From national media and professional baseball leaders to former players and members of the Coastal Carolina family, there's been plenty of reaction to the hiring of Chris Lemonis as the seventh CCU head baseball coach in program history.
A Myrtle Beach native and national championship-winning coach, Lemonis brings a proven track record of success to Conway. Here's what people across the college baseball landscape are saying about Coastal Carolina's newest head coach.
"Chris Lemonis is a high-level Leader and Winner. Incredible Recruiter but even better Evaluator and Developer. He waited for an Omaha-level program. Coastal Baseball nailed it. Great job."
— Tom Crean, former IU basketball coach
"Chris Lemonis is a great hire and I support Chance Miller's decision!! He brings the knowledge of what it takes to not only get us back to Omaha but to win another championship!!!"
— G.K. Young, 2016 National Champion
"The Myrtle Beach native and 2021 national championship-winning coach was named the seventh head baseball coach in Coastal Carolina history — it's a move that most certainly makes it abundantly clear that CCU athletic director Chance Miller has no intention of taking a step back. The Chanticleers have the most well-funded program in the Sun Belt Conference, and they now have a championship-winning head coach."
— Kendall Rogers, D1Baseball
"Teal Nation should be very excited with this decision! Chris Lemonis has been in 18 NCAA Tournaments, five CWS, and led Mississippi State to their 1st national championship in 2021. Lemonis being a Myrtle Beach native makes this even more perfect."
— Jill Schumacher, WMBF Sports Director
"Just a huge hire."
— Scott Eisberg, Sports Director, WCIV
"For Coastal Carolina, the move represents an aggressive response to losing Schnall. Rather than pursuing a first-time head coach or a rising assistant, the Chanticleers landed a coach with a national championship, multiple College World Series appearances and extensive experience building winning programs."
— Jacob Rudner, Baseball America
"Grade-A hire by Coastal Carolina. It's not often a former national champion head coach is in the market. The Chanticleers made the most of that opportunity."
— Daniel Allen, The Stillwegian
"Couldn't be happier for Lemo! Great guy, great coach. Going to be fantastic at Coastal!"
— Jamie Bradford, On3
"Great hire."
— Mike Ferrin, MLB Network Radio
"Love this hire."
— Mark Etheridge, D1Baseball
"Coach Lemonis has a track record of success as a recruiter, Asst Coach and Head Coach, culminating in winning the first National Championship at Miss State in program history. He develops players and young men and is a tremendous choice to lead Coastal Carolina."
— Chris Young, Seattle Mariners
"Chris Lemonis is a great hire for Coastal Carolina. Chris brought us our first National Championship at Mississippi State in 2021. He's a great leader, recruiter and developer of top talent. He has a professional mindset and runs his program like a professional team. Good luck to Chris and the Chanticleers."
— Rafael Palmeiro, former MLB player
"Fantastic leader of young men and an excellent baseball coach. From the perspective of a dad who had a son play for Coach Lemonis at Miss State, this is an elite hire. Congrats."
— Mike Schuelke
"Awesome hire for the Chants."
— Kyle Peterson, ESPN and SEC Network
"GREAT hire!!!"
— Xan Barksdale, USA Baseball coach
"Great hire for the Chants. Fired up for the Chris Lemonis era in Conway."
— Stephen Schoch, Coastal baseball personality and former Virginia Cavalier
"Back where you belong Coach."
— Tanner Allen, 2021 SEC Player of the Year and National Champion
"Elite ball coach!! Welcome to Conway — Chants Up."
— Ryan Beard, Coastal Carolina Head Football Coach
"Lot of winning coming to Conway! Welcome home Coach!"
— Darin Horn, former Coastal Chanticleer
