Texas A&M president Mark Welsh on Michael Earley: Aggies' baseball future is 'about someone who stays'

Texas A&M president Mark Welsh didn't shy away from sharing his thoughts Tuesday on former baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle's surprising departure to Texas.

Welsh, who was speaking as the Aggies introduced former hitting coach Michael Earley as the program's replacement for Schlossnagle, said Texas A&M means more than its former coach.

REQUIRED READING:Texas baseball introduces Jim Schlossnagle as new Longhorns coach

"The future of Aggie baseball is not about someone who left," Welsh said at the press conference. "It's about someone who stays. It's about a leader who will fight to keep his team together."

Schlossnagle's exit was unexpected, as he led Texas A&M to the final game of the national championship series against No. 1 Tennessee. In three seasons in College Station, the former TCU coach took the Aggies to the College World Series twice, while accomplishing their highest postseason seed ever in 2024. Given Texas A&M and Texas' renewed rivalry with the Longhorns becoming official members of the SEC on July 1, next season's matchup is bound to be an emotional one.

Schlossnagle replaces former Texas coach David Pierce, who was fired June 24 after eight seasons with the Longhorns.

Earley, 36, initially joined Schlossnagle's staff at Texas before being named Texas A&M's next head coach. He started his career at Arizona State in 2017, serving as an assistant coach there until 2021 when he was hired by Schlossnagle to be the Aggies' hitting coach.

REQUIRED READING:Jim Schlossangle didn't see leaving Texas A&M for Texas creating 'apocalyptic' response

Texas A&M president Mark Welsh calls out Jim Schlossnagle

Here's what Welsh said at Earley's introductory press conference on Tuesday:

"The future of Aggie baseball is not about someone who left," Welsh said.. "It's about someone who stays. It's about a leader who will fight to keep his team together."