PULLMAN, Wash. (July 2, 2023) – Washington State University introduced Nathan Choate as its 18^th head baseball coach in program history June 29.
 
Nathan Choate
"First off, I want to thank President Kirk Schulz and Pat Chun. Going through this process, when I got a phone call from Washington State, the first thing I did was talk to my wife, Laura. She asked If I'm interested and I said yes because I think there's a lot of resources here to win. That's the thing that I want the players to understand, that we are here to win. I believe that in my heart of hearts that we can win here if you get the right people. Yeah, you can win here and so that was it."
 
"When I talked to the guys on Zoom, one of the things I wanted them to understand was that this is their team. What I would like to see, and it's going to take some time, is that for it to become our team. It's going to take me earning their respect and earning the community's respect. I've been through enough (press conferences), where people stand up here and they promise all the things in the world.  Actions speak louder than words. So, the thing that I'm asking is give us time to earn your respect on how we play baseball games. Give our coaching staff time to earn your respect and trust. There is nothing I can say in 10 minutes that's going to convince you of that. It's going to be a daily interaction that we have. I hope the guys understand that this is their Washington State Baseball program, I just happen to be leading at the time. Pullman, this is your program. It'll never be my program. It is our program, our players, our coaching staff, and our community."
 
Deputy Director of Athletics, Mitch Straub
"He is a leader who will invest his heart and soul into this program. "Your new head coach is tough. Your new head coach is transparent and there is now doubt that your new coach cares. "
 

Choate Family, welcome to the Coug Family!#GoCougs | @NathanChoate22 | #WAZZU pic.twitter.com/ESfjiazTvU
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) July 1, 2023
 

Choate arrives at WSU after leading Loyola Marymount to a West Coast Conference title this past season while guiding the Lions to new heights in his four seasons leading the program. Choate was named the 2023 WCC Coach of the Year after leading LMU to their first outright regular season title in 25 years with a 29-24 mark including an impressive 21-6 record in conference play, four games ahead of second-place Portland, and swept four WCC series. Choate coached a pair of Lions to All-America honors while five players earned All-WCC honors in addition to the WCC Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
 
"WSU Baseball is our oldest and most storied program. Coach Nathan Choate is the exact fit we need to lead us into the next chapter of WSU Baseball," Cougar Director of Athletics Pat Chun said. "What he accomplished at LMU speaks for itself. His values and principles are aligned with WSU. We are excited to welcome Nathan, Lori and the Choate Family to Washington State University." 
 
Choate's 2023 LMU club tallied road wins at Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State, claimed six WCC Pitcher of the Week honors, one WCC Player of the Week and the pitching staff finished their season ranked sixth nationally in walks per nine innings and 26th nationally in walk to strikeout ratio. Choate coached three all-conference pitchers in 2023 led by ace Diego Barrera who earned All-America honors after going 8-2 with 93 strikeouts and a 2.17 ERA while Khadim Diaw earned Freshman All-America honors after hitting .314 with eight home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 33 RBI, 47 runs scored and 66 hits. In the classroom, the Lions closed the 2023 season with a 3.18 team GPA including 24 players with a 3.0 or higher.
 
Throughout his coaching career, Choate has accumulated 25 players drafted in the MLB Draft, seven of which have been selected in the top-10 rounds, 10 All-Americans, two College World Series appearances, three Team USA pitchers, four Freshman All-Americans, two Big West Freshman Pitchers of the Year, two WCC Pitchers of the Year and nine All-Conference Pitchers. In the 2017 season with San Diego his team finished sixth in the country in strikeouts and his 2019 Lion pitching staff to the 14th best ERA in the nation. 
 
"My family and I couldn't be more excited to join the Washington State University family. Thank you to President Schulz, Pat Chun and Mitch Straub for the opportunity to lead the baseball program," Choate said. We look forward to earning the respect of past, current, and future Cougs, as well as the Pullman Community. Go Cougs!"
 
Choate and his wife Lori have four children, Kamdyn, Chance, Kyla and Kacey.