Lancaster Native Matt Williams Named D1 Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year

Lancaster native and Lancaster High School graduate Matt Williams has been named the 2025 D1 Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year, a prestigious national honor recognizing his immediate and significant impact as the pitching coach for Coastal Carolina University. This accolade comes in his inaugural season with the Chanticleers.

Williams, who previously served a season as the pitching coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks, joined Coastal Carolina in June 2024. His influence on the Chanticleers’ pitching staff was swift and dramatic. Under his guidance, Coastal Carolina’s pitching finished with a 3.20 team ERA, ranking as the second-best in the country and leading the Sun Belt Conference. This was a substantial improvement from the team’s 5.83 ERA in 2024 and 6.25 ERA in 2023.

The Chanticleers’ pitching prowess was a cornerstone of their highly successful 2025 season. The team achieved a nation-leading and school-record 56 wins, secured both the Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships, and won the Conway Regional and Auburn Super Regional. Their impressive run culminated in a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, where they ultimately finished as runners-up in their second trip to the CWS finals in program history. In their five games in Omaha, the pitching staff allowed five runs or fewer in every single outing.

Williams’ mentorship developed several standout pitchers this season. Jacob Morrison emerged as the team’s ace, boasting a 2.42 ERA and 104 strikeouts, earning him Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and All-American honors. Cameron Flukey was named first-team All-Sun Belt and a third-team All-American, while relief pitcher Dominick Carbone earned second-team All-Sun Belt recognition with a 2.36 ERA and five saves.

Williams’ coaching career spans 19 years, during which he has seen 35 pitchers sign professional contracts and five make their Major League debuts. His ability to consistently improve pitching staffs has been evident throughout his career, including prior stints at Liberty University and UNC Wilmington.