CLEMSON BASEBALL

The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
Monte Lee should get serious consideration (Photo courtesy of CofCSports.com)

The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Clemson Athletic Director Dan Radakovich Dan Radakovich
Director of Athletics
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announced yesterday that the school had parted ways with longtime baseball coach Jack Leggett Jack Leggett
Baseball Head Coach
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, and now that the dust has begun to settle Radakovich has surely started the search for Leggett’s replacement.

Pardon the baseball term here, but Radakovich has to hit a home run with this hire.

So who will be the top candidates to replace Leggett? We can only guess at what Radakovich’s list will look like, and the list of top candidates is different than what it normally would be considering Leggett’s coaching tree and the way he was dismissed from Clemson.

That means that Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin and Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan – former Leggett assistants who head up national powers – likely won’t be interested in taking a call. And let’s be honest, despite how much you love Clemson, would they really be walking into a better position than they have now?

Yes, they are candidates in that they would be atop anyone’s list. But it’s also doubtful – very doubtful – that they give the school that fired their mentor a serious look.

So who else is out there?

Randy Mazey, West Virginia

Mazey was hired at West Virginia when current Clemson president James Clements held the same position at WVU. We’ve already heard from a few sources that indicate Mazey has some support inside Clemson, and we’ve also heard a few rumors that he has interviewed but we haven’t been able to confirm. Mazey played at Clemson from 1985-88 and was an assistant here from 1990-93. He held previous head coaching jobs at College of Charleston (66-94) and East Carolina (120-66-1 with one Super Regional appearance) but is just 88-79 in three seasons at West Virginia. The Mountaineers have also failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons.

Jim Schlossnagle, TCU

Schlossnagle was Clemson’s pitching coach in 1993, and he has family ties to the Carolinas. He has had a lot of success at TCU, where he has a 512-233 record (he is 589-280 overall) and has led TCU to five Super Regional appearances and two College World Series appearances (2010 and 2014). He also was awarded a contract extension last season that goes through 2020 and he is paid $375,000 annually, with total compensation nearing $480,000 annually. Could Clemson match that kind of money?

John Szefc, Maryland

Szefc popped up on my radar last season when he took the Terrapins into Columbia and knocked off the Gamecocks in the regional. He has them back in a Super Regional this season after going to Los Angeles and knocking off national seed and host UCLA. In talking to national baseball people at the ACC Tournament and at the regional last week at Fullerton, it’s clear that Szefc has earned a tremendous amount of respect across the country, and his no-nonsense and fundamental approach to the game makes many label him “a baseball guy.” That’s a big compliment.

Monte Lee, College of Charleston

Lee completed his seventh season as the College of Charleston head baseball coach in 2015, having guided the Cougars to a 276-145 (.656) overall record after averaging 39.4 wins per season since 2009.

In December of 2012, Lee was named one of Baseball America's Top 10 Head Coaches Under 40 in all of college baseball. He was also named to Perfect Game's Top 10 Rising Head Coaches list. In 2015, he guided the Cougars to the Florida St. Regional, where they were bounced by the host Seminoles. He has recruiting ties within the state of South Carolina and is considered an excellent offensive coach and players love playing for him. He also has ties to South Carolina, and one former player told me yesterday that Lee would be coaching at either Clemson or South Carolina in the very near future and “Clemson better not screw this one up.” Would he be at the top of DRad’s list? We are hearing no.

Jim Toman, Liberty

We got to spend time with Toman at the Columbia Regional a few years ago when Liberty knocked off Clemson. He is a good baseball guy but also has some strong ties to the University of South Carolina. However, Liberty finished 33-23 this season and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament after making regionals each of the last two seasons. He is 297-178-1 in seven seasons at the helm of the Flames. It’s also funny that Toman has a reputation across the country as one of the game’s nice guys, but I’ve heard several former players and other people who have been around the program in Columbia say that he is hard to get along with and wouldn’t be the kind of coach Clemson could consider.

*Corbin, O’Sullivan and even Michigan head coach Eric Bakich should get calls, but like we’ve said before we think their ties to Leggett will prevent them from being contenders.

Two to keep an eye on but I would put in the darkhorse category are Chris Lemonis and Kevin McMullan. Lemonis is the head coach at Indiana, but spent time as an assistant at Louisville for eight seasons. He also spent time at The Citadel and hails from Myrtle Beach, so he has South Carolina ties. McMullan is the Associate Head Coach at Virginia, and in a November 2012 poll of 70 Division I head coaches by Baseball America, McMullan was named the top assistant coach in college baseball. He has also worked in the Atlanta Braves organization.

What would David Hood do? I would make a serious – very serious – run at Schlossnagle once their season is over, and if that didn’t work out would have Monte Lee on speed dial. Szefc is also a really good choice, but those two would be at the top of my list. We are going to continue to monitor the situation and see if we can find out who will be coming in.

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Post your comments!
Subject (Replies: 91) Author
spacer New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
TigerNet News®
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
babaganoush
spacer i'm not sure i even know what you're talking about. what do
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Re: i'm not sure i even know what you're talking about. what do
babaganoush
spacer he may not want or need another HC job. we may never know
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Coaching is a tight community. Even Satan would get kind
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer we're not talking about tommy bowden or dabo who has
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Until a season ago, Faddy claimed Dabo should be fired.
deleted
spacer i know, you know, we all know save blue just how wrong he's
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Re: Coaching is a tight community. Even Satan would get kind
cupton
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
wizard
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
leftie
spacer We should get a prove guy no an assistant.***
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer I guess everyone who has gone on record is lying
NortherTiger
spacer lol people always say nice things and terrible coaches
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Maybe they just disagree with you.
NortherTiger
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
tigertwin2
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
pacman116
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
Gotigers01
spacer Apparently CU BB has been run into the ground
hleapha
spacer He built TCU, Jack killed what Wilhelm built. Context.***
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer I think Szefc is the best choice from that list. I can see
viztiz®
spacer Not O'Sullivan? Not so fast . . . . just wait and see!!
CootTamer
spacer Re: Not O'Sullivan? Not so fast . . . . just wait and see!!
Clemfan
spacer Same I heard from those in the know. He had VERY high
Gwood Tiger
spacer Exactly true
Clemfan
spacer Since we are all just speculating....
3rdGenTiger
spacer Re: Since we are all just speculating....
Litefoot
spacer Jack had options, he got himself fired. There should be no
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Bill Wilhelm goes in long before Jack***
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer he's already in genius.***
viztiz®
spacer Re: he's already in genius.***
deroberts
spacer I actually Googled it and pulld up a PDF that listed the
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: I actually Googled it and pulld up a PDF that listed the
viztiz®
spacer He knows nothing about Clemson. His life is an utter charade
deleted
spacer Such a big man. So perfect. I guess you never make
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer are you kidding? you invoke the man's name yet you don't
deadsolidperfect®
spacer lol I'm not embarrassed. I made an honest mistake it happens
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer you made an idiotic mistake while trying to wax intelligent
deadsolidperfect®
spacer I'm not struggling and I freely admitted I made an honest
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer no one belittles you, but you. there are people that will
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Re: no one belittles you, but you. there are people that will
sloansttavfan
spacer And how many times have you been run out of town on a rail?
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Re: lol I'm not embarrassed. I made an honest mistake it happens
viztiz®
spacer Whatever you want sport, it's your keyboard, but you started
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Yep - you nailed it. Not only is he the "dish it out/can't
Smiling Tiger®
spacer then you should go to a fishing, cooking, or rocket science
scooter
spacer lol I actually thought he was and went to confirm it but he
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer oh,I've seen your kind come and go 1000 times over the years
scooter
spacer LOL. Classic. If that clown was half as smart as he pretends
deleted
spacer Re: LOL. Classic. If that clown was half as smart as he pretends
viztiz®
spacer welcome back, stanley. your buddy, blue, was giving
deadsolidperfect®
spacer You don't know that and the fact is Jack could have saved
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Alwyas funny when Faddy says,, "you don't know that" "and
deleted
spacer DRad gave Leggett Sophie's choice
NortherTiger
spacer And dozens of coaches face that every year. It's part of the
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: And dozens of coaches face that every year. It's part of the
deroberts
spacer I have nothing against the man. He served Clemson well. And
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer who doesn't get it? seriously...
deadsolidperfect®
spacer Re: And dozens of coaches face that every year. It's part of the
Litefoot
spacer I agree and just like with TB these folks think the ground
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer These guys understand it's a business and CU > UF!!***
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: Not O'Sullivan? Not so fast . . . . just wait and see!!
tigergirl
spacer Re: Not O'Sullivan? Not so fast . . . . just wait and see!!
Exiled2
spacer Didn't he say he thought Clemson handled it badly?
NortherTiger
spacer People say things in the heat of the moment and later see
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: People say things in the heat of the moment and later see
Litefoot
spacer Tigergirl
Clemfan
spacer Re: Tigergirl
tiggerz04
spacer I honestly think he will say, "He!! No"!***
CUTIGR69
spacer Many people said the exact same thing and no where in there
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
Xrugger
spacer Only logical. Lot of coaches will be*****
Clemfan
spacer If there is no announcement by mid week, it's pretty obvious
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Re: If there is no announcement by mid week, it's pretty obvious
Exiled2
spacer Exiled is right, Sully leverages Clemson to get UF to pay
NortherTiger
spacer Re: If there is no announcement by mid week, it's pretty obvious
viztiz®
spacer Great point(s). If Lee is not at the top of DRad's list (as
Smiling Tiger®
spacer It will be someone we don't expect. Kind of like Dabo was. I
1portroyalty®
spacer Notice '117 is a distance away from this
Dr. Nikola Tesla
spacer If O'Sullivan doesn't want it my money is on Lee
GunTotnTigr
spacer Re: If O'Sullivan doesn't want it my money is on Lee
Litefoot
spacer Um, wasn't Radakovich Asst AD at SCar for a while?
NortherTiger
spacer Re: Um, wasn't Radakovich Asst AD at SCar for a while?
viztiz®
spacer Re: If O'Sullivan doesn't want it my money is on Lee
Clemfan
spacer Re: If O'Sullivan doesn't want it my money is on Lee
GunTotnTigr
spacer Well there are a few bigger jobs that guys would jump at
Lowcountry_Tiger
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
brad12
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
orangecoloredglasses®
spacer Kevin McMullan
Colavito®
spacer Monte***
CUallen2275
spacer Re: New Story: The Search Begins: Possible replacements for Jack Leggett
OwRhAiNtGeE