The Texas A&M baseball program announced Monday that associate head coach Matt Deggs will step down from his position to focus on personal health and family matters.
“I’ve spent the last 16 years pouring my heart and soul into this game and over that time it’s taken its toll with much of that coming at the expense of my family and my health,” Deggs said. “The hardest part about this is stepping away from this team and coaching staff, especially Rob Childress who I’ve worked with for so many years and is one of my closest friends. Texas A&M has great players, a great coaching staff and I expect big things from them during the 2011 season and into the future. I will always cherish the time I’ve had here and the memories I’ve made. Most of all, I’ll miss the players. I still have the burning desire for this game and to coach it, but right now I need to focus on my family and my health.”
For the past five seasons, Deggs has directed the team’s offense and infielders while assisting with recruiting. His aggressive offensive approach has been an essential component of the Aggies’ success which has seen them capture three Big 12 Championships and tie a school record with four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Over the last four seasons, the Aggies hit .306 with 299 home runs and over 2,700 hits while driving in over 1,600 runs–the best four-year totals in a decade. In addition, Texas A&M swiped over 400 bases at a nearly 75 percent success rate.
Under Deggs’ tutelage, four Aggie position players earned All-America honors, while 19 of the program’s hitters earned All-Big 12 accolades.
Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress, who also coached Deggs as a player at Northwood University as well as alongside him at Northwestern State was very appreciative of everything Deggs has contributed during his time in Aggieland.
“I want to thank Matt and his family for the last five years,” Childress said. “We certainly would not have accomplished everything we have during our time here at Texas A&M without Matt and all his hard work and dedication both on and off the field. Coach Deggs and I have been together for a long time and have not only worked alongside each other but have also been very good friends and we will continue to be. We wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
Prior to coming to Texas A&M, Deggs had served as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Arkansas from 2003-05. During his time with the Razorbacks, he helped lead the program back to prominence as the Hogs’ offense improved to one of the best in the Southeastern Conference. He coached three All-SEC players and three freshman All-Americans while helping the Hogs to the SEC Championship and a trip to the College World Series in 2004.
Deggs has also coached at Texarkana, where he served as head coach from 1998-2002, and as an assistant at Northwestern State (1996-97).
The search for Deggs’ replacement will begin immediately.