“Things got heated between us” - Former TCU star Jake Arrieta highlights Jim Schlossnagle’s toughness as HC
Former TCU Horned Frogs pitcher Jake Arrieta has spilled the beans on new Texas Longhorns coach Jim Schlossnagle's vigorous coaching methods. Arrieta and Schlossnagle spent two seasons together at TCU from 2006 to 2007.
On Saturday, Arrieta detailed an incident between him and Schlossnagle from 2006, when the Horned Frogs crashed out of the Norman regional. The former MLB star also outlined how the coach made sacrifices for the team's benefit.
"Jim Schlossnagle pulled me and two of my teammates into the outfield after we lost the Norman regional in 2006, made us write the date 6/4/06 in our hats, and wear them to remember what that day felt like. He turned the program over to us, entrusting us to bring out the best in every single one of our teammates." Arrieta wrote.
"Jim Schlossnagle has an intensity and a passion for the game that is unrivaled. The sacrifices he made for the programs he’s led speak for themselves. He lives for the game, period."
Arrieta went on to explain how Schlossnagle's coaching techniques would not go down well with ballplayers. However, he credited the coach for demanding perfection and giving players the best possible guidance.
"Schloss was a tough guy to play for… for certain types of player. The ones that didn’t take academics seriously. The ones that showed up late to workouts. The ones that missed meeting. The ones that didn’t bust their a**es every single day. The ones that weren’t accountable to their teammates. The ones that were soft." Arrieta wrote.
"Things got heated between us a couple of times, and I’m grateful for those moments, because they only cemented just how fierce of a competitor he is. He pushed me to be the best."
Following his spell with TCU, Arrieta was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. The pitcher also had stints with the Chicago Cubs, where he won the World Series in 2016, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the San Diego Padres.
Meanwhile, Schlossnagle coached TCU from 2003 to 2021 before joining the Aggies.
Jim Schlossnagle draws criticism after leaving Texas A&M to join Texas
Jim Schlossnagle took up the coaching job at Texas only days after losing the CWS finals with Texas A&M. The move drew criticism since the coach made an in-state switch.
After the Aggies lost the CWS finale against Tennessee on Monday, Schlossnagle clapped back at Richard Zane of TexAgs.com, calling it unfair, when the reporter asked about the coach's thoughts on potentially taking up a new job.
However, on Wednesday, Schlossnagle was unveiled as the new coach of the Longhorns. He also apologized to Zane for not dealing with the question in the best possible manner.