PULLMAN, Wash. (June 30, 2023) – Washington State Baseball Head Coach Nathan Choate announced his coaching staff Friday.
 
Jake Valentine is returning as the Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator and will serve as the hitting coach and coach the outfielders, Joe Perez will be an Assistant Coach and serve as the infield coach and assist with the hitters, and Eric Hutting will be an Assistant Coach and work with the catchers while assisting with the pitchers and hitters.
 
Valentine worked in the same role for the Cougars last season after working the previous seven years at Portland. In his first season in Pullman, Valentine helped the 2023 Cougars post a 29-23 record, the most wins since 2015, including series wins at No. 15 Oregon State, over No. 12 UCLA, Arizona, at California, WCC Tournament champion Santa Clara and claimed the season series over Gonzaga. WSU put up impressive numbers offensively, hitting the tenth-most home runs in program history (54), recording the most stolen bases since 2015 (70) and fielded at a .974 clip for the fourth-best fielding percentage in program history. Following the season, five Cougars received All-Pac-12 recognition led by All-West Region designated hitter Jacob McKeon who was also named an Academic All-American and the Pac-12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
In his seven seasons at Portland, Valentine served as an assistant coach (2016-17), as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator (2018-22) and was promoted to associate head coach prior the 2022 season. Valentine saw 28 players earn All-West Coast Conference honors, two earn 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. 
 
"Jake is one of the best recruiters on the west coast. He can really evaluate and has a knack for finding the right players," Choate said. "On the field his hitters have always been very competitive and have a good approach and his ability to develop relationships with players is extremely evident.  We are very fortunate he decided to remain at Washington State."
 

Perez arrives at WSU after working the previous eight seasons as the Associated Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Central Arizona College, one of the premiere junior college programs in the country, where worked with the infielders and hitters. Perez, the 2021 ABCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, helped the Vaqueros to a pair of Junior College National Championships, three Western District titles, two Region I Championships and three ACCAC Conference Championships. During his tenure with the Vaqueros, 14 infielders awarded ALL-ACCAC, six awarded ACCAC Gold Gloves, and one NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove.
 
Prior to his time at Central Arizona, Perez spent four seasons at Grand Canyon University where he worked with Choate for Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz, helping GCU to the 2013 Division II West Region Championship and Division II College World Series appearances.
 
"Joe has a proven record of winning, he won two national championships at Central Arizona and was named 2021 National Junior College Assistant Coach of the Year," Choate said. "He has a tremendous work ethic and coaches with a ton of passion, we are very excited to add him to our staff."

 
Hutting comes to WSU after working the past two seasons with Choate at Loyola Marymount as an assistant coach, working with the catchers and assisting with the LMU hitters. Hutting helped Loyola Marymount to a 2023 West Coast Conference title while the Lions captured the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Choate was named WCC Coach of the Year. LMU claimed its first outright regular season title in 25 years with a 29-24 mark including an impressive 21-6 record in conference play while a pair of Lions earned All-America honors with five players receiving All-WCC honors.
 
Prior to LMU, Hutting coached at Barry University during the 2021 season, at Cal State San Marcos in 2020, and at Regis University in Denver, Colo., where he was the assistant coach/pitching coach in 2019. A four-year catcher at Long Beach State, Hutting started 140 games behind the plate for the Dirtbags and threw out 39 percent of would-be base stealers. He helped LBSU make two NCAA Regional appearances in 2014 and 2016, was named an Academic All-Star in 2013 and 2014 and is a native of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
 
"Eric comes from a baseball family and was instrumental to our success at LMU the last two years," Choate said. "He played collegiately at Long Beach State, has a great understanding of both sides of the ball and we are thrilled to have him join us in Pullman."