Jim Schlossnagle 'didn't anticipate the venom', death threats toward family

Jim Schlossnagle became persona non grata for Texas A&M faithful and those around College Station, Texas, with his move to take the head coaching role at Texas. Schlossnagle didn’t aid his case with his comments less than 24 hours before taking the Longhorns gig.

But in an exclusive interview with Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Schlossnagle shared that he was taken aback by the flood of negativity directed at him and his family. He understood the move would be unpopular, but didn’t see quite the degree of vitriol that was on the way.

“I knew this would be a controversial move, leaving Texas A&M for Texas,” Schlossnagle said. “But I didn’t anticipate the venom that my family, our staff, and their families have received … death threats, endless text messages, and other things. I do believe that most Aggies are really good people, and I have heard many positive things from many of them, but the vocal minority certainly has been aggressive, to say the least.”

While the baseline intensity of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry — one about to be reignited with the Longhorns joining the SEC — would be enough for Schlossnagle to get his fair share of vitriol, his comments shortly after losing the Men’s College World Series likely only compounding his woes.

Having been linked to the Texas job in reports, Schlossnagle was asked about potentially taking the Texas job and bristled at the question.

“I think it’s pretty selfish of you to ask me that question, to be honest with you,” Schlossnagle said following the game. “I left my family to be the coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again, and that hasn’t changed in my mind. That’s unfair to talk about something like that. That would be like you asking Montgomery if he’s going to sign in the draft. But I understand you gotta ask the question, but I gave up a big part of my life to come take this job and I’ve poured every ounce of my soul in this job and I’ve given this job every single ounce I can possibly give it. Write that.”

When the story broke less than 24 hours later that Schlossnagle would be the new head coach at Texas, the floodgates then opened and the venom poured in from a certain subset of Aggie fans to not only Schlossnagle, but his family.