CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Monte Lee can’t sit still very long, not with the job ahead of him as Clemson baseball coach.

It has been about a month since Lee took over the Tigers after 22 largely successful seasons by Jack Leggett. But Clemson hadn’t advanced out of the NCAA regional round since 2010 and school athletic leaders decided to let Leggett go last month.

Lee understands Clemson doesn’t part ways with baseball coaches too often — the late Bill Wilhelm headed the program from 1958 through 1993 before Leggett took over the next season — and so he’s spent a busy few weeks talking with prospects and returning players to shore things up before next season.

“The days all kind of run together,” Lee said this week. “But we felt like we had to hit the ground running.”

Lee, 38, spent the past seven seasons leading mid-major College of Charleston to the brink of the College World Series. The Cougars made four NCAA tournaments during Lee’s tenure and reached the Super Regional series in 2014 before losing a pair of one-run games at Texas Tech.

Lee, born in the state and a longtime student of Palmetto State baseball, has watched and heard Tiger fans grumbling about Clemson’s decline the past few years. Yet, he did not see much of a drop off in quality from his old viewpoint and is excited about the Tigers prospects next season.

“I don’t think we’re that far off,” he said.

In his short time in charge, Lee said he has gotten positive responses from high-level prospects who still see Clemson as a top-quality place to play college baseball. And Lee plans to build on that.

He has toured the Southeast in recent weeks to evaluate players for his first full-blown recruiting class in 2017. Lee said there may even be a spot for a player or two to join the Tigers next year.

It won’t be an easy transition. Clemson lost its top two starters from last year, Matthew Crownover and Zack Erwin, to the Major League Baseball draft. Crownover, a sixth-round pick, is part of the Washington Nationals organization while Erwin, selected in the fourth round, joined the Chicago White Sox organization.

Junior Brody Koerner, taken in the 17th round by the New York Yankees, also chose to go pro instead of returning to the Tigers.

Two of Clemson’s top signees for next year turned them down after high draft spots, shortstop Cornelius Randolph chosen 10th overall by Philadelphia and shortstop Jalen Miller picked in the third round by San Francisco.

Also gone are hard-hitting infielder Tyler Krieger, who hit .339 last season, and outfielder Steven Duggar, another .300 hitter.

Lee accepts such losses are part of the game when dealing with top prospects. He sold recruits at the College of Charleston on the historic, coastal city and chance to prove higher Division I programs wrong for not adding them to their rosters.

Lee said the atmosphere at Clemson, along with the program’s successful history, sells itself. “I just have to stay out of the way to not mess it up,” he joked.

Lee can’t keep feeling awed himself at times when leading prospects and their families through Clemson’s lavish facilities, things he did not have with the Cougars. “I’m still not sure of all we have,” he said. “I know I’m shaking my head when I walk through that weight room, what is it, nine thousand, 10 thousand square feet?”

Lee is confident his career path has prepped him for this big moment. He brought Spartanburg Methodist to the NJCAA College World Series in 2001. He became an assistant coach at South Carolina two years later, helping coach Ray Tanner and the Gamecocks to six NCAA tournaments and two trips to the CWS.

Lee continued that success in his first time as a Division I head coach and is eager to get things righted with the Tigers.

He’s yet to speak with Leggett, who he’s known for years as a colleague and rival. Lee said that will happen when he time is right for both coaches. For now, Lee is focused on the fall and finding out just what he’s got on his roster.

“I feel like I live a life of servitude to these players and I know I’m blessed to be here,” he said.

By Pete Iacobelli

AP Sports Writer