Lindenwood’s new head baseball coach, PJ Finigan, served as pitching coach last season. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
ST. CHARLES, MO — Earlier this month, the Lindenwood University athletics department announced it had officially named PJ Finigan to the position of head coach of the school’s baseball team.
Finigan just completed his first year on the Lindenwood staff, where he served as head coach in waiting and led the team to a 13-42 record in its first season as an NCAA Division I team. This season, the Lions are hoping having a more experienced team will make it more competitive in the Ohio Valley Conference.
“I am very thankful and humbled that Dr. Porter and Jason Coomer trust the vision that I have for the program,” Finigan said, in a statement released by the athletic department. “I could not be more excited to be taking the reins and leading our student-athletes. Lindenwood University is a special place, and I look forward to adding to the great baseball history.”
Before coming to Lindenwood, Finigan spent three seasons at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as an assistant baseball coach. From 2021-22, Finigan also served as the interim head softball coach. In his lone season as the interim head softball coach, Finigan helped lead the team to its first OVC Tournament appearance in three years, and first tournament win in four years. Finigan guided four all-OVC baseball selections and three all-OVC softball selections.
“Today begins a new era in LU Baseball as Coach Finigan looks to build on the success and tradition that Coach Bletcher installed throughout his tenure,” Coomer said. “Having Coach Finnigan at the helm is a tremendous asset to our program and I am confident in his leadership as we take our program to new heights.”
Prior to his stop in SIUE, Finigan spent nine seasons at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the baseball team, and worked one season as associate head coach in 2018-19. Under the pitching leadership from Finigan, the Saluki baseball program produced one National Pitcher of the Year, eight MLB Draft picks, and four school records. Finigan guided 20 all-MVC selections, 12 MVC Pitchers of the Week, and two Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans.
Finigan was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers as the 210th overall pick. In 2006, Finigan was named the Detroit Tigers Gold Glove Award Winner.
Finigan was a four-year starter at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Finigan collected Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American accolades in 2002, and was named academic all-MVC honorable mention in 2004.
In 2005, Finigan was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, earning first-team honors as a starting pitcher and a shortstop. Finigan was inducted to the 2018 SIU Athletics Hall of Fame, and was named to the MVC All-Century team.
“PJ has earned the respect of the clubhouse, local baseball community, and fellow coaches nationwide,” Coomer said. “We are excited for Coach Finnigan to officially get started in his new role as the talk in the baseball community about the Lions is trending upwards.”
The Lions will begin fall baseball practice in September, before opening training camp for the 2024 season in January.
Lindenwood sports information contributed some info to this story.