University of South Carolina names Kevin Schnall as head baseball coach
June 11, 2026
The University of South Carolina has named Kevin Schnall as its new head baseball coach, turning to one of the state’s most successful collegiate baseball leaders to guide the Gamecocks program into a new era.
Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati announced the hiring June 10, making Schnall the 33rd head coach in South Carolina baseball history. The move comes following a national search aimed at restoring one of college baseball’s most tradition-rich programs to championship contention.
Schnall arrives in Columbia after spending more than two decades at Coastal Carolina University, including the past two seasons as head coach of the Chanticleers. Under his leadership, Coastal Carolina quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top programs. In his first season as head coach in 2025, the Chanticleers won 56 games, captured a conference championship and advanced to the College World Series finals. He followed that success with another NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Schnall and his family to South Carolina,” Donati said in announcing the hire, citing Schnall’s track record as a leader, recruiter and developer of student-athletes.
A former Coastal Carolina catcher and All-American, Schnall has deep roots in South Carolina baseball. After playing professionally in the Cincinnati Reds organization, he began his coaching career at Coastal Carolina in 2001 and spent much of the next two decades helping build the Chanticleers into a perennial national contender. He was part of the coaching staff that helped lead Coastal Carolina to its 2016 national championship and later served as associate head coach before taking over the program in 2024.
The hire is viewed by many as a significant move for South Carolina, a program that won back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011 but has not returned to the College World Series since 2012. The Gamecocks have experienced several coaching changes over the past decade and are looking to reestablish themselves among the nation’s elite programs.
Schnall’s reputation as both a recruiter and player developer helped make him one of the most sought-after coaching candidates in college baseball. His success at Coastal Carolina, combined with his familiarity with recruiting in the Southeast and his experience competing against top programs nationally, made him a leading candidate throughout South Carolina’s coaching search.
The hiring also reflects the university’s commitment to investing in baseball as competition across the Southeastern Conference continues to intensify. South Carolina officials believe Schnall’s leadership, energy and vision can help position the Gamecocks to compete for championships in one of the toughest conferences in college athletics.
