LOS ANGELES – Preparing to enter his third season at the helm of the Loyola Marymount University Lions baseball program, Head Coach Nathan Choate announced additions to his coaching staff today as he brings in former Baylor Assistant Coach Mitch Karraker and former Barry University Assistant Coach Eric Hutting to join the Lions in 2021-22. 
 
Karraker will serve as the Lions hitting coach and work primarily with the outfielders while Hutting will work with catchers and assist with LMU hitters. 
 
"I am excited to have Mitch and Eric join our program," said Choate. "Our players will benefit from their passion and energy. We are looking forward to getting on the field this fall as a team."
 
In 2021, Karraker developed the Bears into one of the top hitting teams in the country, as Baylor led the Big 12 (16^th nationally) with a .302 batting average. Center fielder Jared McKenzie and catcher Andy Thomas earned All-America honors from various outlets. With help from Karraker, Thomas was also named a finalist for the 2021 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year award.
 
In the 2020 season shortened by COVID-19, Karraker was a part of the staff that helped bring along Nick Loftin, who was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, along with earning preseason All-America honors. Freshman Jared McKenzie led the Bears with a .406 average as the team's leadoff hitting center fielder, earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America honors. The Bears were 10-6 until COVID-19 shut down the season, Highlights of the year including sweeping through an SEC loaded Shriner's Hospitals for Children College Classic in Houston.
 
"I am thrilled to have Mitch and his family join our program," said Choate. "He is coming from a very successful program at Baylor. His ability to connect with players will be felt immediately."
 
Prior to his arrival in Waco, Karraker spent four seasons coaching catchers as a member of then-head coach George Horton's staff at the University of Oregon.

Karraker joined head coach George Horton on the U.S. National Team coaching staff in the summer of 2016, serving as the bullpen coach. The College National Team wrapped up a three-country swing with Team USA's first ever series win in the country of Cuba. Karraker was also the bullpen coach for the CNT in the summer of 2012.

Hutting comes to LMU after spending one season as an assistant coach at Barry University prior to serving as the assistant coach at Cal State San Marcos in 2020, during the abbreviated spring season.

Prior to CSUSM, Hutting was at Regis University in Denver, Colo., where he was the assistant coach/pitching coach in 2019.

"Eric comes from a baseball family," said Choate. He has a passion for helping players develop. I am extremely excited to have him join our coaching staff." 

Hutting spent two seasons as an assistant in the Orange Empire Conference. In 2018, he took over pitching coach duties for Golden West College, and in 2017, he served as the first base and hitting coach at Cypress College.

In 2017 and 2018, Hutting served as the pitching coach for the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska Baseball League, where they led the league with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. In 44 games, they finished first (25-19) with 11 shutouts and 10 saves.

A four-year catcher at Long Beach State, Hutting graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies in 2016. He started 140 games behind the plate for the Dirtbags and threw out 39 percent of would-be base stealers. He helped LBSU make two NCAA Regional appearances in 2014 and 2016 and was named an Academic All-Star in 2013 and 2014. He then went on to earn his master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific in 2017. While at LBSU, he was a teammate of former Buccaneer Alexander DeGoti, who is now in Triple-A with the Houston Astros.

A native of Rancho Santa Margarita, Hutting attended Tesoro High School and was a four-year letter winner in baseball. He earned All-South Coast League honors in 2011 and 2012 and was a member of the Academic Honor Roll in 2009 and 2010.