "Every one of these guys is a little different," he said. That means tailoring their strength and conditioning programs, skill development and other aspects for the betterment of the team.

4. Program development: Continually looking for new ways to improve the entire program, including everything from coaching staff to support staff to facilities to the training of players.

5. Game management: Putting together a team with pitching depth and a variety of offensive weapons to be able to employ whatever strategies are needed (i.e. situational hitting, bunt game, etc.) to win games.

If you saw the video Notre Dame put out on Friday of Jarrett breaking the news to his team that he was leaving for FSU, you know that family was a big part of his decision. He and his wife, Jennifer, still have parents and extended family in Tallahassee, and he wants to be here to spend time with his mother and father in their later years.

It's a beautiful sentiment, and something most of us would love to do if possible. But Jarrett also made it clear that he wouldn't have come back to Tallahassee for that reason alone. If it wasn't for FSU Baseball's proud history and tradition, his love for the program and his belief that the Seminoles can get back to national prominence, Jarrett would have stayed at Notre Dame or taken another job on the market.

He said several times Monday he believes FSU can win a national title in baseball, and that is his driving goal. The fact that his family is here definitely sweetened the pot -- and it likely helped him turn down more money from other programs -- but it wasn't the primary reason he accepted the position.

"The family piece is important and it lined up," he said.

Jarrett didn't have to be asked about the difficulty of replacing his longtime friend and former college roommate, Mike Martin Jr., as FSU's head coach. He brought it up on his own. He described Martin Jr. as a great baseball mind and said the deep conversations they have had through the years about baseball might be the best he's ever had. But he also acknowledged that the program isn't performing as well as it needs to, which will be his job to fix.

Legendary head baseball coach Mike Martin Sr. did not attend the press conference but did make some complimentary remarks about Jarrett to the Tallahassee Democrat over the weekend. And at one point in his press conference, Jarrett described Martin as the "greatest coach in college baseball history."

It's hard to imagine that the Martins will be closely aligned with the program in the immediate future -- at least visibly -- but Jarrett repeatedly expressed his fondness and respect for the family in general and Martin Jr. in particular.

"He's a close friend of mine and will remain a close friend," Jarrett said.

The Notre Dame baseball team shocked the college baseball world two weeks ago by going into Knoxville, Tenn., for a Super Regional and knocking off the No. 1 team in the country. When I asked FSU athletics director Michael Alford what impressed him most when watching Jarrett's team in action over the last few weeks, the No. 1 thing he noted was how hard the Irish played. The way they competed on the mound, in the field and during every at-bat.

After watching and listening to Jarrett on Monday, you can plainly see where those Notre Dame players got their passion and intensity. The guy just oozes it -- even while wearing a suit in a press conference. There's a seriousness and professionalism that almost has to lead to excellent organizational skills and a fierce competitive spirit. College sports teams usually adopt the personality of their head coach, and FSU's players will do well to follow Jarrett's examples.

A group of current and incoming freshman baseball players were sitting in the first two rows of the press conference, and Jarrett started his remarks by acknowledging them and telling them they are his No. 1 priority.

Many of the Seminoles' veteran players are spread out around the country playing in various summer leagues, but Jarrett said he planned to meet with the players who are in town today. One of the top objectives on his list will be keeping some of the most talented players out of the transfer portal, but he also made it clear that he will not be begging anyone to stay. Jarrett said one of the main things he will be sharing with that group is his expectations for an FSU baseball player. He looked directly at those players when he said that.

When Jarrett walked inside Dick Howser Stadium this weekend, it didn't look a lot different than when he was an assistant coach here in the early 2000s. So he knows it needs more than just a fresh coat of paint.

If not a complete rebuild, Howser at least needs at least a massive makeover. And Jarrett said Alford has assured him the dilapidated structure's issues will be addressed. To that point, the new head coach is already providing input on the stadium's field, which is currently being replaced.

Jarrett pointed out that he has coached in the SEC, when he was an assistant at Auburn, and he is well aware of how much money some programs are pouring into their baseball facilities. So he will want to see major improvements here. But he also pointed out he won at a high level at Notre Dame, with a stadium that sat 1,800. So FSU's current facilities will not be used as an excuse.

*See related story: FSU, Jarrett already looking to make improvements at Howser, facilities

FSU pitching coach Jimmy Belanger has already left for the same position at Clemson, and it sounds like recruiting coordinator Mike Metcalf could be departing as well. While saying he has great respect for the job FSU's current coaches and support staff have done, Jarrett said Monday his new staff will have a different look. We expect Alabama pitching coach Jason Jackson, another Tallahassee native, to be a leading candidate to join Jarrett's staff. But from what we're hearing, these announcements likely won't be imminent.

Because college baseball recruiting is done years in advance, coaching changes often have an impact on classes years down the road. So Jarrett sent a message to all the players who have committed to FSU for the Class of 2023 and beyond that he will be honoring their commitments to the Seminoles. He asked that those recruits stick with their commitments to FSU as well.

When it comes to his recruiting blueprint, Jarrett said FSU has to continue to win its share of battles in Florida and south Georgia. But he added that the Seminoles' national brand is strong enough to recruit the best players across the country.

Most new coaches vow to open their doors to former players and the local community, but none could know what that means better than Jarrett. Not only did he grow up in Tallahassee -- the new head coach recalled hopping the fence as a kid to take ground balls on the Howser field -- but he was a star player for the Seminoles in the early 1990s. And a slew of former FSU players, including several who played with him, came out to support him at Monday's press conference.

Jarrett told those alumni -- and others who were watching virtually -- that he wants them and their families to feel like FSU Baseball is their home. He wants them to be part of the program.

Florida State fans appear to be very excited about the hiring of Link Jarrett, and the Seminoles' administration plans to tap into that excitement to help pave (and pay) the way for a better future.

During his opening remarks Monday, Alford dropped the name of the Seminoles' new baseball portal -- LinkToFSUFuture.com -- which features a call for supporters to contribute to the program financially. While the Seminoles already have made major investments in salaries for Jarrett and his soon-to-be-named assistant coaches, they will need much more support to make improvements to Howser and other areas of the program.

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