@ Travellin Dave - Ya'll don't like old folks?
End of an era: Clemson fires Jack Leggett
CLEMSON – It is indeed possible for the aging legend, the stubborn competitor, the Hall of Fame coach to simultaneously be celebrated and deprecated.
I've been waiting for that....last couple of seasons have been real inconsistent, made it into the NCAA's both years but lost the first two games. Great guy, but ya gotta win. Of course who are they going to get that's better? Heck, FSU showed Bowden the door...
A few good small collge coaches out there to consider, MO State, Coastal Carolina and College of Charleston.
Pretty hard to say goodbye to this:
Jack Leggett’s illustrious 22 years as Clemson’s head baseball coach has come to an end.
Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich decided Thursday to part ways with the hall of fame Leggett, who’s been at the helm of one of nation’s top-10 winningest programs since 1994.
“This decision was not an easy one,” Radakovich said. “Jack Leggett has served this institution with distinction for 24 years, the last 22 as head coach. It’s fair to say Clemson baseball has been competitive over the last few years, but our objective is success, defined by competing for ACC Championships and winning in the NCAA Tournament. I have high expectations – and I know our fans and student-athletes have great expectations – for our baseball program.”
Pitching coach Dan Pepicelli, who's been on Leggett's staff since 2010, was also fired, according to a source.
The Tigers are coming off a 32-29 record and their second consecutive season of going 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament. They’re just 1-6 in their last three regional appearances and haven’t advanced to the Super Regionals or the College World Series since 2010.
The Clemson AD instituted several stipulations for Leggett last summer in an effort to improve the program, but the 2015 squad was .500 halfway through the season and became the last team to earn an NCAA tourney at-large bid after winning eight of its last 11 games.
Combined with the fact that the program has only reached 40 wins once in the last four seasons, it wasn’t enough; Leggett’s Clemson career ends with a record of 964-480-1. He went to 21 NCAA postseasons, won 10 regionals and advanced to six College World Series since taking over for the late Bill Wilhelm in 1994.
“Jack has meant so much over the last 22 years as a head coach at Clemson that I could not do justice to his impact on our program,” Radakovich said. “His contributions as an assistant to a Hall of Fame coach in Bill Wilhelm followed by becoming a Hall of Fame Coach himself speak to his achievements. Many players have been beneficiaries of Jack’s leadership and service, and for that Clemson will always be grateful.
“Clemson Baseball is a premier brand and positioned to compete for championships in the near future. Following the great work of Coaches Wilhelm and Leggett, this is a program that will build upon a solid foundation. And I know we’re going to find the right coach to continue the tradition of excellence we all expect.”
Leggett leaves behind one of the ACC’s most notable legacies. He ranks fifth nationally among active coaches in career victories. He’s coached 33 All-Americans and 116 players who went on to be drafted (11 in the first round) or sign pro contracts. Twenty-nine of those have gone on to play in the big leagues.
His coaching tree has produced 10 active head coaches, including Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan and defending champion Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin.
Clemson will be looking for just its third coach since 1957. Candidates to replace Leggett could include O’Sullivan, TCU’s Jim Schlossnagle, College of Charleston’s Monte Lee and West Virginia’s Randy Mazey, among others.
