Jake Valentine

Title

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Email

jacob.c.valentine@wsu.edu
Phone

509-335-0211

Jake Valentine returns for his second season as the Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator and will serve as the hitting coach and coach the outfielders under Head Coach Nathan Choate. Valentine completed his first season with the Cougars as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator after joining the program Jane 23, 2022.

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, 2-1. Following the series win at No. 15 OSU to open conference play, WSU appeared at No. 20 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top-25, the Cougars first national ranking since 2010. WSU put up impressive numbers in all three phases, hitting the tenth-most home runs in program history (54), recording the most stolen bases since 2015 (70), was hit by the pitch the third-most in program history (92), fielded at a .974 clip for the fourth-best fielding percentage in program history and the pitching staff set the strikeout record for the second straight season (518).

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. Along with McKeon, transfer first baseman Sam Brown, transfer outfielder Jonah Advincula, infielder Elijah Hainline and pitcher Dakota Hawkins each earned all-league recognition.

Valentine came 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 season also saw the offense hit 94 doubles and collect 265 RBI, both good enough for tenth all-time in program history.

Valentine previously worked at Santa Clara as an assistant coach. With the Broncos in 2014, Valentine was the infield coordinator, first base coach and the assistant hitting coach. He helped develop standout Jose Vizcaino, Jr., who claimed his second straight First Team All-WCC honor. Vizcaino, Jr., was also named the College Sports Madness WCC Field Player of the Year and he was selected in the seventh round of the MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Prior to his stint at Santa Clara, Valentine spent two seasons (2012-14) as an assistant coach at UC Riverside. Valentine worked with outfielders and hitters during his first year and hitters during his second year with the Highlanders. He served as the team's first base coach both seasons. In addition to helping eight players get drafted, he helped UCR double its win total in his second season and the Highlanders led the Big West offensively in 2014.

Previously, Valentine coached at Stephen F. Austin State for two seasons (2010-12). The Lumberjacks posted a 63-56 overall record (36-30 in conference), won a school record 37 games in 2011 and made it to the Southland Conference Tournament twice. Valentine was the infield coordinator at SFA, the base running coach and the assistant hitting coach, and the team set program records in stolen bases (101, 2011), hits (647, 2011) and fielding percentage (.964, 2012). Bryson Myles set the ‘Jacks single-season stolen base record with 53 in 2011, and Valentine helped develop Hunter Dozier, who was selected with the No. 8 overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 MLB Draft.

Valentine earned a communications degree from Hawai’i Pacific University after spending two years playing for the Warriors. A team captain, Valentine set single-season marks in runs scored (58, 2008) and walks (52, 2008) and he helped the team claim at least 30 wins both years. Valentine began his college career playing at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Wash.

A native of Vancouver, Wash., Valentine and his wife Andree have a son, Brooks, and a daughter, Colbie.