Chris Lemonis, a Myrtle Beach native and former national championship‑winning coach, has been named the seventh head baseball coach at Coastal Carolina University. The announcement came on a sunny Tuesday in Conway, where university officials praised Lemonis’s blend of experience and deep ties to the region.
Lemonis arrives after a distinguished tenure at Mississippi State, where he guided the Bulldogs to the 2021 NCAA National Championship and compiled a career record of 373‑226‑2 over 11 seasons. His résumé also includes 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and five trips to the College World Series, underscoring a consistent ability to field competitive teams.
A Homecoming for a Champion Coach
Beyond championships, Lemonis has earned a reputation for shaping talent that moves on to professional baseball. He has overseen 111 MLB Draft selections, produced 22 major‑league players, and mentored 38 All‑Americans, many of whom earned Freshman All‑American honors. In 2021, his efforts were recognized when he was named Baseball America National Coach of the Year.
Prior to his championship stint, Lemonis spent four seasons at Indiana University, leading the Hoosiers to three NCAA Tournament berths, and earlier served eight years as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Louisville. His coaching journey began with a formative period at The Citadel, where he was inducted into the athletic hall of fame in 2016.
Lemonis and his wife, Jill, are parents to two daughters, Marissa and Mackenzie. The family’s return to South Carolina marks a full‑circle moment for a coach who grew up amid the Lowcountry’s baseball culture and is now poised to build on Coastal Carolina’s rising program.