Auburn University’s baseball program announced a significant addition to its coaching staff this week, naming Georgia assistant Nick Ammirati as its new hitting coach.
A mentor with deep SEC roots
Ammirati brings more than a decade of experience in the SEC, having played at Mississippi State from 2012 to 2023 before transitioning to coaching. At Georgia he helped the Bulldogs lead the nation with 179 home runs last season and set school records for runs scored, RBI and total bases.
A new era for Auburn’s hitting
The hire marks the end of Gabe Gross’s tenure as Auburn’s hitting coach, who stepped down on Monday after a period of transition. Ammirati, who has known head coach Butch Thompson for 15 years, expressed enthusiasm about joining a program he described as young, talented and moving in the right direction.
Thompson praised Ammirati’s potential, highlighting his success in guiding teams to the College World Series and emphasizing the coach’s ability to develop hitters who can drive the Tigers’ offense forward.
Looking ahead
Auburn’s front office believes the new hitting coach will help the program maintain its upward trajectory, especially as the team prepares for the upcoming season with a focus on player development and strategic recruiting.