CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina head baseball coach Chris Lemonis has announced the hiring of Jake Gautreau as the program's assistant coach and hitting coach.
One of the most respected assistant coaches in college baseball, Gautreau arrives in Conway with more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, a national championship pedigree and an extensive background in recruiting and player development.
"We're excited to welcome Jake and his family to Coastal Carolina," Lemonis said. "I've had the opportunity to work alongside him for many years, and I've seen firsthand the impact he's had on both players and programs. Jake is an outstanding teacher of the game and someone who understands what it takes to compete at the highest level. He will be a tremendous asset to our student-athletes and to the future of this program."
Gautreau joins the Chanticleers after spending the 2026 season as East Carolina's hitting coach. Prior to his time in Greenville, he spent eight seasons on Lemonis' staff at Mississippi State from 2018-25, serving as the Bulldogs' hitting coach, infield coach and recruiting coordinator.
During his tenure in Starkville, Gautreau helped Mississippi State capture the 2021 NCAA National Championship and make three College World Series appearances. He was named the D1Baseball National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019 after helping guide the Bulldogs to a 52-win season and a trip to Omaha.
In addition to his success on the field, Gautreau played a key role in assembling nationally ranked recruiting classes and developing numerous All-Americans, Freshman All-Americans and professional draft selections throughout his coaching career.
"I've always had tremendous respect for Coach Lemonis, both as a coach and as a person," Gautreau said. "Lem is like family to me, and the opportunity to work alongside him again was one I couldn't pass up. Coastal Carolina is a program with a championship standard, passionate supporters and a rich baseball tradition. I'm excited to get to work with our players and help them reach their full potential as we build something special together."
Before beginning his tenure at Mississippi State, Gautreau spent five seasons on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Tulane, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before becoming the program's interim head coach during the 2014 season. He later spent three years with the Boras Corporation as a certified player agent, evaluating amateur talent and assisting players through the professional draft process.
As a player, Gautreau was one of the most decorated student-athletes in Tulane history. He helped lead the Green Wave to the program's first College World Series appearance in 2001 while earning seven All-America honors and two Conference USA Player of the Year awards. Gautreau was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Conference USA Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class in 2019.
A member of the 2000 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Gautreau earned MVP honors at the XXI Haarlem Baseball Week tournament before being selected by the San Diego Padres with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. He went on to play eight seasons of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians and New York Mets organizations.
