Kentucky Baseball Hires Austin Cousino as Recruiting Coordinator, Assistant

The two-time Gold Glover is back in Lexington.

Kentucky baseball and head coach Nick Mingione officially announced on Wednesday that Austin Cousino has been hired as the Bat Cats' new recruiting coordinator and assistant coach. 

Cousino, a former Wildcat with a bevy of accolades, replaces former assistant Will Coggin, who left UK after four seasons to join Georgia's staff as new head coach Wes Johnson's top assistant. 

Derek Terry of Bat Cats Central broke the news on June 16 that Cousino, who played at UK from 2012-14, was expected to take over for Coggin. 

“We are excited to welcome Austin home to Lexington,” Mingione said in a press release. “Austin is one of the most accomplished players in this program’s history in addition to having experience in both the collegiate and professional ranks as a player, coach and talent evaluator. His baseball acumen and wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the game, coupled with his ability to connect with student-athletes, will be an invaluable tool for current and future Wildcats.”

Cousino left UK as one of the more decorated players in the recent history of the program. The outfielder was an SEC All-Freshman Team selection and three-time selection to the SEC All-Defensive Team, even winning a pair of Rawlings Gold Gloves. He made two NCAA Tournament appearances.

"I want to thank Coach Mingione and the entire University of Kentucky administration for entrusting me with this opportunity," Cousino said. "Coach Minge has created and fostered an environment that allows everyone in and around the program to be the best version of themselves and that's exciting. Returning to Lexington is a dream come true and I can't wait to help the program take the next step."

A frequenter of the USA Collegiate National Team, Cousino was selected in the third round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, though he never made it out of the minors and last played for the Los Angeles Angels' organization in 2016.

Since then, he was a graduate assistant at Mississippi State for one season in 2018 and an assistant at Xavier in 2019. He was then an area scout for the Detroit Tigers around Columbus, Ohio — his hometown — until the end of 2022, when he became a scout in the Louisville area for the Tampa Bay Rays this year.

The 30-year-old is now returning to his alma mater to take over for Coggin, a respected hitting coach and recruiter who was alongside Mingione for around a decade. Cousino will join Mingione, pitching coach Dan Roszel and assistant Nick Ammirati on the Wildcats' staff for the 2024 season. 

Via UK Athletics: 

THE COUSINO FILE

Born: April, 1993

Hometown: Dublin, Ohio

High School: Dublin Coffman

College: Kentucky (2012-14)

2014: Drafted by Seattle Mariners (3rd round, MLB Draft)

2014-16: Played minor league baseball

2017-18: Graduate Assistant, Mississippi State

2018-19: Assistant Coach, Xavier

2019-22: Area Scout, Detroit Tigers

2022-23: Area Scout, Tampa Bay Rays

2023-: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Kentucky

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Game recap of Kentucky's Regional-clinching win can be found HERE.

How getting hit in batting practice helps Kentucky HERE.

How hard conversations molded RHP Austin Strickland HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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