ECU Athletics
Teri LaJeunese, Sports Information Director
ADA – East Central University Director of Athletics Dr. Jeff Williams has announced the hiring of Lloyd Gage as the fifth Tiger baseball coach since 1960s.
“We are excited to have Lloyd Gage as our new Head Baseball Coach at ECU,” said Williams. “The ECU campus is ideally located within the recruiting radius of some of the best baseball programs not only in the state, but in the country. As a search committee, we felt it was imperative to select a head coach who not only confirmed this fact, but embraced and would pursue it. It became clear that Lloyd Gage was the next head coach for ECU Tiger Baseball. ”
“What we came to recognize in Coach Gage was a friendly neighborhood coach already living in Ada, but taking his talent and skills out of town and enjoying great success. His approach to developing players and providing an overall well-rounded student-athlete experience was impressive. After spending time with Coach Gage, it was clear to us that his infectious passion for leading young men will drive him to capitalize on existing recruiting relationships within our area, pursue academically and athletically talented players, spend time developing those student-athletes, and take our program to the level of competing for GAC championships and trips to NCAA tournaments.”
“Coach Gage brings confidence and an enthusiasm for the game that is contagious,” stated ECU President Dr. Katricia Pierson. “He will energize the team and we look forward to seeing the team continue to improve their level of play both on and off the field.”
“I want to thank President Pierson, Dr. Williams and the entire selection committee for providing me this opportunity at East Central University,” said Gage. “I also want to thank my wife, Lori Gage for her infinite support of me and my coaching career. I’m excited to bring my energy and passion for the game to the players and fans of ECU Baseball.”
Gage comes to ECU after spending a year at Seminole State College as the pitching coach. In his one season with the Trojans, he helped the team to a 44-11 record, conference championship and the NJCAA Division I Region II Title.
Prior to joining the staff at Seminole State, Gage spent seven seasons as the associate head coach at Murray State College. While with the Aggies he claimed four conference championships, two regional and district championships and two trips to the NJCAA DII World Series, including a 2013 NJCAA National Championship title.
“Coach Gage has experienced both academic and athletic success at the NCAA Division II and JUCO levels,” Williams added. “His role in leading Murray State College to the 2013 JUCO National Championship, as well as a return trip to the JUCO World Series in 2017 serves as evidence of his coaching and leadership abilities. This past spring, he helped lead Seminole State into position to host a regional and fell just short of a JUCO World Series appearance.”
Gage produced 29 all-region players, two players of the year, seven All-Americans, a World Series MVP, World Series Most Outstanding Pitcher and Outstanding Defensive Player and a National Gold Glove winner. He also helped the pitching staff lead the NJCAA DII, Region II in ERA for four seasons and claimed 281 victories.
While at Murray State Gage also served as the Chair of the Health, Wellness and Human Performance Program from 2012 to the present day. He helped develop and oversaw the current program, while teaching, scheduling classes, hiring faculty and monitoring student progress.
Since 2015, Gage has also been working with the Midwest Elite Baseball program in Norman, Okla. He has been the head coach for the 15U-18U teams, with over 30 players moving on to play collegiate baseball.
From 2010-2012, he helped mentor players at the Kelowna Falcons Baseball Club in Kelowna, a West Coast Collegiate Summer team in Kelowna, British Columbia. While there he mentored two WCCL Pitchers of the Year, 21 Major League Baseball draftees and 10 WCCL All-Stars.
Gage started his coaching career at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., as an associate head coach from 2002-09. He served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, producing three All-Americans, 17 all-conference pitchers, 37-all-conference hitters, four players of the year, a pitcher of the year and four players who moved on to play professionally.
Gage got into coaching after playing at Eastern Oregon University for four seasons in La Grande, Ore. He currently holds the school record for pitching wins, saves, innings pitched, strikeouts and strikeouts in a season.
A Whidbey Island, Wash., native, Gage earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University in physical education in 2001 and then a master’s degree from Central Washington University in health, human performance and recreation in 2017.
Gage is married to Lori Gage, an ECU Nursing alumni and the couple has four children: Addison Allen, Anderson Allen, Ace Allen and Grayson Gage.