The beginning of a work week brought a long time SEC baseball coach’s firing. Tennessee let go of head baseball coach Todd Raleigh on Monday afternoon after much speculation about his future.
Raleigh met with Vols Athletic Director Mike Hamilton Monday afternoon for what amounted to a “eight minute meeting,” tweeted Vols beat writer Austin Ward. Soon after, Tennessee’s official athletics website published a press release announcing Raleigh’s departure. Said the release:
“Todd Raleigh has been relieved of his duties as the head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee, director of athletics Mike Hamilton announced Monday. A national search for a successor will begin immediately.
‘We feel our baseball program, unfortunately, has not made the progress on the field that it should have over the last four years,” said Hamilton.”
Raleigh told Ward and the Knoxville News Sentinel that he was “looking forward to moving on and continuing coaching,” and referenced a series of “dynamic moving issues” with the Vols’ athletics program. According to Tennessee, their dismissed coach will be paid the remaining year on his contract, as well as “broadcast and shoe and apparel pay,” a total of $331,657.53.
Raleigh led the Vols for four seasons, finishing with an overall record of 108-113. His team went 25-29 overall this season, with a dismal 7-23 record in the SEC. The Vols and Raleigh had finished the regular season with their second SEC series win of the season against Auburn this past weekend, taking both Thursday’s and Saturday’s tilts.
Additional reporting by Kat Cornetta.
