Jack Leggett out as Clemson baseball coach

CLEMSON – Jack Leggett spent 22 seasons paving a course as the head coach of the Clemson University baseball program.

That course directed Clemson to 21 NCAA Tournaments. That course directed Clemson to six College World Series. That course directed Leggett to 955 career victories.

However, through the last five seasons, that course led Clemson to a dead end — in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

According to Clemson director of athletics Dan Radakovich, even after an unsatisfactory finish to this season, even after an evaluation meeting earlier this week that encouraged change, Leggett remained unwaveringly committed to that course.

"That's the head coach's prerogative," Radakovich said Thursday, although he decided the program needed to be steered in a different direction.

He relieved Leggett of his duties as head coach.

"This decision was not an easy one," Radakovich said. "There's no denying the successes of our program in the past have placed Clemson baseball in a position to compete for championships. So, after my evaluation, it came down to this: I think we can be better."

Clemson's last appearance in the College World Series was in 2010. Clemson has not won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament since 2006.

Clemson closed this season with a 32-29 overall record. The Tigers finished fourth in the ACC Atlantic Division. Clemson was eliminated in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament after losing its first two games in the Fullerton Regional.

Clemson was bounced from the regional round for the fifth consecutive season.

"We have high expectations for our baseball team," Radakovich said. "We're going to find the right coach to continue to move that tradition of excellence. We need to inject some new momentum and create optimism around our baseball program."

Leggett had one season remaining on his contract. According to that agreement, Clemson will pay an early termination fee of $200,000, half of what Leggett would have earned in total compensation as head coach next season.

Radakovich said assistant coach Bradley LeCroy will steer the program's transition until Leggett's successor arrives. LeCroy serves as recruiting coordinator and must determine how to protect the current class of prospects after Leggett's departure.

Radakovich said LeCroy expressed preliminary interest in the permanent head coaching position.

"I had an opportunity to sit and talk with Bradley," Radakovich said. "I encouraged him to apply for that position. We'll see where that goes."

According to Radakovich, the search for the next head coach will begin immediately, although the administration has not established a list of criteria or candidates.

"I'm confident in our search for a new head coach, that we'll find someone who will bring that excitement to our fans and to our student athletes," Radakovich said. "Certainly, you want to have someone who has shown the ability to lead and win games, to recruit quality student athletes, to be a great representative of Clemson."