A new era for Hatters baseball
Stetson University announced this week that Shane Gierke will take the helm of its baseball program, succeeding Steve Trimper after a decade at the program’s helm.
Gierke, a longtime assistant at both Stetson and UCF, brings more than 20 years of college coaching experience and a track record of developing talent that includes 21 All‑Americans and 85 all‑conference players.
Under Trimper, the Hatters captured their first NCAA Tournament Super Regional appearance in 2018 and followed it with back‑to‑back ASUN Tournament championships in 2024 and 2025, underscoring the program’s recent rise.
Gierke’s recruiting acumen was on display when his 2022 class earned a top‑40 national ranking from Perfect Game, a testament to his ability to attract high‑caliber prospects.
The new coach emphasized a player‑first philosophy, promising to build on the university’s rich baseball tradition while guiding the team toward continued success on the national stage.
Rooted in Florida baseball
A native of Apopka, Gierke played on the first state‑championship baseball team at Dr. Phillips High School before launching his coaching career, a lineage that ties him closely to the state’s baseball heritage.
His appointment signals Stetson’s commitment to continuity and growth, leveraging internal knowledge and external expertise to sustain the program’s momentum.