Graham’s goodbye
Contract renewal isn’t in offing for longtime coach
After 27 seasons as Rice’s baseball coach, Wayne Graham has been told he won’t be given a 28th.
Graham, who guided the Owls to a national championship in 2003, has been told his tenure will come to an end when the 2018 season concludes, with the school opting not to renew his contract.
"The reason I felt it necessary to go ahead and disclose what had been told to me — it's been finalized — is that I felt like there were rumors surrounding the program now that were affecting the players," Graham, 82, said. "I think when you clarify that and you get it out in the open, now we can go ahead about our business and proceed to get in the
NCAA playoffs."
That won’t be easy. The Owls, 16-23-2 overall, stand 6-10-2 in Conference USA.
Last year, it took a frantic late-season push for them to inch over the .500 mark and make their 23rd consecutive appearance in an NCAA regional. As the No. 6 seed, they won the CUSA tournament. But the Owls haven’t advanced past regionals since 2013.
Graham has amassed 1,163 victories and 21 conference championships at Rice and in 2012 was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. On Feb. 20, he said, he approached the school seeking clarification about his contract situation. Around April 14, he said, he met with department officials, who informed him his contract wouldn’t be extended.
At the time of his inquiry in February, the Owls were five games below .500. But Graham said the school had been eyeing an opportunity to replace him for at least a year.
“I think the intent was there at the end of last season, but it was more difficult because we had just come off of one of the great comebacks that I've seen,” Graham said. “It seems unusual, the whole picture. I think when Augie (Garrido, the former Texas coach) entered his last year, it was known that he would not be back.”
Rice director of athletics Joe Karlgaard declined to comment on the matter Tuesday.
“People will read into a no-comment maybe in a way that I don't intend, but ... my preference is to not address this situation until the season is concluded," he said.
Graham, who’d been hinting at his demise in recent days, confirmed the decision to the Chronicle on Wednesday. That evening, Karlgaard released a statement.
“I understand Coach Graham has made a statement regarding his contract, which expires at the end of the 2018 season,” Karlgaard said. “As is our practice, conversations regarding coaches’ contracts and tenure are conducted confidentially and professionally. We do not comment on these or other personnel matters, and I will continue to proceed in that fashion.”
Graham said the department offered him an option to return in a noncoaching capacity. He expressed feelings of betrayal when asked about claims that a former player was vying for his position.
“You feel like there have been some betrayals, but you know people have to take care of their family, too, so you don't get bitter about that,” he said.
Presumably, Graham was referring to former Owls All-American Lance Berkman, the Astros great who spent two weeks working with Rice hitters as a volunteer during fall practice in 2012.
Berkman left the Owls when he signed a freeagent contract with the Texas Rangers in 2013. For the last three years, he has coached Second Baptist, which he guided to a state championship in his first season. Former Astros and New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, who played under Graham at San Jacinto College, is Berkman’s assistant.
Berkman did not respond to requests for comment.
Graham, who won five national junior college championships at San Jacinto in the six seasons spanning 1985-90, now is considering life after Rice. He spoke about writing a book on baseball blended with personal commentary and short stories. He also suggested he has received interest from suitors in Texas.
“There've been feelers put out by powerful people,” he said.
Graham's contract ends July 1. His team stands ninth in Conference USA, on the outskirts of league tournament contention, with 15 regular-season games remaining.