Washington State University’s baseball program has not seen the NCAA Tournament in sixteen years, but that drought ends this season under head coach Nathan Choate, who has guided the Cougars to a historic postseason berth.
Pat Chun, who served as WSU’s athletic director before stepping down, praised Choate’s selfless leadership and his relentless focus on player development, noting that the coach’s ability to build genuine relationships has been key to the team’s turnaround.
A Player‑First Philosophy
Former deputy athletic director Mitch Straub echoed those sentiments, highlighting Choate’s work ethic and the way he has cultivated trust with his players, a factor that helped pitcher Nick Lewis post a 3.07 ERA this year.
The Cougars will open their tournament run against No. 7‑ranked Oregon State, marking Choate’s first appearance in the postseason as a head coach and capping a journey that began with assistant stops at Loyola Marymount, Grand Canyon, and UC Irvine.
Choate’s ascent reflects a rare blend of on‑field success and off‑field stewardship; he previously led the team to a conference title, one of only a handful of such achievements at WSU in the past quarter‑century, and he continues to navigate the complex financial landscape shaped by NIL deals and revenue sharing.
Off the field, Choate and his wife Lori are parents to four children — Kamdyn, Chance, Kyla and Kacey — underscoring the personal side of a coach who balances family life with the demands of college baseball.