Schlossnagle celebrates TCU victory record with ‘perfect’ night at home

Jim Schlossnagle became TCU’s winningest baseball coach Sunday and then did some of his favorite things.

“My wife is out of town, so I spent the evening with my children, got online and checked out all the box scores from all the games — I’m a big college baseball fan — and just hung out at home,” he said. “Perfect night.”

But no big cake with “518” on it?

“No,” he said with a laugh. “The video they made was celebration enough. That was a tear-jerker right there. I think I’ve watched it 10 or 11 times.”

So some smiles and a tear or two marked the extent of a celebration for Schlossnagle, who guided the Horned Frogs to victories Saturday and Sunday at Lupton Stadium against Loyola Marymount, enough to tie and then pass Lance Brown for all-time victories at TCU.

Saturday’s 1-0 victory was No. 517 for Schlossnagle. Sunday’s 5-0 victory was No. 518. Schlossnagle, 45, a native of Hagerstown, Md., is 518-237 as he starts his 13th season in Fort Worth.

“It seems like every record that’s made, at some point, someone breaks it,” said Brown, who was 517-471 in 17 seasons with the Horned Frogs. “And Jim has been really good to include me in a lot of things with TCU baseball. So I’m very happy that he did it. He’s built a great program. If somebody’s got to do it, I’m glad he did it.”

Sunday after breaking the record, Schlossnagle said Brown didn’t have “the same luxuries” that TCU provides the baseball program today.

Brown appreciated the words.

“Well, it’s true,” he said. “I think once the commitment was made, once that stadium was built, my dream was that it would be what it is now — nationally recognized, a place where we could hold regionals, Super Regionals and get to the College World Series. Basically, as long as I was there, I think that wasn’t going to happen. Now that vision I had, that dream, is a reality. And that’s super. Because that’s what TCU baseball should be.”

Schlossnagle is also approaching 600 victories. He is 595-285 when his 77-47 record in two seasons at UNLV is added.

His .676 career winning percentage ranks eighth among active Division I coaches.

But in longevity, Schlossnagle has a long way to climb on the career ladder. The all-time leader is Texas’ Augie Garrido, who has 1,952 victories in his 48th season with an all-time winning percentage of .678. The No. 50 coach on the list, Steve Kittrell of South Alabama, had 1,084 victories in 29 seasons with a .620 winning percentage when he retired in 2011.

“I know, believe me,” Schlossnagle said with a laugh. “That’s awful daunting to think of that. I don’t know if I’ll be around for what Coach Garrido and Coach Graham [at Rice] are doing in their 70s. I’m just hoping to be breathing next week.”

Schlossnagle said Rangers manager Jeff Bannister texted him congratulations, one of about 125 texts or Twitter mentions he received Sunday. So in addition to looking at box scores and being with his children, Schlossnagle was returning a lot of well-wishes and congratulations.

“It was awesome just to hear from a lot of former players,” he said. “And just a lot of my friends in baseball.”

Sounds like a perfect night.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Schlossnagle celebrates TCU victory record with ‘perfect’ night at home."