Jim Leggett joined the App State baseball staff in September 2023 as the Director of Baseball Operations – Pitching Performance, and promoted to the program's pitching coach in January 2024.
In 2024 Leggett helped the App State pitching staff record 446 strikeouts which was tied for the second-most in program history. The group was led by Jackson Steensma who finished with 74 strikeouts which ranked seventh in the Sun Belt, while also ranking among league leaders in ERA and opponents batting average. Zach Lewis also ranked among league leaders in saves, while Dante Chirico combined with Cody Little on a one-hitter against South Alabama on May 2. Chirico signed a professional contract with the Florence Y'alls following the season.
Once a player and an assistant coach under Kermit Smith, Leggett reunites with his mentor following nine seasons as a pitching coach at three Division II programs.
Leggett most recently served as the pitching coach at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn., where he helped lead the Trojans to three consecutive 30-win seasons, including a 2021 Division II College World Series berth, followed by a 37-win campaign the following season. In 2023, the Trojans claimed another division title, with two of Leggett’s weekend starters earning all-conference recognition with sub-3.00 ERAs.
During his four full seasons at Trevecca Nazarene, Leggett developed 10 all-conference pitchers, including a pair of all-region honorees and one All-American. His 2021 staff boasted a team ERA of 4.30, which led the conference, and ranked as high as eighth nationally during the season.
A native of Rocky Mount, N.C., Leggett was an all-state pitcher and state champion at Rocky Mount High School before beginning his college career in 2009 under Smith at Belmont Abbey, which made it to the Division II College World Series.
Leggett then transferred to Pitt Community College, where he again made a College World Series as a pitcher the following year. Leggett received his associate’s degree from Pitt Community College in 2011 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from East Carolina in 2014.
In 2015, Leggett began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant and pitching coach in Greenwood, S.C., at Lander on a staff with Smith as the head coach and Britt Johnson as an assistant. Leggett helped Lander’s pitchers post a 3.98 ERA that led the Peach Belt in 2016 on the way to a College World Series appearance and a program-record third-place finish in the national rankings.
Leggett went on to become a full-time pitching coach at Francis Marion in Florence, S.C., from 2017-18, helping the Patriots to an 18-2 start during the 2017 season, their best start in program history.
Leggett now lives in Banner Elk, N.C., with his wife, Kate. In his free time, he enjoys watching college football as well as cooking and grilling.
What they’re saying about Leggett…
“Coach Leggett was an important part of my career; through college and professional baseball. There were tools that Coach implemented into my pitching development that helped me. Whether that was helping me doing a daily routine, to pitch design, or the mental side of pitching, Coach Leggett brought his own twist to a game that is changing constantly and made it consistent throughout my career. I’m grateful for the time I had with him and I know that Appalachian State’s pitching staff will be grateful to have him.”
- Brandon White (12th Round Draft Pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2016 out of Lander University)
“I’m excited for the players and the future of the program with the promotion of Jim Leggett to pitching coach. We have worked alongside each other for the last four months and I know he will continue to maximize the development of each individual he is tasked to lead. He’s had success at every step of his journey, and I know that will continue in this new role here at App State. This is a special place with special people, and I’m excited to watch Jim lead this pitching staff to perform at a high level, now and into the future. I am here to support him every step of the way! Congratulations Jim, and Go Mountaineers!”
- Ricky Meinhold (Former App State pitching coach, Toronto Blue Jays – Coordinator, Pitching Development)
"Congratulations to Jim Leggett on being hired as the new Pitching Coach at Appalachian State! Jim brings an incredible amount of passion and purpose to the App State Program. His devotion to getting the most out of his players by building meaningful relationships through trust, communication, and preparation is impressive. His growth-oriented mindset and drive to get better are surely going to set the tone for the players, and make a huge impact on the entire program. Though the entire App State Pitching Staff is in great hands, so is the entire App State Program because Jim's presence and passion is going to rub off on everyone".
- Alan Jaeger (Jaeger Sports)
