Fred Corral’s second tour of duty as University of Tennessee pitching coach ended Friday. Corral was fired by second-year coach Todd Raleigh in the wake of the Vols’ 26-29 season.
“This was certainly not an easy decision,” Raleigh said in a statement released by UT. “I’m grateful for everything Fred has done for this program. Unfortunately, there were some philosophical differences that led to this conclusion.”
Corral said he did not know what the philosophical differences were.
“That’s hard for me to answer,” he said.
The Vols started SEC play with a 1-11 record and finished 11-19 and last in the East Division and eight games behind champion Florida. Only Mississippi State (9-20) had a worse conference record.
Pitching was the primary problem. The Vols’ earned-run average was 6.16 and opponents batted .290 against Tennessee.
UT’s ERA in conference games was 6.24 compared to LSU, which led the league at 4.01. Only Mississippi State’s was higher (6.59).
The Vols also had a hard time keeping the ball in the ballpark. SEC teams hit a league-high 77 home runs against UT.
Nick Hernandez and Bryan Morgado, who were supposed to be UT’s 1-2 punch on the mound, struggled. Hernandez was 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA while Morgado was 4-2 with a 6.36 ERA.
Ty’Relle Harris, who was in and out of the weekend rotation, finished 4-4 with a 6.18 ERA and was suspended a week before the season ended.
UT used 17 pitchers without much success.
“It’s the nature of the business,” Corral said. “You’re expected to produce and that wasn’t the case. That’s how it is. I’m saddened I won’t be part of Tennessee’s future successes. I care for the team and the staff.”
Corral first came to UT as Rod Delmonico’s pitching coach in 2003. He left after two seasons for Oklahoma before returning. Thirty-six of his pitchers have been drafted during his 16-year career.
Corral’s 2004 staff at Tennessee ranked 13th nationally with a 3.51 ERA and recorded the fifth-highest strikeout total in school history.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar was recruited by Corral. The right-hander became the first overall pick in the 2006 draft and credits Corral for his development.
Raleigh began calling pitches during the 2009 season and that led to speculation a rift developed between Raleigh and Corral. Corral dismissed the notion.
However, his departure could impact UT’s 2010 team.
Chad Bell, ace of Walters State’s staff the past two years with a 20-3 record and a UT signee, was caught off base by the news.
“It really comes as a surprise,” the former South-Doyle left-hander said. “I still don’t know what to think about it. Coach Corral was one of the nation’s premier pitching coaches.”
Bell is pitching in the prestigious Cape Cod League but could return to Knoxville if taken early in the draft next week. He would then have the option to sign and turn pro or go to UT.
“We’ll see how it goes and who they bring in,” Bell said.
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Comments » 54
HollySpringsVOL writes:
Looks like CTR took a page from CLK's playbook.
ethanfrome writes:
Scapegoat or the culprit?
Pullingguard writes:
Had to make moves in effort to save his job... The Job comes next year...This coach is just not right for the job. Next year anything less than making a good showing in the SEC and making the regionals will just not be enough..
LiveToRide writes:
Starting to think Hamilton missed on this hire.
kiffownsfla writes:
Kinda like fulmer geting rid of sanders lol wat a joke.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Coach Todd the vast number of Vol fans know that you are going to put a first class team on the field...I know...I know..its hell making decisions like you just made. So good luck to coach Corral and his family...but so goes the college coaching business these days. Its a tough occupation.
TomMorello writes:
Raleigh needs to be relieved of his duties where we can go get UNC's Pitching Coach, Forbes, as our Head Coach. A lot of the front office within Tennessee's Athletic Dept. are old ACC guys. Seems like a no brainer to me.
razin55#340688 writes:
Agree, Next year will be his last.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dead on.
weisgarber2003#313889 writes:
"Starting to think Hamilton missed on this hire."
Hammy really struck out on Raleigh. Why in the world did he hire a coach from the hinterlands?
vol4gzus writes:
My, my what a happy bunch of posters you all are....Philosophical differences....use bullpen heavily vs. let starters go longer. Righty/lefty situational batter per batter? Let some relievers go longer...Whatever the answers we know Coach Corral is well respected and is no fluke. Have to go back to Western Carolina days and see how bullpen/starters fleshed out vs. how Coach Corral was at UT b4 and at Oklahoma if we really want to get a clue.
movol53 writes:
Looks like the wrong coach is leaving.
Remove Todd and make Corral the head coach.
Sorry Coach Corral; from what I've read about you your a great guy and coach. You were just the lamb that got slaughtered to appease "the Gods".
Good Luck to you whereever you land,
RoadTrip writes:
Agree with most on here - the wrong coach is being let go. Either that or start all over. Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. Find as many regional guys you can find that will bust their behinds to wear the orange. Build a real program, not another rookie league Class A minor league club.
iowa_vol writes:
Raleigh just let go one of the more respected pitching coaches in college baseball. What a shame. I believe the bells are tolling for CTR, and I look forward to him helping coach the Dutch national team next year with his loser predecessor Rod Delmonico.
OrangePride writes:
Big mistake! The pitching was a major shortcoming all year, no doubt about it. However, that said, Corral has proven credentials and has been a pretty solid performer in a number of places. I see Raleigh gets another year after TWO dismal performances, so this is one time when he might have extended a similar benefit of the doubt. It seems that CR has issues with an awful LOT of people in this baseball organization. From players to coaches, there is always some kind of friction. Frankly, I believe MoVol is right......the wrong coach is leaving.
CynicalCitizen writes:
Philisophical differences? I guess Corral subscribed to the "not sucking" baseball philosophy.
TNdectective writes:
Raleigh doesn't know pitching, I can tell you that. Couldn't get along with any pitching coaches, or pitcher, in Cullowhee, was the pitching coah there when no one could work with him. Things may be getting ready to get bad. He could bring someone in that may do good for a year or two, but he can't keep them because they all end up hating him or his show tune tactics. Raliegh isn't happy without complete control of everything, and doesn't give other coaches the ability to teach what they believe in. I basically comes down to CR is the coach, and the others do his laundry and busy work.
volspaws writes:
"Philosophical differences"??...I knew it....it wasn't much of a secret that Raleigh is an existentialist, while Corral has long been known to lean toward pragmatism
olevole writes:
Dear Coach Corral: Please take heart. The "philosophical difference" is that you are a true Vol with class and CTR is a coward who disrespects the game so much that he gets tossed from 10% of his games. All who know baseball know that you prepared your pitchers well, but that he abused them, called pitches poorly,interfered with their workout routines and game preparation, and made it impossible for them to succeed. The poor ERA is his, not yours. Your 36 pitchers in the pros, and more in this June's draft, prove that you are no fluke.
We know that none of this areas's DI players are coming to UT now because everyone here knows what he is. We know you held this team together this past season and were the main draw for good kids who were looking at UT. It kills us to see the program wrecked by someone who is driving every good player who has an option and the intelligence to escape it.
We wish you the best wherever you go . . . except when your future team plays our Vols, and that our program may emerge from this dark time soon. This latest fiasco should make it clear to Hamilton what must be done now. This program cannot afford another year of this. Nothing good will be left.
beavbullvol writes:
Chad Bell: Follow Coach Corral!!!! If Raleigh's ego would have allowed Freddy to do his job, this year's talented crop would have far surpassed our exploits from 2004.
You don't want to play for this guy. Light the Cape up and move on. Best of luck to you.
beavbullvol writes:
Hey Iowa, I asked Freddy the other day when he was going to take over the UT job and put a winning product out there. It was common knowledge Gorilla Ball Raleigh was calling the pitches!!! Can you believe that??? Coach from Po-dunk U knows more about pitching than Freddy C. What a joke.
chrisw2967 writes:
looks like the wrong man got fired , Raleigh should of been fired.
GDub writes:
Philosophical differences!!!... Seems to be an ongoing going problem with Raleigh and humans. One more losing season and he needs to go. First bad hire by Hamilton.
pms151 writes:
This is just politics. Hamiliton sticking his nose in the program to save his butt.
richvol writes:
The only thing Raleigh has created over there so far is dissention...with players,coaches and apparently the umpires. The losses we have endured to area DII teams are inexcusable.
The wrong coach was let go Hamilton.
crappieking writes:
I see this moron has a new screen name. Must have been banned under the old name. What a loser.
Waldorf writes:
Idiots.
You don't let a coach go after two seasons, especially when there is a noticeable bit of improvement over the course of the season whether people like it or not.
Face it - Corral may be a respected coach, but the pitching staff has sucked the last two seasons, and did not come close to meeting expectations in 09. Look at the stats people. By the way, Dave Clawson is also a VERY respected coach in football coaching circles. That shows how respect translates to success sometimes.
Now, if this team doesn't at minimum make the SEC Tournament and a Regional in 2010, then it's time to bring in a new coach.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
you don,t have a clue
jdcvols#230433 writes:
I have ZERO respect for clawson and bowling green will find out soon. I agree with all of your other comments.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
Toad Raleigh is a buffoon.All the players,parents umpires,scouts and most of the Delmonico haters knows he could not coach a little league team.(would sure like to have kept Rod).He should have been let go and a class act like Corral hired as coach.Hamilton,get some guts and get rid of this moron before the program is totally lost and then myself and numerous other fans will renew our season tickets.I will not be back until he is gone.Don't wait till next year, do it now like you have all the other coaches under your tenure and maybe you can gain some respect back in the community.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
the pitching staff sucked be Raleigh tried to take over and proved he was clueless.
littleorange writes:
I don't really know who is to blame, but this pitching staff was horrible this yeaar. Look forward to better days ...or major changes should be forthcoming.
easttnvol21 writes:
Well, well. Here we go. First, players are getting run off (some for no reason). And now, Coach "you know what I mean" has decided his pitching coach is a problem. My only surprise is that Fred stayed as long as he did. Once he realized he had joined a coaching staff led by a control freak who wouldn't allow him to do his job he must have been miserable. Trust me on this folks, when you have an ego like "you know what I mean" and on top of that, aren't a very good coach, this is what happens. I would suggest you watch how many kids leave the program over the summer---I know for a fact many are looking to bail. Now, some of you can sit back and say that's just what happens when you have a new coach and he's building his roster. I say it is more significant than that. This guy is a joke-----not many kids I know want to play for him. Say what you will.
Hacksaw57 writes:
If Raleigh took over calling pitches then shouldn't HE be responsible for the dismal ERA average of the pitching staff instead of Corral?
I realize Corral was the pitching coach but if the pitching coach isn't allowed to call the pitches and do a critical part of his job during a game then how can he be held accountable. If Raleigh wants to be in control of every aspect of the program then he dosen't need any assistant coaches and HE should be accountable and be blamed for the team's poor performance and pitching woes.
If he wants to be in complete control of program then he need to be held ENTIRELY accountable for the poor performance and not the assistant coaches. Was Raliegh in control of the batting cages also? We surely didn't have a good season at the plate considering we didn't score runs. Why didn't he point out that aspect of the team's performance this year.
CynicalCitizen writes:
This is a simple case of Raleigh watching his own back. Corral is popular and would be the logical choice to become the "interim" coach when Raleigh sucks again next year.
graphpro#231211 writes:
Baseball... doesn't matter. It would be nice to see them in some sort of championship but other than that .... we're just waiting on football and basketball.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Whoa goshdarngoodfootballplayer.
Clawsen called his plays.
Assistant coaches are there for a reason.
Let them coach.
Players won't transfer.
NCAA rules have helped poor coaches from being exposed.
Leave and sit out a year, not a good scenerio.
Frosh can go juco route and go somewhere after.
Draft guys can sign.
Others are stuck.
olevole writes:
THIS IS SO BOGUS. CTR called the pitches, decided which pitcher would pitch in what situation, did most of the visits to the mound. He messed with the pitchers' routines, bullpens, and game preparation. He has Coach C spend a bunch of the games out of the dugout and down in the bullpen. Then he pretends that the pitching problems were Coach C's and cans him. If Coach C weren't such a big time Christian and had such a big family to care for He would have left.
Now CTR is driving off every player who can escape. Giving him another year is insane. In five weeks, when the drafted sign, and the frosh who can go juco do go, there will not be a competitive program left to rebuild.
dvols writes:
in tennessee, you do not need a reason to fire an employee...
im just sayin
MadMax writes:
Let's see, last year Raleigh had shouting matches with several players and booted from the team, this year he had it out with several other players and sent one home from Vandy series. Now he has philosophical differences with one of his coaches. Hmmmm wonder who the real problem is in the program.
sully95 writes:
We need to hire Larry Simcox as our head coach... right now
us43137415#376444 writes:
While I agree with most every poster here (except that idiot from NC..no matter what he changes his screen name to, every time he fronts a keyboard, he shows his stupidity--doesn't UNC have a baseball team?), I agree the most with you, pal. This will be so obvious a year from now.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Just recieved word that there is a raliegh defender trying to say that CFC deserve to be let go. Claims CFC didn't give a rats once he was pulled from his responsibilities. This person wasn't any member of my team. We all knew who was the guy holding us together even though he tried to convey that CTR had us on the straight path. Says he wouldn't resign so he could get unemployment. CFC loves UT and got all of us to love it a bit more. He didn't resign because he wanted to stay. This guy wasn't on the same field as us to knock CFC or question his work ethic. Unemployment? Chief will have a gig by next week. Thanks for everything Chief.
TNdectective writes:
He does not understand pitching at all. He knows enough to call a game, but doesn't understand what it takes to be a pitcher, how to throw what pitches, how much rest a pitcher needs, what kind of work a pitcher needs to do throughout the week. He is a control FREAK, and obviously either butted heads with CFC or is just throwing him under the bus. I know that on a team coached by CTR, if they are struggling, it IS his fault. Maybe you don't fire someone after just 2 years, but don't expect much to change. He may get UT some more wins, but he will not change, neither will UT's chances to get to the top of the SEC.
olevole writes:
Without Corral, the stampede of good players running for the door begins:
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/20090...
DC_Vol writes:
Now that is funny! Philosophical differences, yeah right. Per Corral, he has no idea what those difference were. I for one believe Corral. Sounds like CR just didn't get along with Corral. Also, consistent with Raleigh's philosophy pass the blame anywhere but at his door!
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Who are the vast fans? Do you go to the games? Do you see the stuff that goes on?
This really is bad. The guy that kept us together is gone. Hopefully CTR learns from other comments on here.
bryan14 writes:
1st of all the person to hire is Dave Serrano. Hamilton screwed this up when Serrano said that he had been an assistant at Tennessee and that he would crawl from California to Knoxville for the head coaching job & Mike Hamilton hired a "no name" Todd Raleigh that had a "LOOSING RECORD" as a head coach. Serrano has now taken UC Irvine & Cal State Fullerton to the College World Series. Just pay Dave and his staff what they need and get the hell out of their way and let them work. Come on MH what is this Raleigh over Serrano stuff & don't give us the "mail order degree" BS. You didn't compalin about his degree when he was an assistant to Delmonico. You are hiring someone to coach the baseball team to a national championship not someone that will be required to do a frontal lobotomy!!!!!!
Vol4ever_1 writes:
His players sell out for him. Listen to him and how he talks about his club. Serrano doesn't seem the excuse or transfer of blame type. TOB CTR. Forbes would be good as well. Caty liked him.
sully95 writes:
another reason todd raleigh sucks - his 1st base coach and #2 assistant(nate headley), never played college baseball. he is only there because his brother is in the big leagues. nate headley used to be a heckler in the stands while chase was playing. he is an absolute joke and embarassment to UT athletics. if nate headley's brother wasn't a good ballplayer he would not have that job, plain and simple. CHUMP of an assistant. freakin CHUMP.
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