LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s University has announced Jacob Garsez as the new head coach of the Saints baseball team. A seasoned collegiate coach with a proven record of success, Garsez brings more than a decade of head coaching experience and a deep commitment to leadership, academic excellence and competitive integrity.
“Jacob is a proven leader who understands the importance of balancing competitive excellence with personal development,” said Theresa Hanson, director of athletics. “We are excited to welcome him to Saints Athletics as the new head coach of our baseball program. His commitment to building a championship culture—both on and off the field—makes him an outstanding fit for Saint Martin’s University. We look forward to the future of Saints Baseball under his leadership and the new era it represents for our program.”
Garsez comes to Saint Martin’s from Sonoma State University, where he served as head baseball coach for the 2024-25 season. In January 2025, Sonoma State announced the elimination of their athletics program. Prior to that, he led Oregon Tech from 2020 to 2024, compiling a record of 120-87 and guiding the program to a 2023 Cascade Conference Championship. Under his leadership, Oregon Tech earned national recognition in the NAIA Top 25 polls and produced a First Team All-American, a Player of the Year, and a Pitcher of the Year, among numerous other honors.
Before Oregon Tech, Garsez was head coach at University of Antelope Valley, where he built a powerhouse program with a record of 156-65-2 from 2015 to 2019. His teams earned multiple conference titles and made several appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, including a trip to the NAIA World Series in 2018. He has been named Coach of the Year in three different conferences and was twice named University of Antelope Valley Athletic Staff Member of the Year.
Beyond his coaching success, Garsez has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and player development. His teams have consistently earned NAIA Scholarly Team and ABCA Academic Excellence honors. He is also a certified Mental Performance Coach, bringing an emphasis on holistic athlete development to the program.
“This is an exciting time for Saint Martin’s Baseball,” added Hanson. “With a historic $1.5 million gift launching a major renovation of our baseball facility, we are poised to significantly enhance the student-athlete experience and strengthen the long-term success of our program.”
Garsez earned his Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Physical Education and Health from George Fox University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from The College of Idaho and an associate degree from Columbia Basin College, where he also played baseball.
“I want to sincerely thank Director of Athletics Theresa Hanson and University President Dr. Bill Brownsberger for the opportunity to lead the Saint Martin’s baseball program,” said Garsez. “It’s an honor to be entrusted with this role, and I’m committed to building SMU Baseball into a competitive and respected program—both on and off the field. My family and I are truly excited to join the Saint Martin’s community, and we look forward to the journey ahead as we become part of laying the foundation for something special.”
Garsez, who will start his new role immediately, will be joined by his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons, Zander (age 10) and Owen (6).
Saint Martin’s Baseball (3-46, 3-29 GNAC) wrapped up their 2025 campaign at home, winning one of the four contests in the series. Despite the challenges of the season, six Saints were recognized with All-Conference Honors. Alex Hartnett and Peter Hollabaugh were named to the Second Team, while Isaac Hoag, Wyatt Ishii, Evan Nicol and Kyle Schabot earned Honorable Mention. Academically, 15 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-Conference Team, with Tyler Young (Business Administration) achieving the highest GPA on the team at 3.92.
For more information about Saints athletics, visit .
About Saint Martin’s University:
Saint Martin’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 380 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment through its 31 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and six certificate programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, counseling, education, engineering, nursing, and leadership. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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