After Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich fired Hall of Fame baseball coach Jack Leggett last Thursday, The Clemson Insider immediately put out a list of candidates to replace the Tigers\u2019 longtime head coach.
\nToday, we update that list to show who is interested in the job, who isn\u2019t and who Clemson is interested in. What will Radakovich look for in a head coach? Bill Wilhelm and Leggett set a high standard.
\nSince 1958, Wilhelm and Leggett combined for 2,116 victories. Clemson ranks as the eighth-winningest baseball program in the country. The Tigers have also been to 40 NCAA Tournaments, with 12 of those 40 years ending in Omaha for the College World Series.
\nRadakovich has his work cut out for him.
\n\u201cClemson Baseball is a premier brand and positioned to compete for championships in the near future,\u201d Radakovich said. \u201cFollowing the great work of Coaches Wilhelm and Leggett, this is a program that will build upon a solid foundation. And I know we\u2019re going to find the right coach to continue the tradition of excellence we all expect.\u201d
\nHere is the updated list of candidates to replace Leggett:
\nMonte Lee, head coach College of Charleston, 7 years: \u00a0Lee, 38, just completed his seventh season in Charleston. One of the hot young coaches in the country, he\u2019s found a way to win with less. The Cougars went 45-15 this season, which ended with a loss in the Tallahassee Regional finals to Florida State.\u00a0 Lee, who was an assistant coach under Ray Tanner at South Carolina for six seasons, has a 276-145 record at C of C. His teams have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments.
\nHis interest level: He will listen to what Clemson has to offer. However, it might take a lot for Clemson to entice him away from Charleston, where his camp is saying he really likes his job at the College of Charleston and feels he is in shape to win there for a long period of time.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: Lee has to be at the top of the Tigers list. His recruiting ties to the state and southeast cannot be overlooked, neither can the fact that he has won at a high level at a small school that offers some of the same challenges he will face at Clemson.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Absolutely.
\nJohn Szefc, head coach Maryland, 3 years:\u00a0Szefc guided his squad to a Super Regional for a second straight year. The Terps were 42-24 this year. He spent two seasons as a coach in the ACC where his teams averaged 35 wins a year. His win totals in each of the last three years have been the best Maryland has seen since 1971.
\nHis interest level: Not really sure at this point. The Terps just wrapped up their season and his camp has been quiet about any potential job openings.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: Szefc has won at Maryland. He has coached in the ACC. He understands the landscape of the ACC and he knows how to win despite having even fewer limitations to work with than at Clemson.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Absolutely.
\nRandy Mazey, head coach West Virginia, 3 years:\u00a0In his three years at West Virginia his teams have went from 33-26 in his first year to 28-26 in year two, and 27-27 this year. But he won 120 games as the head coach at East Carolina from 2003-\u201905, including a 51-13 record in 2004. He has also worked as an assistant coach at Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee and TCU since becoming a coach in 1990.
\nHis interest level: He would love to come back to Clemson, where he played from 1985-\u201988 under Wilhelm.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: He is a Clemson guy, who played and coached under Wilhelm. He has ties to the state through his time as an assistant coach under Wilhelm and when he was the head coach at Charleston Southern and East Carolina.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Yes. As we reported, he interviewed for the job on Sunday.
\nKevin McMullen, associate head coach Virginia, 12 years:\u00a0McMullen is considered one of the top assistant coaches in the country. In his time at Virginia, he\u2019s helped guide the Cavaliers to more than 540 wins. Before 2015, Virginia led the ACC in batting average in each of the last six years. His name has come up in several major head coaching jobs over the last couple of years.
\nHis interest level: He would listen if Clemson is interested. He has been looking at landing a job at a southern school that has been a power in college baseball.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: He has not been a head coach, but his experience as an assistant coach and what he has done to help the Cavaliers reach another College World Series cannot go unnoticed.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Yes.
\nJim Toman, head coach Liberty, 8 years:\u00a0Three of his teams have won 40 games and all three have come since 2010. This past season, the Flames went 33-23 and 16-8 in their conference. He has won 64 percent of his games a Liberty and 68 percent of his conference games. In 2014, he was named the Big South Coach of the Year.
\nHis interest level: If Clemson wants to talk, he definitely will listen to what Clemson has to say.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: He was Ray Tanner\u2019s recruiting coordinator at South Carolina for 11 seasons so he knows and understands the landscape of recruiting in South Carolina and around the southeast. He was known as one of the nation\u2019s best recruiters while at USC. He also worked on Tanner\u2019s staff at NC State for seven years.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Not right now, but he heads up the list of second-tier coaches.
\nDan Hartleb, head coach Illinois, 10 years:\u00a0His team will play Vanderbilt in Game 3 of the Super Regional today. The Illini is 51-9-1 heading into the last game of the Super Regional. In his 10 years as a head coach, he has 327 victories. Illinois was 25-1 in the Big Ten this past season.
\nHis interest level: He would more than likely listen if Clemson were to call. A program like Clemson\u2019s is the next logical step for Hartleb, who is showing he can win at a program that has traditionally been down.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: He has proven he can win despite being in the Big Ten, which is not known for its baseball, and he is one win away from taking Illinois to the College World Series. With those credentials, he has to be someone the Tigers are keeping an eye on.
\nIs he a strong candidate? He might not be Clemson\u2019s first choice, but he is definitely in that second tier of coaches.
\nChris Lemonis, head coach Indiana, 1 year:\u00a0A Myrtle Beach native who played baseball at The Citadel, Lemonis led the Hoosiers to a 35-24 record in his first year as head coach, which included a trip to the NCAA Tournament. His team lost to Vanderbilt in the Nashville Regional finals. As an assistant coach at Louisville from 2007-14, he helped the Cardinals reach the CWS in 2013 and 2014.
\nHis interest level: He is from South Carolina and would love nothing more than to get back into his home state. He also would be excited about coaching in the ACC and competing against his old school, Louisville.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: He has ties to the state and that always helps in recruiting. He has a great background at a very established program in Louisville. Also, he has had some success as a first-year head coach.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Like Harleb, he would not be Clemson\u2019s first choice, but he is included in that second tier group of coaches.
\nMatthew LeCroy, bullpen coach Washington Nationals, 2 years:\u00a0LeCroy started his coaching career as a manager in the minor leagues for the Nationals. \u00a0In 2013 he moved to the bullpen coach for the National. \u00a0He is from the area going to BHP and then playing for Clemson. \u00a0LeCroy played in the majors for seven years where he hit 60 home runs.
\nHis interest level:\u00a0Sources has confirmed to TCI that LeCroy would be very interested in the position. \u00a0He loves Clemson and it would be hard for him to turn down an opportunity to coach the Tigers.
\nClemson\u2019s interest:\u00a0LeCrroy was not on the initial list of names we received for the candidate list, but we are \u00a0hearing he could be moving on the list of candidates.
\nIs he a strong candidate?\u00a0If the interest is there from Clemson he is a very strong candidate.
\nDavid Perno, television baseball anaylst:\u00a0Perno coached at Georgia for 11 years where he went 124-127-1. \u00a0In his last three seasons at Georgia they finished 33-32, 31-26 and 21-32. \u00a0He took Georgia to the College World Series in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
\nHis interest level:\u00a0TCI reported last week that Perno was very interested in the position and had been in dialogue with Dan Radakovich.
\nClemson\u2019s interest:\u00a0We do not believe Perno is on the top list of candidates.
\nIs he a strong candidate?\u00a0No
\nBilly McMillon, manager in the Boston Red Sox farm system, 8 years:\u00a0He coached the Greenville Drive for two seasons and one playoff appearance from 2010-2012. After leaving Greenville due to a promotion, he led Salem to a league championship. Played at Clemson under Wilhelm from 1991-\u201993.
\nHis interest level: Sources have informed TCI that McMillon has expressed interest in the job to those at Clemson.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: Not sure what Clemson\u2019s interest is at this time, but it has to be intrigued to have a former star player, who played in the Major Leagues for nine seasons. It also helps he is from Bishopville, S.C. and coached at Greenville, which can help him in his ability to build relationships on the recruiting trial.
\nIs he a strong candidate? Not at this time. The only thing that hurts McMillon is the fact he has never coached in college so he will have to come prepared with a strong plan if indeed Radakovich entertains an interview.
\nDan Heefner, head coach Dallas Baptist, 8 years:\u00a0He just led Dallas Baptist to a 45-16 record this season which ended with a loss to VCU in the Dallas Regional. Heefner, 40, had a 256-153 record (.626) entering 2015. Four times in the last five years Heefner\u2019s teams have reached 40 wins.
\nHis interest level: It\u2019s doubtful he is interested at all. He just turned down the Baylor opening and there seems to be no reason on why he would want to leave the state of Texas to take the job at Clemson.
\nClemson\u2019s interest: Clemson will or probably already has reached out to his camp, but this strictly is a means to do its due diligence.
\nIs he a strong candidate? No.<\/p>\n