Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coach Jim Wells announced his retirement on Tuesday, leaving assistant coach Mitch Gaspard as the new Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coach.

The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce that head coach Jim Wells had retired after 15 years as Alabama's head coach.

With his retirment, assistant coach Mitch Gaspard has agreed to coach the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team. Gaspard has agreed in principle to a three year contract with the University of Alabama.

Wells, who compiled a 625-322 record as head coach at Alabama, was the winningest coach in Crimson Tide baseball history. However, he insisted that the announcement of his retirement not take away from the attention and credit due new head coach Mitch Gaspard.

"Today is really about the hiring of Mitch Gaspard to lead the Alabama baseball program and not about me retiring as the head coach," Wells said. "I have no doubt that Mitch and his staff will continue to elevate the team to a championship level. He is an outstanding coach and an even better person, and I couldn't be happier for him or the Crimson Tide baseball team."

After making the Crimson Tide a consistent contender in the SEC West, Wells felt that he had accomplished his goal in coaching.

"One goal I wanted to attain before I left my position was making sure the program was back on solid ground," Wells said. "I leave the University feeling confident that it is."

Information from the Alabama Crimson Tide athletic department was used in this report.