Jim Wells retires as UA baseball coach

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells retired Tuesday and has been replaced by former assistant coach Mitch Gaspard, who signed a three-year deal.

UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore met with players Tuesday afternoon to inform them Wells was leaving.

'During a meeting on Monday, Coach Wells told me that he has decided to retire as head baseball coach,' Moore said in a statement released by UA. 'Jim served our baseball program with distinction for 15 seasons. I have tremendous respect for Jim and the reasons for which he made this decision at this time. Mitch Gaspard has agreed to take over leadership of the program.

'We are confident that our program — with its tremendous heritage and tradition — will continue to be competitive at the highest level. Mitch is uniquely qualified to take over our program at this time. We're very fortunate to have a coach and recruiter of Mitch's quality already on the staff. I am confident and excited about the direction of our baseball program. We are having an excellent year in recruiting and fall practice is getting started.'

Ladson Montgomery, a catcher at Bartram Trail High School in St. Augustine, Fla., who has committed to Alabama, said the coaching change will likely not affect his commitment.

'I haven't really spoken with Coach Wells much. All my recruitment came from (assistant) Coach (Dax) Norris and Coach Gaspard, mostly Coach Norris,' said Montgomery, now a prep senior who plans to sign with UA in November. 'Of course I didn't pick Alabama just for the coaches, but Coach Norris and Gaspard really helped me with my decision. If they left it wouldn't be easy.'

Wells, 54 compiled a 625-322 record with a .656 winning percentage in his 15 seasons at UA and leaves as the winningest coach in the program's history.

Wells, a former LSU assistant, took over the Alabama program in 1994 after Barry Shollenberger retired. Wells' first Crimson Tide team appeared in an NCAA regional. He guided the Tide to the College World Series in 1996, 1997 and 1999. The 1997 team was the national runner-up to LSU.

He was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by his peers after Alabama won regular-season titles in 1996 and 2002. Wells guided Alabama to six SEC Tournament championships.

Gaspard has spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at UA in two different stints.

'First of all, I want to thank President (Robert) Witt and Coach Mal Moore for having the confidence in me to lead the Alabama baseball program,' Gaspard said in a statement. 'My background as a head coach for six years and being an assistant here for so many years have prepared me to be the coach of the Crimson Tide. Also, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jim Wells.

'He is without a doubt one of the best baseball coaches I've ever been around. His service to the university has been exemplary, not only the way his teams played on the field but in the way his teams conducted themselves in the classrooms and in the community. Lastly, I look forward to having the opportunity of working with our current players who are already here and recruiting more top-notch student-athletes to come represent the University of Alabama.'

'Today is really about the hiring of Mitch Gaspard to lead the Alabama baseball program and not about me retiring as the head coach,' Wells said in a statement. 'I have no doubt that Mitch and his staff will continue to elevate the team to a championship level. He is an outstanding coach and an even better person, and I couldn't be happier for him or the Crimson Tide baseball team. One goal I wanted to attain before I left my position was making sure the program was back on solid ground, and I leave the university feeling confident that it is.

'I want to thank all the players, both current and in the past, that have made the past 15 years so enjoyable for me and my family. It's really all about the players, and seeing so many go on to have success in their chosen fields is something in which I take great pride.

'I also want to thank all the assistant coaches, student mangers, trainers and administrators who have helped make my job so much easier over the years. And, of course, I want to close by saying thanks to all the fans and boosters of the program. I ask you to be there next spring to give your support to the 2010 Alabama baseball team.'

Gaspard and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Brae and Paeton.

Chase Goodbread contributed to this story.