Following Corey Muscara’s departure to be the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have found their next pitching coach.
Taking over the pitching coach position on Tom Walter’s staff will be former Houston Astros pitching coordinator Eric Niesen.
After a playing career as a pitcher at Wake Forest, Niesen was a third-round draft selection by the New York Mets in 2007. After a 10-year career in the minor leagues, he joined Wake Forest’s coaching staff as a student assistant in 2017.
Shortly after that, the former Wake Forest player left to become the pitching coach for the Georgetown Hoyas. Since 2021, Niesen has been with the Houston Astros organization. Throughout his time there, he worked his way from a minor league pitching coach, to the director of pitching for the Major League club.
Wake Forest Alum Returns Home
This is a solid hire for the Demon Deacons in their mission to replace Muscara. Niesen has played for and coached Wake Forest baseball.
He has MLB experience coaching pitching, which will only help in the Demon Deacons’ big mission to produce MLB talent.
Wake Forest has already produced some big pitchers in Major League Baseball. Former pitchers Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns have already made their debuts for the Cincinnati Reds.
2025 Results for Wake Forest
Wake Forest went 39-22 overall in 2025 with an ACC record of 16-14. They made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
Recently, the Demon Deacons went to the College World Series in 2023. This was the third time in their program’s history they had made the trip to Omaha.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
Photo: New York Mets pitcher Eric Niesen throws during spring training baseball Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
