https://texassports.com/watch/?Live=747&type=Live
bullet points from the presser:
Eltife
talked up CDC
heavy focus on coaches character and integrity
Hartzell
winds at back of athletic dept, 2 big reasons are CDC and Eltife
Texas is "united"
CDC is the best AD in the country, brings together outstanding leaders/teachers/developers of talent - add in talented students
"athletics is an important part of Texas" and "baseball is an important part of Texas athletics"
CDC
"a united Texas is a reckoning"
every major decision includes Eltife and Hartzell - no decisions made in vacuum. all big decisions are made from a "unified front"
"when we are all rowing the boat in the same direction, Texas is a reckoning"
decision made on Pierce, then had a discussion of what they were looking for
Hartzell asked "who can lead this program to what they want"
has known Schloss since 2007
took TCU "from the ashes" to Omaha
told Eltife and Hartzell "we have a guy" but he's on a run, let's see if he's interested
"so proud" he has chosen this opportunity
"couldn't think of a better person to run this program"
Schlossnagle
believes baseball is a job you do not one you talk about and have a lot to do
talked about his respect for Augie and Pierce - had talks with Augie about the job of being a Texas coach
thanks Texas A&M - wasn't just a move from one school to another school
thankful for support from players, staff and admin at A&M. will always comment positive about A&M
"confident that we left that program in better shape than we found it"
introduced the coaches (cain/early/weiner) - "had to be a team effort"
clear it had to be a team effort (bringing the staff)
why this move and why now? - on some hands easy due to relationship with CDC and his wife. but hard because of timing. can't always choose timing, can't meet with your team as you would like. "for that, i am sorry"
"never in the history of college athletics is alignment more important" - AD, coaches, staff, etc
"i need a great leader and Chris is the best leader i have ever known"
super hard and emotional to leave due to love for players at A&M
"OB im glad you are here" - talked about his answer the other night. "gave everything we possibly could to win the last ball game"
want to publicly apologize to the TexAgs reporter (he used his name - Richard Zane?)
"wasn't in the mood to talk about myself or the future"
big culture guy, culture at Texas will be Toughness, Energy (elite effort), eXcellence (best version of yourself), Accountability, Selfless (greatest quality someone can have is humility, can't learn what you think you already know) - culture/core values. not something on a tshirt, what we will live
program belongs to current players and former players
"my job is to steward this program"
recruiting: "always believed players make decisions in academics, player development, team success"
"Texas is and will always be elite in all 3 of those areas"
"have to prepare to compete in the major leagues of college baseball"
"super excited to get to work - hook 'em"
Q&A
where is this program at and what do they need to do to compete? --> first order is to contact players and we can build a great program around them. have to have players as good as other teams. transfer portal era requires health, playing fundamental baseball and getting the breaks. lot to do in a short time. incoming portal players, HS players, etc
BZ Houston Chronicle: when did CDC approach you? how tough is it to not let your players know? --> players know: it's miserable. same thing happened at TCU, got to call all those players. calling those hes allowed to call from A&M based on their eligibility. can't reach out to players based on rules. tried to preview with a few guys to give them a heads up before they landed. CDC: talk all the time. texas had a baseball coach, once they made that decision then we (after the game the other night) had serious convos. came to visit with me yesterday, we came to a decision
FCB asked a question but who cares, because FCB. --> had a long talk about what it meant to be coach at Texas with Augie. never had a dream job, but never dreamed about A&M or Texas. Alignment: so important due to uncertainty. when you have someone like CDC who is in the meetings and will listen to the coach, he's a coaches AD, i run to that. not telling you they didn't have it at A&M just felt very good about the "narrowness" - short, straight, direct lines between president - chairman - CDC. comforting to a coach
OB from Texags: coach on Monday night you said you went to A&M with that being your last job and that you mind hadn't changed beyond that. what changed and what would you say to A&M who supported you and feels intentionally misled? --> didn't intentionally mislead them. in that moment that's how he felt. no plans on coaching to 75-78. made choice to leave TCU because aligned with what he had going on. dove in with all he could to help them have their best program. that investment lasted through the last pitch of the national championship game. never wavered. if he had left AM for another school, interesting texts yesterday wouldn't have happened. "i get it" - can't ask for fanbase to support and be passionate and then expect everyone to be ok with a coach leaving for it's rival school. "i get it, i get it" - all i can say is i have a career too and a personal life. i have goals and felt like (no negative to A&M) te positive of the alignment and my relationship with Chris. know he can trust him. as hard as decision was couldn't walk away from it
someone asked about NIL - how much did it figure into decision w/ Texas? --> kicked answer to CDC. A&M was fully committed in that area, i know Texas will be fully committed in that area. in general, NIL puts you in the game, but then it goes back to those 3 things he highlighted earlier. dont' want NIL first players. want winning players and people.
Tyler Feldman? - asked about CDC. memory he can share that springboarded the friendship? --> talked about his first interaction at RIce/TCU and CDC and Coach Graham's relationship. next interaction was the TCU AD interview
question about Texas/A&M rivalry and whats happening back in college station when they go back --> "it will be an experience for sure" - "i didn't do this to spite anybody" team has to be prepared mentally for it
Bob B: how much of a distraction was Monday from a team, and players saying things on social media? --> can't control that. said it was sensitive so couldn't tell people. don't think Coach Elko sat down with Duke team before he left. don't think Monday was a distraction at all. know players can separate that. wasn't on the phone with chris before the game or anything like that. wanted to win a national championship, been there 8 times wanted that personally. wanted it for A&M. wantd to be part of the first national championship team there. if you were to ask coaches no 1 player on team was focused on anything other than winning
??? --> judge me on my actions and what i do over time. have to build relationships wit players. feel like staff has proven track record of doing things the right way. A&M will say this wasn't done the right way, i just don't know any other way it could be done. waiting a week wouldn't have been fair to A&M or Texas.
Alex Miller with The Eagle - going back to timeline, discussions with Texas during season or post season during the run? --> no, talk with CDC all the time. no bare bones discussion of this. when i was at TCU, the rumors were there. can't control that.
Joe Cook - how important was it to bring entire staff? --> other than working with CDC, this was the most important part. needed my guys with me
Corey ??? - decision for career as well, in your opinion what makes this the right time and you the right person? --> right time: 1) open job 2) CDC is here with a contract and it was simply that. opportunity couldn't walk away from
the hand shake with hook'em at the end was dorky as hell.