Eric Niesen joined the Georgetown baseball coaching staff in July, 2017 and serves as GU's pitching coach.
In 2019, the Georgetown pitching staff broke the program record for strikeouts in a season (488) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.12). The Hoyas led the BIG EAST in total strikeouts and three pitchers finished in the top five in the conference in strikeouts. GU ranked 44th in the country at the end of the regular season in strikeouts per nine innings. After the season four pitchers were taken in the MLB Draft, a new program record.Â
In his first season with the Hoyas in 2018, the pitching staff improved its team ERA in BIG EAST play by nearly two full runs to 4.58. Two pitchers set single season individual records as Brent Killam recorded 97 strikeouts and Jimmy Swad registered 12 saves. Georgetown pitchers twice earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors and three Hoya pitchers were selected to All-BIG EAST teams. The Blue & Gray qualified for the BIG EAST Championship for just the second time since 1986.
Niesen comes to the Hilltop after spending the 2017 season as a student assistant coach for the Demon Deacons while he completed his degree in communications. He assisted the Wake Forest pitching staff and served as the bullpen coach for the Demon Deacons and Georgetown alum Tom Walter.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Niesen had a 10-year professional career, reaching as high as Triple-A while playing in the Mets, Mariners and Red Sox organizations, as well as independent ball. He was a third-round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2007.
In the minor leagues from 2007-13, Niesen pitched in more than 150 games and won 21 games along with a 4.51 ERA. He spent parts of five seasons in the Atlantic League, and had a 0.93 ERA with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2015, his last full season.
The New Boston, Michigan native stepped away during the 2016 season to be with his wife, Tina, as the couple had their first son, Gideon.
A three-year letterwinner at Wake Forest, Niesen led the pitching staff his junior campaign with a 6-5 record and 3.00 ERA in 84.0 innings, totaling 83 strikeouts. He finished his career with a 14-9 record from 2005-07.
