Thursday, Nathan Choate was sworn in as the 18^th head coach of Washington State Baseball in front of media, staff, and players. Choate was hired from Loyola Marymount University after former WSU skipper Brian Green left for Wichita State University.
 
In 2023, Choate was named the WCC Coach of the Year in 2023. He led his LMU Lions to an impressive 21-6 West Coast Conference record and regular season championship. Choate has a pitching background with years of coaching experience at various schools such as UC Irvine, Grand Canyon, San Diego, and UC Riverside. Choate also pitched collegiately at Cal Poly and Santa Ana Junior College.
 
From inside the locker room as a current player and pitcher, this hire excites me tremendously. Our explosive offensive production the last couple of years has not been met by pitching production, however with coach Choate's resume the players are excited to hopefully change that.
 
Choate has sat down with many of the players and expressed his love for growing young men, harboring relationships, and seeing hard work translate into success. Choate is a real players coach and wants to build relationships quickly. Choate has wasted no time in helping players break down film, learn new pitches and fix mentalities. Players who have stayed in Pullman during the summer are experiencing hands-on development and interaction.
 
Thursday's press conference highlighted Choate's mentality, especially his eagerness to get started, telling many of the players he just wants "to get to the baseball part" already. Choate knows what this nearly postseason-ready roster possesses and what he can do with it.
 
"We are here to win. I believe that in my heart of hearts that you can win here, if you get the right people in the room," Choate said. I too believe we have the right players to succeed, especially on the mound.
 
A tight knit group of returners conducted many zoom calls and text message threads reiterating to one another how important it is to stick together during the head coach hiring process. The current returning roster was not phased by the changes and surrounding variables, knowing administration would hire the right man for the job.
 
For WSU to only have a handful of guys enter their names in the transfer portal after a head coach leaves, showcases a real sense of the loyalty and pride players have in Washington State Baseball. The players want to be here, and they want to win here, we just needed someone who could show us how to do it.
 
"How do you get tougher? You do hard things. We are going to push you to levels you don't even know you can go," Choate said about the character he wants to build.
 
Choate will keep this new WSU baseball program "championship ready" and thankful with an "attitude of gratitude."