Salem University Men's Baseball

Kassidy is currently in his 8th year of coaching at the D2 level. Since 2021, Kassidy has been the Associate Head Coach at Salem University (WV).  In 2023, Gaines pitching staff was among the best in D2. Finishing top 20 in most pitching categories, including Team Ks, Team ERA, Team Ks/9, Team H/9, and total shutouts.  From 2018-2021, Kassidy was the Pitching Coach at Saint Cloud State University (MN) where he also earned his Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  Despite the 2020 season being shortened by COVID-19, Gaines' staff again ranked as one of the top pitching staffs in the Central Region. SCSU ranked top-five in the NSIC in ERA, strikeout rate, opponent on-base percentage and FIP. The Huskies led the Northern Sun in shutouts for the second straight season with three, and their 24.4% strikeout rate ranked second in the conference. In his first season as Pitching Coach in 2019, the SCSU pitching staff posted one of their best seasons ever. The Huskies led the NSIC in ERA (3.24), shutouts (10), strikeouts (500), strikeout rate (26.1%) and FIP (2.80). SCSU's arms combined to deliver the NSIC's lowest walk rate (6.7%), opponent average (.240), opponent OBP (.307) and opponent OPS (.639). Under Gaines' guidance, St. Cloud State's staff recorded their lowest FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) in the Dolan era with a stellar 2.80 mark. The Huskies' pitching staff only allowed 163 earned runs in 453.0 innings pitched, held opponents to the second-lowest slugging percentage in the NSIC (.332) and recorded four more shutouts than any other team in the conference. Gaines' pitching staff included five All-Americans, including 2020 honoree Dominic Austing, Sheldon Miks (2015-16), Cal Giese (2018), Blake Flint (2018-NJCAA) and Zach Walz (2017-NJCAA). Kassidy began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Bemidji State University (MN) in 2016.  In his first year as a volunteer in 2017, The BSU pitching staff earned the lowest team ERA (5.87), most wins (19) most team Ks (282), and lowest amount of walks (155), since the 2014 season.  Professional experience in The American Association (Lincoln Salt Dogs 2015), The Frontier League (Florence Y'alls 2015-2016), and the United Shore Professional Baseball League (Uitca Unicorns 2016).