Jake Gautreau was hired as Coastal Carolina's assistant coach and hitting coach in June 2026 after spending the 2026 season in the same role at East Carolina. One of the most respected assistant coaches in college baseball, Gautreau brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, a national championship pedigree and a proven track record as both a recruiter and offensive strategist.
Prior to his time at ECU, Gautreau spent eight seasons on Chris Lemonis' staff at Mississippi State from 2018-25. Serving as the Bulldogs' hitting coach, infield coach and recruiting coordinator, he helped Mississippi State capture the 2021 NCAA National Championship and make three College World Series appearances. Gautreau also played a key role in assembling nationally ranked recruiting classes throughout his tenure in Starkville.
In 2019, Gautreau was named the D1Baseball National Assistant Coach of the Year after helping lead Mississippi State to a 52-win season and a College World Series appearance. During his tenure, he helped develop numerous All-Americans, Freshman All-Americans and professional draft selections.
Gautreau began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Tulane, where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before spending the 2014 season as the program's interim head coach. Following his time at Tulane, Gautreau spent three years with the Boras Corporation as a certified player agent, where he evaluated amateur talent and assisted players through the professional draft process.
As a player, Gautreau was one of the most decorated student-athletes in Tulane history, helping lead the Green Wave to the program's first College World Series appearance in 2001. He earned seven All-America honors and was twice named the Conference USA Player of the Year. 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. He remains among the program's all-time leaders with 58 career home runs.
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 MLB Draft. He went on to play eight seasons of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians and New York Mets organizations.
