That was a reference to Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, who served in the same role for eight of Schlossnagle’s 18 years as TCU’s head coach. Saying Tuesday that he has known Schlossnagle “for a long time,” Del Conte praised the 53-year-old coach’s leadership and program-building skills.
“And the best part,” Del Conte added, “is that he’s an even better person.”
Some Texas A&M supporters may now dispute that characterization. While the news didn’t come as a shock given the rumors swirling about the possibility of Schlossnagle moving, it gave Aggies fans a reason on Monday to feel confident it wouldn’t happen.
“I took the job at Texas A&M never to take another job,” Schlossnagle said then, “and that hasn’t changed in my mind.”
These comments came at a press conference after the Aggies lost on Sunday to Tennessee, 6-5, in the third and decisive game of the CWS final. Shortly afterward, a reporter asked Schlossnagle about “the rumors circulating today about a specific vacancy,” referring to news earlier in the day that Texas had parted ways with its head coach, David Pierce.
“I think it’s very selfish of you to ask me that question, to be honest,” Schlossnagle told the reporter, adding that it was “unfair” to have brought up the subject. “I left my family to coach at Texas A&M. … I understand that you need to ask the question, but I gave up a huge part of my life to take this job and I poured every ounce of my soul into this job and I gave this job every ounce I could possibly give. Write this down.
On Tuesday, Schlossnagle thanked Texas A&M employees and the school’s “12th Man” fan base for “an incredible experience during my time” at the school.
“The run up to the National Championship game was truly remarkable this year,” he said, “and I will savor the memories and true friendships I made there for a lifetime.”
The Aggies had never reached the CWS finals and had just two total tournament wins before Schlossnagle’s arrival in 2022. Between that year and this year, he went 6-4 in the CWS and left Texas A&M on the brink of its first national championship . in baseball, football or men’s basketball since 1939. The 2024 Aggies’ 53 wins, against just 15 losses, were the most since 1993, and they finished as national runners-up for the first time in program history. Overall, Schlossnagle went 135-62 in College Station.
“After our baseball team returned to College Station earlier today, Jim informed me of his desire to leave Texas A&M. While we are certainly disappointed, we are grateful for his contributions in helping our baseball program reach unprecedented heights,” Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts said in a statement Tuesday. “Success in baseball is important to everyone associated with Texas A&M, we will not stop in our pursuit of excellence and our commitment to baseball will not waver.
“On behalf of Texas A&M Athletics, we wish Jim and his family well as they move forward to another challenge. We will find a great leader and an excellent coach to lead this proud Aggie baseball program.”
Schlossnagle came to Texas A&M from TCU, where he was head coach from 2004 to 2021. In that time, he led the Horned Frogs to five CWS appearances and, with an overall record of 734-346, became their winningest coach of Everytime. A native of Hagerstown, Maryland, Schlossnagle played at Elon and began his coaching career there before his first head coaching job came at UNLV.
After Pierce, who spent eight years leading the Longhorns, Schlossnagle is just the seventh Texas baseball coach since 1911. He takes over a program that has won six national titles but none since 2005.
The Longhorns just finished their final season in the Big 12 and are set to move to the SEC, a traditional baseball conference that has produced five consecutive national champions and six of the last seven.
Also currently in the SEC and presumably eagerly awaiting Texas’ arrival is Texas A&M, which joined the conference in 2012. Schlossnagle’s defection will add a notable layer to the revival of one of college sports’ oldest and most bitter rivalries.
“What a homegrown hire,” Texas President Jay Hartzell said in a statement. “Coach Schlossnagle is the best in the business, his long list of accomplishments is incredible and his track record of building great programs is well documented. … We look forward to great days ahead with Coach Schloss leading our Longhorns.”
