THE CAIN FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full Name: Nolan David Cain
Born: Jan. 2, 1986
Hometown: Cantonment, Fla.
Education: LSU, 2009 (B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies)
Wife: Kristen
Children: Cason (Son), Ryann (Daughter)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2014-15: Coor. of Baseball Ops., LSU
2016-21: Assistant Coach, LSU
2022-23: Assistant Coach, Texas A&M
2024: Associate Head Coach, Texas A&M
2025-Pres.: Associate Head Coach, Texas

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

2006-09: LSU
2009-10: Detroit Tigers Organization

An accomplished recruiter and national-champion player, Nolan Cain begins his second season as the associate head coach at Texas. He serves as the Longhorns’ recruiting coordinator, third-base coach and mentors the catchers.

Over his nine seasons as a recruiting coordinator at LSU (2017-21), Texas A&M (2022-24) and Texas (2025-Present), Cain has inked eight top-10 classes, including six slotted in the top five nationally. In his first cycle on The Forty Acres, he signed the No. 1 class, according to both Baseball America and Perfect Game.

Cain’s commitment to recruiting and development can be seen at the next level with a list of professionals that features major leaguers Dylan Crews, Jake Fraley, Jaden Hill, Cole Henry and Josh Smith, among others.

He has had a hand in recruiting and/or coaching 20 top-3 round selections since 2016, highlighted by four first-round picks — Crews, Ty Floyd, Braden Montgomery and Jace LaViolette — across the last three years.

Immediate Impact on The Forty

After arriving at Texas, Cain quickly helped the Longhorns notch their best record in 15 years, producing a 44-14 mark. Texas became the first club to win the Southeastern Conference in its inaugural campaign since the league’s first season in 1933.

The Longhorns, who were picked eighth in the conference’s preseason poll, won the league by two games. Texas’ 22-8 ledger in SEC play marked its best record in conference action since 2010.

Behind one of the country’s top pitching staffs and a potent offense, the Longhorns were named the No. 2 national seed and hosted the NCAA Austin Regional.

On the mound, Texas posted the second-best WHIP (1.18) and the sixth-best ERA (3.71) in all of Division I baseball.

Offensively, the Longhorns smacked 85 home runs, the fourth-most in a season in program history. At the forefront of its approach, Texas worked lengthy at-bats, pacing the country in pitches per plate appearances (4.08).

Cain tutored Buster Posey Award finalist Rylan Galvan. Galvan registered the most homers (15) by a Texas backstop since Chris Abbe in 1992. The junior led the team in runs (54), home runs, total bases (114), walks (47), on-base percentage (.452), slugging (.613) and OPS (1.065).

Historic Heights in Aggieland

Across his three years at Texas A&M, the Aggies mounted a 135-62 (.685) ledger and reached the College World Series twice. With Cain in the dugout, Texas A&M won six contests in its two trips to Omaha, tripling the program’s all-time total of two CWS victories.

While in College Station, Cain also secured a pair of top-five ranked transfer portal classes, headlined by D1Baseball’s top-rated group in 2023.

In his first campaign after being elevated to associate head coach, the Aggies logged 53 victories, which matched the second-most in school history. Texas A&M recorded its first-ever NCAA runner-up finish, falling just short in a closely-contested series against No. 1 seed Tennessee, 2-1.

The 2024 Aggies delivered the fourth-best ERA (3.86) nationally, a country-leading 12 shutouts and a program-record 715 strikeouts. At the plate, the Texas A&M hitters launched 136 home runs, the fourth-most in all of Division I baseball.

Cain played a pivotal role in grooming the Aggies’ all-time school-best five All-Americans — Montgomery, LaViolette, catcher Jackson Appel and pitchers Ryan Prager and Evan Aschenbeck.

In 2023, Texas A&M followed an appearance in the CWS by pushing to the championship games of both the SEC Tournament and the Stanford Regional, tallying a 38-27 mark.

Upon Cain’s arrival in Aggieland, Texas A&M advanced to the final four in Omaha, winning games at the CWS for the first time in 20 years.

The Aggies also garnered the SEC Western Division crown with a 19-11 ledger.

Earned his Stripes

During eight seasons on staff under legendary skipper Paul Manieri at LSU, the Tigers earned five NCAA Tournament national seeds, five NCAA Regional titles, two trips to Omaha and a pair of SEC regular season titles and SEC Tournament crowns.

Three of his last four recruiting classes for LSU landed in the top five nationally, highlighted by the consensus No. 1 class in 2018 and the No. 2-rated group by Baseball America in 2020.

Cain spent the final five years at his alma mater as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

He also worked one campaign as LSU’s volunteer coach and two seasons as the coordinator of operations.

Championship Background

A four-year letterwinner at LSU (2006-09), Cain was a member of the 2009 national championship squad that defeated Texas in the CWS finals.

The right-handed hurler played a big role in the Tigers’ title run, collecting a 5-0 record with a 4.01 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. Cain tossed 3.1 scoreless frames with four strikeouts against the Longhorns in Game 2 of the CWS finals.

Over his career, Cain pitched in 73 career contests, including 71 appearances of the bullpen. He notched a 7-1 record with one save, a 4.04 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 102.4 innings.

Cain signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers in June 2009. He played two seasons in the organization, including four games in Double-A.

The Cantonment, Fla., native earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from LSU in May 2009.

Cain is married to the former Kristen Hobbs, an LSU softball player from 2004-07. They have a son, Cason, and a daughter, Ryann.