PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots baseball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jake Valentine has been promoted to associate head coach, Portland head baseball coach Geoff Loomis announced on Tuesday.
"I appreciate everything Coach Loomis has done for me and my family at Portland," Valentine said. "I truly believe in what we are building here on The Bluff. I'm excited to continue to work with such a great group of players, coaches and administrators here are UP."
Valentine joined the Pilots in August of 2015 as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Since joining Portland, 18 Pilots have earned All-West Coast Conference recognition, two players have been named Collegiate Baseball All-American Freshmen and four players have been taken in the MLB Draft. Cooper Hummel and Caleb Whalen were both taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 draft, Beau Brundage was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2018 draft and Chad Stevens was selected by the Houston Astros in the 2021 draft.
"Jake cares a great deal about our baseball program, student-athletes and university," Loomis said. "He knows what types of players excel in our program and has an eye for finding that talent and getting them to campus. Jake has all the tools necessary to someday become an outstanding head coach and I'm excited to promote him. "
Prior to joining the Pilots, Valentine served as an assistant coach with the Santa Clara Broncos for the 2015 season. He previously spent two seasons with UC Riverside (2012-14) and another two at Stephen F. Austin (2010-12).
Valentine also put together an impressive playing career at Tacoma Community College and Hawai'i Pacific University. In his senior season with Hawai'i Pacific in 2008, Valentine set single season records for runs scored (58) and walks (52).
The Pilots put together a solid 2021 season, going 24-26 for their best overall record since 2012 and finished fifth in the WCC (14-13) which is the program's best conference finish since 2010. Nine Pilots earned All-WCC recognition last season.