Leggett let go at Clemson

 

Jack Leggett, who has led the Clemson baseball program for the past 22 years, was dismissed as coach of the Tigers Thursday.

 

Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said in a school release: “This decision was not an easy one. 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.”

 

Leggett helped create those lofty expectations, leading the Tigers to 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, six College World Series and 955 wins – an average of 43 per season. Clemson finished 32-29 in 2015, but reached the NCAA tourney as one of the last teams selected after a strong finish down the stretch.

 

Leggett’s teams reached Omaha in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2010, and he also coached six teams that won more than 50 games, 10 more winning more than 40 games. He was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in January, 2014.

 

Before arriving at Clemson as the associate head coach under Bill Wilhelm, Leggett totaled 377 wins as coach at Vermont (five seasons) and Western Carolina (nine seasons). His 1,332 career wins rank 10th all-time among Division I baseball coaches and fifth among active coaches.