Breaking News – Mike White Leaving Oregon, New Texas Coach

Reports are all over the internet that Oregon Ducks Coach Mike White is leaving to take the Univ. of Texas head coaching spot vacated by the retirement of Connie Clark.

Below are two releases that confirm the hiring…

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Here is the article written by Ryan Thornburn of the Register-Guard earlier today…

Oregon Ducks softball coach Mike White is leaving for Texas

If Mike White wins a softball national championship it will not be at Oregon.

The coach who led the Ducks to five Pac-12 championships in the past six seasons and five appearances in the Women’s College World Series since 2012 is leaving to take the same position at Texas.

According to a source close to the situation, White has already informed the Oregon team of the news via text and email. He is expected to receive a substantial raise to leave to coach the Longhorns.

“It’s a sad day for Oregon softball,” the source said.

Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens announced that assistant Chelsea Spencer will serve as interim coach during the search for White’s replacement.

“We appreciate all of Mike White’s contributions to the Oregon softball program over the last several years, and we wish him the best of luck in his new role,” Mullens said in a statement. “Oregon has the best softball stadium in the nation, the most dedicated and passionate fan base, and most importantly, an outstanding group of returning and incoming student-athletes.

“We will find a leader who will build upon the strong foundation already in place for our program.”

Mullens and White agreed to a six-year contract worth $1.425 million in guaranteed salary (an average of $237,500 per year) in June of 2015 after the coach interviewed with Arkansas and as ground was being broken on the $17.2 million Jane Sanders Stadium project.

White will replace Connie Clark, Texas’ coach since the softball program began in 1996, who stepped down last month after posting a 873-401-3 record over 22 seasons.

The Longhorns have been to the WCWS five times with four Big 12 regular-season titles and four conference tournament titles. Texas finished 33-26 (10-8 Big 12) in 2018, including an 8-0 loss to Oregon on Feb. 16 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

White has an impressive 435-111-1 record (.795 winning percentage) in nine seasons.

Clark reportedly had a base salary of $200,000 this year, but the market has recently been inflated with lucrative deals for elite coaches.

Texas’ rival, Oklahoma, signed coach Patty Gasso to a contract extension through 2024 that pays her an annual salary of $925,000. She has led the Sooners to four national championships.

White’s contract will be the second-highest nationally, according to the source.

In addition to the $235,000 base salary this season at Oregon, White earned $90,000 in performance bonuses — $25,000 for winning the Pac-12 championship, $10,000 for an NCAA regional appearance, $15,000 for a super regional appearance and $40,000 for getting the Ducks to the WCWS.

If top-seeded Oregon would have advanced to the championship series in Oklahoma City White would have received a $10,000 bonus and if the program won its elusive first national championship he would have received a $50,000 bonus.

White’s guaranteed salary would have increased to $240,000 on July 1, to $245,000 on July 1, 2019, and to $250,000 on July 1, 2020.

White, a three-time Pac-12 coach of the year (2013, 2014, 2016), has had 19 NFCA all-Americans.

Oregon matched the program record with four all-Americans in 2018 — pitcher Megan Kleist and catcher Gwen Svekis were on the first team, pitcher Miranda Elish was on the second team and third baseman Jenna Lilley was on the third team.

The Ducks finished 53-10 overall and 21-3 in Pac-12 play after being bounced from the WCWS by eventual champion Florida State. Oregon finished No. 6 in the final NFCA poll.

White’s top assistant, Jimmy Kolaitis, was hired as the head coach at Alabama-Birmingham.

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Here is another report published by burntorangenation.com adding more detail:

Reports: Oregon’s Mike White taking over as Texas softball coach

White will become the second coach in Longhorns softball history.

A little more than a month after Connie Clark resigned following 23 seasons as the Texas Longhorns softball coach, the news broke from Eugene that Mike White will leave the Oregon Ducks to take over for Clark in Austin, according to The Register-Guard.

The Oregonian later confirmed the news with White.

Clark stepped down following a 33-26 season, ending a tenure that began when she left Florida State to start the Texas program in 1995. During Clark’s time in Austin, she went 873-401-3 during 22 varsity seasons.

White will take over after a remarkable run with the Ducks — he led Oregon to to five appearances in the Women’s College World Series in the last seven years and five Pac-12 Championships in the last six years.

Winning a national championship, however, has eluded White, which perhaps contributed to his decision to leave a program where he set such a high standard to take over a program that boasts five Women’s College World Series appearances in its history.

White is also likely to receive a raise after making an average of about $240,000 since 2015. The final contract for Clark paid her $200,000 per season.