TAMPA (July 10, 2023) – University of South Florida head baseball coach Billy Mohl has announced the hire of Chris Cates as the Bulls' newest assistant coach. Cates returns to South Florida after previously being on staff from 2015-19.

Cates arrives back in Tampa after spending the previous three seasons (2021-23) as an assistant coach at UCF. He also had two stints on the coaching staff at the University of Tampa and spent a season as an assistant at Florida State. Cates was drafted in the 38th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by Minnesota out of the University of Louisville and spent five seasons in the Twins' organization.

Cates primarily worked with the infielders, assisted hitters and coached third base while at UCF.

He rejoined the Tampa Spartans in 2020 after previously coaching at UT during the 2014 campaign.

The Bulls made three NCAA Regional appearances (2015, 2017, 2018) during Cates' previous tenure at USF. Among the players Cates worked with were Kevin Merrell (1st round pick by Oakland in 2017), David Villar (11th round pick by San Francisco in 2018), Coco Montes (15th round pick by Colorado in 2018) and Joe Genord (9th round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019).

Prior to USF, Cates was an assistant at Florida State University for the 2013 season. His primary responsibilities at FSU were in the development of the outfielders. Cates helped guide DJ Stewart, a 2015 first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, as well as other MLB draft picks Josh Delph (Angels) and Marcus Davis (Padres). In addition, Cates also worked in the outfield with former Heisman Trophy winner and current NFL QB Jameis Winston.

Selected in the 38th round of the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft by Minnesota, Cates played for five seasons in the Twins' minor league organization. He was named a two-time All-Star in the minors, earning his first nod in 2008 with the Beloit Snappers out of the Class A Midwest League. A year later, Cates made his second All-Star team, this time in his first season at the Class A-Advanced level of the Florida State League with the Fort Myers Miracle. In 2009, Cates earned the Twins' organizational Defensive Player of the Year. Cates turned his second All-Star appearance into a promotion to the Double-A Eastern League, where he spent two seasons playing with the New Britain Rock Cats before retiring from professional baseball in 2011. 

Cates graduated from the University of Louisville in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sports administration. A four-year starter at shortstop for the Cardinals (2004-07), Cates started 239 games and hit .302 with 270 hits, 162 runs scored, 101 RBIs, 44 doubles, five triples and three home runs. He also showed great strike zone discipline, finishing his career with 89 walks to just 69 strikeouts. A 3-time all-conference player, Cates played an integral role in leading Louisville to its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2007. Voted team captain by his teammates and coaches, Cates was a semifinalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and the recipient of the Men's BIG EAST/Aeropostale Scholar-Athlete award, which earned him a postgraduate scholarship.

Chris and his wife, Meagan, have a son, Cohen.

About USF Baseball

The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 59^th season in 2024 under head coach Billy Mohl (seventh season). The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 19 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Eric Snow in 2023. Four Bulls were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Former 2018 first-round selection, Shane McClanahan, became the program's first-ever MLB All-Star in 2022 and was the starting pitcher for the American League.

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