THE CAIN FILE

PERSONAL

Born: January 2, 1986
Hometown: Cantonment, Florida
Education:
LSU, '09 (B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies)
Family: Kristen and children, Cason and Ryann

RESUME

2006-2009: RHP, LSU
2009: Detriot Tigers farm system
2014-2015: Coordinator of Baseball Ops., LSU
2016-2021: Assistant Coach, LSU
2022-23: Assistant Coach, Texas A&M
2024-Current: Associate Head Coach, Texas A&M

Texas A&M baseball added former LSU player and assistant coach Nolan Cain to the staff in June of 2021 and promoted him to Associate Head Coach two years later.

Cain has headed up recruiting efforts for the program since his arrival along with coaching third base in-game and work with Aggie catchers.

"Nolan has been the glue to our program ," Schlossnagle said upon Cain't elevation to Associate Head Coach. "He has more than earned this promotion and has continued to prove his incredible value both on the field and on the recruiting trail."

Cain arrived in the Brazos Valley after eight seasons on former head coach Paul Manieri's staff at LSU, including five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He also worked one season as the Tigers' volunteer coach and two seasons as coordinator of operations.

He is recognized as one of the top recruiters in the nation and is responsible for last year's class that included Freshman All-America outfielder Jace LaViolette and pitchers Justin Lamkin and Shane Sdao. Three of his last four recruiting classes at LSU were ranked in the national top five, including a No. 2 ranking by Baseball America for his 2020 class. His 2018 recruiting class earned the top spot from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The 2017 class was ranked No. 5 by Collegiate Baseball.

Since the arrival of Schlossnagle, Cain and the rest of the staff for the 2022 season, Texas A&M has series wins over 11 of the 13 other SEC programs, a feat tied for the tops in the league in that span. Additionally, the Aggies have secured 14 total series wins in that time, which ties them with this year's College World Series finalists LSU and Florida for the most series wins in the conference since 2022.

The Aggies followed up a 2022 run to Omaha by turning in 38 wins in 2023 and advancing to the championship game of the SEC Tournament. They were then selected as one of a record 10 SEC teams to make the NCAA Tournament, reaching the finals of the Stanford Regional. Under Cain's direction, the Aggies also secured the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country, per D1Baseball.com.

“He began as our coordinator of baseball operations before moving onto the field as the volunteer coach,” Mainieri said after Cain's initail hiring at Texas A&M. “When an opening occurred mid-year just before the fall signing date, I immediately moved him into the full-time position of recruiting coordinator and what a job he did! He held together that recruiting class under a crisis management situation before putting together his own top-5 recruiting classes over the next several years, including a No. 1 ranked class.”

During Cain’s eight seasons on the LSU staff, the Tigers earned five NCAA Tournament national seeds, two College World Series appearances, five NCAA Regional titles, two SEC championships and two SEC Tournament crowns.

Cain’s success can be seen at the next level with a list of professionals that include Major Leaguer Jake Fraley of the Seattle Mariners (a second-round draft pick), Oakland Athletics’ 2017 second-round choice Greg Deichmann, Texas Rangers' 2019 second-round pick Josh Smith, Baltimore Orioles’ 2019 third-round selection Zach Watson and Detroit Tigers’ 2020 second-round pick Daniel Cabrera. He mentored LSU catchers Saul Garza and Hunter Feduccia, both picked in the MLB Draft.

He also had a hand in recruiting and/or coaching a number of other notable draftees including 2023 first-round choices Dylan Crews and Ty Floyd, along with other top-3 round selections Cole Henry, Jaden Hill, Cade Doughty, Grant Taylor and Tre' Morgan.

“Nolan Cain will be a great addition to the staff at Texas A&M,” New York Yankees special assistant and former Chicago Cubs vice president/general manager Jim Hendry said. “He has great versatility in all areas of coaching on the field and he is an outstanding recruiter. His 15 years as a player and coach at LSU under Paul Mainieri has prepared him for this great opportunity. Coach Schlossnagle will do a great job at A&M and I truly believe Nolan will be an integral part of the success.”

Cain was a four-year letterwinner at LSU, making 73 career appearances, including 71 out of the bullpen, for the Tigers in four seasons (2006-09). He posted a 7-1 record with one save, a 4.04 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 102.4 innings.

The burly right-hander played a big role on LSU’s 2009 national title run. He pitched in 19 games, posting a 5-0 record with a 4.01 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. He pitched 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals against Texas.

Cain signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers in June 2009 and pitched for two seasons in the organization, including four games with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.

“Nolan is a special person that will be a tremendous asset to the Aggie baseball program,” Mainieri said. “He is a fiercely loyal person, and he will demonstrate that loyalty to Jim Schlossnagle and to Texas A&M just as he did to me and LSU. He has a wonderful and supportive family with a wife, Kristen, who was a former athlete and coach herself, and understands what it takes to be a successful coach at the highest level. Nolan is a versatile coach on the field and can be used in a multitude of ways by Coach Schlossnagle. Nolan will be a superstar coach in this business and eventually develop into a man that will be a great head coaching candidate himself under Coach Schlossnagle’s tutelage.”

The Cantonment, Florida, native earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from LSU in May 2009.

Cain is married to the former Kristen Hobbs, an LSU softball player from 2004-07. They have a son, Cason, and a daughter, Ryann.

8/14/2023