Preparing to enter his 11^th season at the helm of the LMU baseball program, head coach Jason Gill recently announced he has hired Nathan Choate to join the Lion coaching staff in 2018-19.

Choate spent the last two years as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at WCC-rival San Diego. While with the Toreros, Choate helped guide USD to a combined 58-50-1 record. In his first season with San Diego in 2017, Choate's staff struck out 9.7 batters per nine innings to record the sixth-best rate in the nation and lead the WCC. Torero ace, Nick Sprengel, went 9-1 to tie a program record for win percentage and was named to the All-WCC First team. Additionally, Chris Murphy was named to the Freshmen All-American team after striking out 11.61 batters per nine innings - the fifth-best rate in a single-season in program history.

Through his two seasons, five Torero pitchers were selected in the MLB Draft, including right-hander Paul Richan by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 2018 June Draft.

Before coming to USD, Choate had been the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Grand Canyon University for five years. While at GCU, he helped lead the 'Lopes to a D-II World Series appearance and a WAC Championship while the school was transitioning to D-I. Considered one of the top recruiters in the nation, Choate also spearheaded a top-35 ranked recruiting class in 2015.

Prior to his time at Grand Canyon, Choate spent four years at UC Riverside, where he served as the Highlanders' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, helping 11 pitchers get drafted by MLB clubs, including Joe Kelly and Matt Andriese.

Before UCR, Choate was the pitching coordinator for UC Irvine, which finished fourth at the 2007 College World Series.

Choate pitched collegiately at Cal Poly for two seasons, where he was awarded the Jim Newkirk Fireman's Award, given to the team's best relief pitcher, in his junior and senior seasons. He also pitched two seasons at Santa Ana Junior College in 1998 and 1999, helping the Dons to a third-place national finish in 1999.

Choate is married to Lori Choate. The couple has four children, Kamdyn, Chance, Kyla and Kacey.