Cougar Baseball Adds Jake Valentine as Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

PULLMAN, Wash. (June 23, 2022) – Jake Valentine has been named Cougar Baseball’s assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, Washington State Head Coach Brian Green announced Thursday.
 
“We are fired up to announce Jake Valentine as our Recruiting Coordinator, third-base coach, and offensive coach,” said Green. “Jake has established himself as one of the top recruiters on the west coast and did a tremendous job while at the University of Portland. He brought in three consecutive nationally-ranked classes, and was a huge part of elevating the Pilot program. He will not only impact our recruiting, but will have a major impact with our position players. We can’t wait to get Jake, Andree, Brooks, and Colbie to Pullman to enter this special community. This is a tremendous addition to WSU Baseball in bringing in one of the rising stars in the assistant ranks on the entire west coast. Go Cougs!”
 
Valentine comes to WSU after working the previous seven seasons at the University of Portland where he served as an assistant coach (2016-17), served as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator (2018-22) and was promoted to associate head coach prior the 2022 season.
 
In his seven seasons with the Pilots, 28 players earned All-West Coast Conference honors, two earned Freshman All-America accolades and four selected in the MLB Draft. As the recruiting coordinator, the Vancouver, Wash. native brought in three-straight nationally ranked recruiting classes. 
 
This past season, Valentine helped the Pilots finish second in the West Coast Conference, earn their first trip to the WCC Conference Tournament and tally the most wins (32) since 2010, including a program-record 17 conference wins. Valentine also saw starting pitcher Brett Gillis earn All-America honors and WCC Pitcher of the Year honors after leading the WCC in ERA (2.24), tying for second in strikeouts (115) and wins (9) and finished third in innings (84.1).
 
In 2021, Valentine helped recruit and coach nine Pilots who earned All-WCC honors led by shortstop Chad Stevens who led the league in hits and doubles and was selected in the 11^th round of the MLB Draft while first baseman Sam Brown earn Freshman All-America honors.
 
After being named hitting coach in 2018 the results came immediately for the Pilots, as they set single-seasons records in home runs (52) and hit-by-pitches (70). The 2019…