Holy crap: She's leaving "due to a lack of trust and much frustration." She's the seventh player to transfer this off-season since Missy Lombardi took over as coach from Mike White, most following him to Texas. It really amazing that Oregon was the #1 seed at the WCWS last year, considering that that Oregon admin clearly treats the program as the red-headed stepchild. Despite all that White did for the program, they paid him $225K per year, which isn't chump change but certainly isn't in the same league as Gasso's $1M or even Tim Walton's $600K. The story is that White left for Texas after Oregon's AD sent him to an underling to negotiate a new contract, rather than meet with White himself. The underling actually laughed in White's face when White suggested $400K and told him to leave if he thought he could get that. He left for Texas, which pays him $500K. In addition to the lack of admin support, there is Lombardi's abrasive personality and her institution of a dress code for the players and insistence on religion being part of the program. It's no wonder players are bailing. It's a complete sh*t show at Oregon. So Balint's looking for a place to land with her 28-4 record and 1.51 ERA??? Heck yeah, let's show some interest!! All together now: "It's Great ... To Be .. a Florida Gator!!"
You know its toxic when the players leaving are taking parting shots: "I feel that due to the current circumstances and culture going into this upcoming season, it is no longer a place nor a good fit for me." You have a program on top of the world (#1 seed at WCWS) and the very next season, it just goes to complete crap. The difference between the money White wanted to stay and what Oregon paid Lombardi to take over is $150K. Bet they'd like a do-over on that one. Hopefully, UF never gets that stupid. The 10-year $600K contract for Tim Walton and $11M for KSP seems to show UF knows what time it is.
I've seen Oregon's stadium on television. Stadium is actually the wrong word. It's more like a high school softball field. The press box is like a temporary shack that construction workers use on site. UCLA and Washington have similar crappy fields. Cal didn't even have lights till a couple years ago. No wonder the SEC is taking over softball.
You sure you're talking about Oregon? They have some of the nicest facilities in the country. Edit: Look like Mat beat me to it above.
Sorry. My bad. Guess I saw their old facilities a couple years ago. The upgrade was certainly needed.
I knew what you meant. The place was beyond a dump and was completely run into the ground. It wasn't like KSP, which was nice and now admin is making it even nicer. It was more like the place was a total embarrassment and Oregon was left with no choice.
What a train wreck. That article points out that since Spring semester has started, the players leaving now are willing to sit out an entire year before they are eligible to play again. That screams out "toxic situation." You have to feel bad not only for the players but for the Oregon fans. They were on the top of the world, great team, bright future. Within a matter of months, their team has imploded to the point where calling it a "rebuilding year" would be laughable. And the future couldn't be darker. What HS player or potential transfer is going to want to to Oregon? This is really a historical shift for a once proud program that it will not recover from for decades, if at all.
Texas has been the big winner so far, with the players following Coach White. For the latest group that didn't enter the portal before the semester began, it will be a year away until they land.
I’m just shocked at the number of players that have left the Oregon program. And that they’re willing to sit out the entire season. And I like that Mike White went to Texas. Finally a team to give Oklahoma some trouble.
Well worth reading, no pay wall Oregon Softball's Transfer Epidemic: Maggie Balint Discusses How The Ducks Roster Crumbled Under A New Regime
Thanks for posting gatorjjh! Interesting article, although pretty much a puff-piece for Oregon admim from an online publisher. It leaves out Coach White's side of the story -- as reported in the local newspaper:
