Stetson University head baseball coach Steve Trimper has announced the addition of Daniel Latham to the Hatters' coaching staff.
 
Latham, who comes to Stetson from Tulane University, will serve as the Stetson pitching coach.
 
"When this position first came open, we had a tremendous candidate pool, and Daniel rose to the top right away," Trimper said. "His proven ability to develop pitchers, plus his recruiting ability and personality, made him a perfect fit for our coaching staff."
 
A native of Covington, La., Latham spent the last four seasons as the pitching coach at his alma mater. During the shortened 2020 season, the Green Wave had a 15-2 record when the season ended thanks in part to the 3.06 team ERA and an average of almost 10 strikeouts per game.
 
Brandon Oltfhoff was the standout, posting a 4-0 mark with a 0.32 ERA and 47 strikeouts against just three walks. He came back in 2021 to post a 6-3 record with a 3.78 ERA, recording 91 strikeouts against just 11 walks before being selected in the 9^th round of the MLB draft, the first of four Green Wave pitchers picked in the draft that year.
 
This past spring, with a pitching staff made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, Tulane posted a 33-26 record, including a 7-1 mark by freshman Grant Siegel with a 3.02 ERA. Sophomore closer Zach DeVito also had a stellar season with a 4-1 record and nine saves.
 
"I am so excited about the opportunity to become a member of the Stetson family," Latham said. "From the first time we stepped on campus it just felt like home. I am extremely grateful to Jeff Altier, Coach Trimper, Coach Shane Gierke and the rest of the staff for allowing my family to be part of a program with such a rich history.
 
"The Stetson baseball program has always had a strong reputation for development and success and I hope to help take that to the next level. I believe this staff, and this roster, has what it takes to win right away and compete for championships."
 
Prior to returning to Tulane where he was an All-American who still ranks ninth in NCAA history with 43 career saves, Latham served as the Associate Head Coach/pitching coach at Southeastern Louisiana University from 2011-18, helping the Lions to two Southland Conference titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Latham also spent one season as the pitching coach at VMI, helping the Keydets post the fourth lowest team ERA in program history, and he was a volunteer assistant coach at High Point.
 
On the field, Latham appeared in 122 games for the Green Wave from 2004-07, helping Tulane to a Conference USA title, two NCAA Regional championships as well as a trip to the 2005 College World Series. He earned CUSA All-Freshman honors, was a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2006 and was a four-year member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. He was selected in the 2007 MLB Draft in the 15^th round by the Minnesota Twins.
 
Overall, Latham has had 32 pitchers selected in the MLB draft, has produced seven All-Americans and 22 All-Conference hurlers.
 
Latham received his degree in Communications from Tulane in 2007. He and his wife, Shiloh, have one son, Keane.
 
What they are saying about Daniel Latham
 
"Having known Steve Trimper all the way back to his playing days at Elon, and having coached Daniel for four years at Tulane, this seems like a perfect match. Daniel has such a great work ethic and is very bright. They will be able to put a very strong team together and I am excited for both of them. Daniel is in our Hall of Fame at Tulane and was our closer when we went to the College World Series, so he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level in college baseball." – Former Tulane and Elon head coach Rick Jones
 
"Stetson hired one of the best pitching guys in the country in Daniel Latham. He and I are former teammates at Tulane and he is one of the best competitors I have been around. He is a great human being who has always put his players first and is highly respected. His wealth of pitching knowledge will benefit the Hatters for years to come." – South Florida Head Coach Billy Mohl
 
"Daniel Latham is one of the best pitching coaches in the country. He does a great job developing young arms and gets the most from his guys. He is a first-class person and a tremendous role model. He will be a huge asset to the Stetson program." – Southeastern Louisiana Director of Athletics Jay Artigues
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.