Texas A&M pitcher Chris Cortez comments on Jim Schlossnagle’s departure and the 2024 CWS run

It was not a good 24 hours for Texas A&M Baseball. The Aggies not only lost a crucial Game 3 in the national championship series at the Men’s College World Series, but also had to accept the departure of head coach Jim Schlossnagle in the Texas Work.

But Aggies pitcher Chris Cortes I wanted to make something clear: The sky is not falling in College Station. And the Aggies have a lot to be proud of after the 2024 season, including the first championship series win in program history in Omaha.

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“This should not diminish what this 2024 Texas A&M baseball team has accomplished,” Cortez said on social media. “The players make the team, not the coaches. Less than 24 hours ago, we were one of the last two teams playing for the national championship. Nothing can take that away from us.”

More on Schlossnagle’s departure

No matter what Schlossnagle’s answer, a decision to leave College Station would have had a profound impact on college baseball. And Schlossnagle, who watched his team fall one win short of the national championship on Monday, is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in college baseball, meaning it would be a godsend for any team that lands him.

During the 2024 Men’s College World Series, reports emerged that Texas would leave the long-time head coach David Pierce and that the Longhorns would try to poach the highly successful head coach from one of Texas’ biggest rivals. The Longhorns ultimately signed Pierce days before Schlossnagle officially announced he was transferring to Austin.

When the Texas position opened up shortly after the Aggies’ season ended, Schlossnagle was asked if he might be considered there.

“To be honest, I think it’s pretty selfish of you to ask me that question,” Schlossnagle said after the game. “I left my family to coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M never to take another job again, and that hasn’t changed in my mind. It’s unfair to talk about something like that. That would be like asking (Braden) Montgomery whether he’s going to sign in the draft. But I understand you have to ask the question, but I gave up a big part of my life to take this job, and I put every ounce of my soul into this job, and I gave this job every single ounce that I could give. Write that down.”

With Schlossnagle choosing the Texas job, the Aggies now face the difficult task of hiring a new head coach to maintain the national success Schlossnagle helped bring about. Texas, on the other hand, is hoping Schlossnagle can keep Texas at the level that not only makes it to Omaha, but wins national baseball championships.

Schlossnagle was also very successful in the state of Texas and led TCU to become a national contender before joining the Aggies. To add to the momentum, Texas is also going after Schlossnagle just days before the Longhorns will officially join the SEC and be in the same conference as the Aggies for the first time in a decade.