Tanner, Holbrook react to Leggett’s departure from Clemson

Ray Tanner, South Carolina’s longtime baseball coach and current athletics director, has not talked to former rival Jack Leggett since Leggett was fired Thursday, Tanner said.

“To have a coach like Coach Leggett, who is a Hall of Famer, leave this profession, it’s not a great day for college baseball,” Tanner said.

Current USC coach Chad Holbrook, in an interview Thursday on 107.5-FM, sounded the Gamecocks’ respect for Leggett and his accomplishments at Clemson.

“Coach Leggett is one of the icons of our profession,” Holbrook said. “He’s had incredible success at Clemson. He’s done it the right way. He’s in the Hall of Fame for a reason. We have the utmost respect for Coach Leggett. He’s as respected of a college baseball coach as there is in our profession.”

Leggett’s 1,332 career victories, including years at Clemson, Vermont and Western Carolina, rank him 10th all-time among Division I baseball coaches and fifth among active coaches. Clemson finished this season 32-29.

Leggett had 955 victories and six College World Series appearances in 22 seasons at Clemson.