Jake Valentine Joins Program as Assistant Head Coach
9/18/2023 12:19:00 PM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan baseball head coach Tracy Smith announced the hiring of Jake Valentine on Monday (Sept. 18) as the program's new assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.
"When the position opened we set out to hire a proven national recruiter with a track record for developing young men on and off the field," Smith said. "We also wanted someone who would embrace and understand what it means to be at the University of Michigan. We can confidently announce today that we found our guy in Jake Valentine."
"My family and I are both thrilled and grateful to be able to join the Michigan family," said Valentine. "I am humbled to have the opportunity to work for such a storied institution and conference. I couldn't be more excited to work for and learn under an all-time great in Coach Smith."
Valentine joins the program after one season at Washington State, where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Cougars. In the 2023 season, Valentine helped the Cougars to a 29-23 record -- their best since 2015 and its first ranking since 2010. Five Cougars received All-Pac-12 honors following the season.
Prior to his time in Pullman, Valentine spent seven seasons at the University of Portland. Valentine started as an assistant coach before moving up to hitting coach and recruiting coordinator and spent the 2022 season as associate head coach. With the Pilots, he mentored 28 players to All-West Coast Conference honors, two freshman All-Americans and four MLB draft picks.
Before his seven seasons in Portland, he spent time as an assistant coach at Santa Clara and two seasons at UC Riverside in the same position. Valentine started his coaching career at Stephen F. Austin State, where the Lumberjacks posted a 63-56 record and helped develop Hunter Dozier. Dozier was selected No. 8 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Valentine earned his degree in communications from Hawai'i Pacific University, playing two seasons for the Warriors. He served as a team captain and set the single-season marks in runs scored and walks. He began his college career at Tacoma Community College in Washington.
He and his wife, Andree, have a son, Brooks, and a daughter, Colbie.Â
