Stetson baseball hires UCF assistant Shane Gierke as head coach

• Stetson baseball hires UCF assistant Shane Gierke as head coach

Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-JournalMon, July 20, 2026 at 3:45 PM UTC·2 min read

Stetson welcomed back former assistant Shane Gierke as the program's head baseball coach on July 20.

Gierke, who spent this past season on UCF's coaching staff, served as the Hatters' associate head coach and recruiting coordinator from 2021-25 under the outgoing Steve Trimper. Trimper stepped down July 15 after a 10-year run, which included the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament's Super Regionals in 2018.

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The Hatters captured consecutive ASUN Tournament titles in 2024 and '25, but finished with a 23-32 record last spring.

"I'm extremely grateful and humbled for this opportunity to lead Stetson baseball and this storied program," Gierke said in a statement. "My family and I would like to thank President (Christopher) Roellke and Athletic Director Ricky Ray for the trust and confidence to lead this program into the future.

"My staff and I will work tirelessly to honor the tradition that was laid before us. Establishing a player-first program that is accountable and committed to the program will be our mission daily."

Across more than two decades of college coaching experience, which includes previous stops at Troy and West Florida, Gierke has recruited and coached 21 All-Americans, 85 all-conference players and 32 players who advanced to the pros.

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"I am thrilled Shane has accepted the offer to be the next head baseball coach at Stetson University," Ray said. "In his previous time at Stetson as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, he led us to back-to-back NCAA regionals. But more importantly, he builds genuine and long-lasting relationships with his student-athletes and their families. Shane has earned this opportunity and I am happy for him, Veronica, Jackson and Shelby."

This will be Gierke's first head coaching position at the college level. D1Baseball chose him as one of its top 100 assistants ahead of the 2024 season, and the Hatters' 2022 recruiting class was recognized by Perfect Game as one of the 40 best nationally.

An Apopka native, Gierke was part of the first state championship baseball team at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, where he played for his father, Chip.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Stetson baseball hires UCF assistant Shane Gierke as head coach

Story byDaytona Beach News-Journal