FULLERTON, Calif. — Jack Leggett did not comment on his future at Clemson following the Tigers’ 10-8 loss to Pepperdine on Saturday, which ended their season in the Fullerton Regional. Instead, he said he and athletic director Dan Radakovich will address that and any other issues when he gets back to Clemson.

At that point, it was about getting on the bus and talking to his team.

“I just really want to focus on our kids and our season, get on the bus and talk to them and be able to reminisce about what this year was all about and what they have learned,” Leggett said. “What’s next for them on the horizon? What do we have to do to make ourselves better? We will address those kinds of things when we get back and see where it goes.”

Clemson finished the year 32-29, but ended it with four losses in the last five games. The lost to Pepperdine was also the program’s fifth straight defeat in an NCAA Regional, marking the fifth straight season the Tigers failed to advance past the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

But considering the way the Tigers fought back after being 24-24 with eight games remaining in the regular season, yet still found a way into the NCAA Tournament with seven wins during that stretch, Leggett could not be prouder of what they accomplished when so much was going against them.

“I’m proud to work at Clemson. I’m proud to coach this team. I’m proud of my coaches and I’m proud of my players,” he said. “They have done a really good job this year and worked extremely hard.”

Leggett’s players are proud of him too. With all the rumors circulating about his job, which seemed like almost every day, it wasn’t easy for them to keep their focus and try to play without any pressure. In fact, it was almost impossible to do.

“I think baseball did not go our way this year,” Clemson second baseman Tyler Krieger said after the game. “We played well at times and we put some pieces together, but we just did not put it together all the time. That’s the key, consistency.

“People talking negative all the time about the program, we really don’t care honestly. We know the integrity of this team and the integrity of this program, and we take a lot of pride in everything that we do for Clemson University.”

Leggett was mostly proud about the way his team never gave up, despite the odds, evident in Saturday’s elimination game. Clemson trailed 7-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but scored eight unanswered runs at the time to take an 8-7 lead.

“I think they did a really good job of trying to put things out of their minds, but everything effects (the team),” Leggett said. “If it was a positive vibe then everyone feels good. If it’s not, then it is a little bit tougher, but our kids were focused and they work extremely hard.

“They love to play baseball and they love to come out on the field together. So when we get out on the field, it has been about us and playing together and trying to do something positive within in our conference and make the university proud.”

More than anything, the players just want to make Jack Leggett proud.

“I love the man first and foremost,” Krieger said. “He has taught me more, along with my parents, than anyone in my life. He has taught me lessons… It’s not always all about baseball. He is a great baseball coach, but he has taught me more about life than people think.

“I love the coaching staff, the players and I love my experience so far at Clemson,” Krieger continued. “I have learned a lot here in my three years and I just want to say thank you to Coach because he has taught me a lot.”

Right fielder Steven Duggar took it a step further, stating he only came to Clemson “to play for a Hall of Fame coach.”

“To be able to put on the jersey every single day and have him at the helm is pretty special to me,” the junior said. “Being able to come to a program like this and meet so many great guys, to reiterate what (Krieger) said, the three years I have had here so far have been absolutely unbelievable.”