RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State has hired Clint Chrysler as pitching coach for the baseball program, head coach Elliott Avent announced on Tuesday.
Chrysler comes to the Pack after eight seasons on Winthrop’s baseball staff as the Assistant Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and Pitching Coach.
“Clint has built a strong reputation in this region and nationally amongst the baseball community as one of the best pitching coaches in the country,” said Avent. “During his collegiate career at Stetson University and a nine-year professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners organizations, he was known for his competitive nature and his strong work ethic. He’s done an excellent job of translating that into his coaching style.
“He’s a hands-on teacher known best for his ability to develop players through relationship building and designing individualized plans to help them grow, adjust and reach their full potential as baseball players, and as men. Everyone I spoke to during this process had high praise on his approach and demeanor, and we’re happy to have Clint and his fiancé Christy join our family here at NC State.”
At Winthrop, Chrysler helped guide the Eagles to five consecutive winning seasons in conference play, including the 2017 season when Winthrop won its first outright regular season Big South title since 2003.
Chrysler brought in high-caliber recruiting classes during his tenure at Winthrop. The 2013 class was ranked No. 1 in the Big South Conference and No. 63 nationally. The 2014 class was rated No. 2 in the Big South and top-100 nationally, while the 2015 class was likewise ranked among the nation’s top 100. Winthrop’s 2017 recruiting class again led the Big South and was ranked in the top-100 nationally.
Chrysler was instrumental in developing the Eagles’ pitching staff as five Winthrop pitchers have gone on to sign professional contracts during Chrysler’s tenure. Winthrop’s pitching staff has ranked among the top 50 nationally in strikeouts/base on ball ratio and fewest base on balls per nine innings from 2012-2016.
Chrysler coached three All-Big South Performers as well as numerous Big South Pitcher of the Week recipients.
Chrysler came to the Eagles after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Stetson University. During his time with the Hatters, Chrysler was in charge of the outfielders, assisted with the hitters and pitchers, as well as serving as the first-base coach and baseball camp coordinator.
A native of Clear Lake, Texas, Chrysler played collegiately at Stetson University from 1995-97. He played three seasons as a two-way player for the Hatters and accumulated a 14-10 record on the mound with a 3.80 ERA. As a hitter, Chrysler had a career average of .309, including a career-high .344 average as a junior. He helped lead Stetson to two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons and currently holds the single-game pitching record by throwing 11 innings against Florida International on May 15, 1997.
Chrysler was named the 1996 Cape Cod League Reliever of the Year playing for the Wareham Gatemen. He also set the Cape Cod League save record that season and still holds the Gatemen team saves record. Chrysler was named to the Mid-Season All-Star Team during the season as well.
Chrysler left the Hatter baseball program after his junior season when he was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 17th round of the 1997 Major League Draft. He spent nine years playing professional baseball with the Mariners (1997-99) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (2000-04) and reached as high as the AAA level playing for the Pirates (Nashville Sounds). During his professional career, Chrysler was named to two minor league All-Star teams.
In 2010, he spent this summer as the head coach of the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs of the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The Diamond Dawgs won a league-record 31 games and the 2010 Florida League Championship, which was played at the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field. Chrysler was also recognized as Manager of the Year.
He graduated from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Fla., in 1994. As a player at Boca Ciega, Chrysler earned First Team All-Suncoast and All-State honors. He was drafted in the 47th round of the 1994 Major League Draft by the New York Yankees, but instead chose to attend Stetson.
Chrysler earned his bachelor’s degree in Supervision and Management from Daytona State College in December of 2009.
What they are saying about Clint Chrysler:
‘I have known Clint for almost 25 years and cannot think of someone more qualified or deserving of being the new pitching coach at NC State. All Wolfpack fans will come to know the same loyal, hard working and personable force that I have for all of these years. I look forward to seeing him in Omaha with the rest of the staff soon.” – Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Chipper Jones
“Elliott Avent and NC State baseball made an outstanding hire. Clint is a fantastic coach and recruiter, but above all he is an even better person; his work ethic and passion being second to none. In the eight years we were together at Winthrop, he made a major impact on our baseball program, and I know he will do the same for the NC State baseball program.” – Winthrop Head Coach Tim Riginos
“Clint is the perfect hire for NC State Baseball. As a player in both college and pro ball he was the ultimate competitor. As a coach he has cultivated that mindset with his individual pitchers as well as the staff as a whole. He’s an outstanding communicator who brings out the best in each of his staff, no matter what their role. They will compete, be fundamentally sound, and will attack the strike zone.”– Retired Stetson Head Coach Pete Dunn (Chrysler’s collegiate head coach)
