Assistant Coach Nolan Cain

Nolan Cain

#39 • ASSISTANT COACH & RECRUITING COORDINATOR

Former LSU pitcher Nolan Cain was promoted to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator in November 2016 after working for one season as the Tigers’ volunteer coach and for two seasons as coordinator of operations.

Cain, 34, who also serves as LSU’s third-base coach, catchers coach and outfielders coach, manages all aspects of the Tigers’ recruiting process. Three of his past four recruiting classes have received a Top 5 national ranking, including his 2020 class, which was rated No. 2 by Baseball America.

Cain’s 2018 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the nation by both Baseball America and by Collegiate Baseball, and Collegiate Baseball rated his 2017 LSU class No. 5 in the country.

During Cain’s seven prior seasons on the LSU staff, the Tigers have earned five NCAA Tournament National Seeds, two College World Series appearances, four NCAA Regional titles, two SEC championships, two SEC Western Division titles and two SEC Tournament crowns.

Over the past five seasons, Cain has coached seven LSU players who were selected in the MLB Draft, including three second-round choices and one thirdround pick.

Outfielders that Cain has tutored at LSU include current Major Leaguer Jake Fraley of the Seattle Mariners (a second-round draft pick); Greg Deichmann, the 2017 Oakland Athletics second-round draft choice; Zach Watson, the 2019 thirdround selection of the Baltimore Orioles; Antoine Duplantis, LSU’s career hits leader and the New York Mets 12th-round pick in 2019; and Daniel Cabrera, the 2020 second-round draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.

Cain has also coached at LSU catchers Saul Garza and Hunter Feduccia, both of whom were selected in the MLB Draft.

A reliever on LSU’s 2009 national championship team, Cain has handled a number of responsibilities with the baseball program during his tenure with the Tigers, including team travel, budgeting, community relations and the operation of the Paul Mainieri LSU Baseball Camp.

Cain made 73 career relief appearances for the Tigers in four seasons (200609). The right-hander was a physical presence on the mound with solid fastball and an excellent breaking pitch. He received his LSU degree in May 2009 and pitched in the minor leagues after signing a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers in June 2009.

Cain, a native of Cantonment, Fla., helped lead LSU to the ’09 national title, making 19 appearances on the mound while recording a 5-0 mark and a 4.01 ERA in 33.2 innings with 10 walks and 38 strikeouts. He provided an excellent relief outing in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals versus Texas, firing 3.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts.

Cain and his wife, the former Kristen Hobbs, have a son, Cason, and a daughter, Ryann. Kristen played softball at LSU from 2004-07 and now works as the Executive Director for LSU’s National L Club.

The Cain File

Year at LSU: Eighth Birthdate: January 2, 1986 Hometown: Cantonment, Fla. Wife: Kristen Children: Cason, Ryann Education: LSU, 2009 B.A. in interdisciplinary studies

Playing Career

2006-2009 LSU 2009 Detroit Tigers farm system

Coaching Career

2017- LSU (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator 2016 LSU (volunteer coach) 2014-15 LSU (coordinator of baseball operations)