Leggett in Demand

Jack Leggett, who has spent the last 12 seasons as a successful baseball coach at Clemson, is listening to what two other schools have to say about their coaching vacancies.

Leggett has had initial discussions with Oklahoma and Texas A&M about their head coaching vacancy, although it’s still in the very early stages, sources said.

It seems the main reason Leggett would even consider another school would be money.

The man who has led the Tigers to four College World Series appearances during his tenure at Clemson stands to make roughly $255,000, which doesn’t include money from baseball camps and equipment endorsements, for the next two years.

However, compare that to what Texas A&M is prepared to offered, Leggett would be in a position for a significant raise.

For the right coach, reports say Aggie officials are prepared to offer a package in the neighborhood of $500,000, which has brought them attention from some of the top college coaches in the country.

Just recently, Rice head coach Wayne Graham became the third coach to receiver a new contract offer after having his school grant permission for him to talk to Texas A&M about the position.

South Carolina’s Ray Tanner pulled out on Monday and Georgia Tech’s Danny Hall withdrew on Thursday. Both coaches signed contract extensions at their current schools, Hall through 2010 and Tanner beyond 2010.

All three resigned for a significant increase in pay.

The Aggies also received permission on Thursday to talk to Cal State Fullerton’s George Horton, who appears to be the frontrunner for the job.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, appears to not to be even close to the same ballpark with Texas A&M as far as offering cash, which is why the leading candidates are assistants and head coaches from smaller schools.

Northwest (La.) State’s Mitch Gaspard, Alabama assistant coach Todd Butler and Wichita State pitching coach Brent Kimnitz have all been mentioned as possible candidates.

Missouri head coach Tim Jamieson has also been mentioned.