LSU baseball coordinator of operations Micah Gibbs will assume the role of former hitting coach and Nolan Cain has been promoted as LSU’s recruiting coordinator in effort to replace Andy Cannizaro, LSU confirmed on Tuesday afternoon in a press release.
Cannizaro recently left LSU to become the head coach at Mississippi State on Nov. 5. The former Tulane standout was the Tigers’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for LSU from 2014-16.
Cain, a former pitcher at LSU from 2006-09, has been on LSU’s staff since 2013.
“Nolan Cain is a rising star in the college coaching ranks and we are fortunate to already have him at LSU,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri in the news release. “Promoting him to this critical position of recruiting coordinator was a pretty obvious course of action to take. He possesses a wonderful combination of the qualities necessary to be a great recruiter such as intelligence, work ethic, extreme organization.”
Mainieri said he felt it was important to split the duties of hitting coach and recruiting coordinator because he thought it was impossible to give “due diligence” and responsibility for the position.
“If our recruiting coordinator were also to be the hitting coach, then our current players would be short-changed,” Mainieri said. “That coach would be missing practice and games. I’d rather our hitting coach be on campus all of the time and not miss out on the consistent work necessary for our hitters to succeed on a daily basis.”
Gibbs, a former catcher at LSU from 2008-10, and third round draft choice by the Chicago Cubs in 2010, was named coordinator of operations in February.
“Micah Gibbs was born to be a coach,” Mainieri said. “Even as an outstanding player at LSU, he was always very analytical and a student of the entire game of baseball. I can remember thinking years ago that if I ever had the chance someday to add Micah to our staff, I would want to do so because I felt he would make a tremendous coach.
Additionally, former LSU catcher Sean Ochinko was hired as an undergraduate assistant to work with the catchers and first baseman as well coaching the bases, Mainieri said. Ochinko played as a catcher and first baseman on LSU’s 2009 College World Series team.
Added Mainieri: “For our current players to have three former great players – Nolan, Micah and Sean – that were all part of a national championship team at LSU. And then had admirable professional careers before turning to coaching, is a tremendous opportunity for them to learn what it takes for us to win the seventh national championship in LSU Baseball history.”
Courtesy of LSUSports.net
