University of New Orleans Men's Baseball

Dean was named the University of New Orleans' seventh head coach in its 45 year history during the summer of 2015 following a breif stint as the school's interim head coach following the retirement of Ron Maestri.In his first season at the helm, UNO saw a 17-game turnaround, the eighth-best in Division I in 2016, while the team was one of 17 to increase their winning percentage by .200, boasting the fourth-highest improvement at .285.   The Privateers 31-26 record marked the first winning record for the baseball program since 2008 and qualified for the Southland Conference for the first time since joining the league prior to the 2013-14 academic year. The Privateers set eight-year highs in batting average (.300), total hits (600), doubles (77), on base percentage (.368) and fielding percentage (.966) saves (15), strikeouts (400) and the lowest opponent batting average in the span (.286).   Nationally, UNO finished eighth in triples per game with a 0.44 average and 10th in total triples with 25 while Dakota Dean cracked the top 25 individually with six on the season, the 22nd-most.   UNOs resurrected offense led the Southland Conference in triples, while finishing second in in hits, batting average, third in RBI, fewest batters struck out (328) and fourth in slugging percentage (.416). Under Deans guidance, five Privateers were named to All-Southland Conference Teams with Hezekiah Randolph, a first team honoree after finishing in the top 10 of the conference in runs scored (49), runs batted in (45), doubles (16) hits (71) and slugging percentage (.502), garnered America Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings South Central Region second team distinction. Kyle Bracey (first team), Dakota Dean (second team), Aaron Palmer (second team) and Daniel Martinez (honorable mention) all gained recognition from the league. The Privateers took on the top Louisiana programs in the country during the 2016 campaign taking two from eventual NCAA Tournament participant Southeastern in their regular season series before dropping a decision to the Lions in the Southland Conference Tournament while splitting a two-game series with Tulane and besting Louisiana Tech, both qualifying for the national tournament.   Following two years working under the legendary Ron Maestri, Dean was initially tabbed the interim head coach before officially becoming the Privateers seventh head coach on June 30, 2015. Prior to assuming his current position, Dean worked his way up the ladder starting as a volunteer assistant in 2014 before being promoted to a full-time position the following year.   During his time on the Lakefront, Dean was instrumental in Samuel Capielano and Hezekiah Randolph claiming Freshman All-America status in 2014 while helping several Privateer hitters improve their production at the plate.   As the teams hitting coach last season, the Privateers saw their average rise 20 points from the 2014 campaign and three of the five returning position players saw significant increases in their respective batting averages.   Highlights on the diamond, however, are nothing new for Dean as the native of Crestview, Florida, has experienced success at every stop of his baseball career to date.   As a prepster at Crestview High, Dean was a four-year all-state honoree and was a member of the USA Baseball Youth National Team. Following his senior season, he claimed Louisville Slugger All-America recognition and was named to Baseball Americas Top 300 High School Players of 2006.   From there, he packed his bags for Baton Rouge where he helped LSU post a combined 175 wins, three trips to the NCAA Super Regionals and a pair of berths in the College World Series including a National Championship in 2009.   As they had done during his high school career, honors came in by the handful for Dean in college. As a rookie, he was named Freshman All-SEC, Louisiana Freshman of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.   One year later, Dean was tabbed first-team All-American by Baseball America, second-team All-South Region by the American Baseball Coaches Assocation and Louisiana Hitter of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. He also claimed SEC Tournament MVP and Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player recognition during the Tigers march to Omaha.   Dean claimed first-team all-state honors in each of his final three collegiate seasons, was tabbed first-team All-SEC as a junior and was a candidate for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award in 2010.   Along the way, he finished second in school history in hits (332), RBI (260) and total bases (575), fourth in home runs (56) and fifth in runs scored (223).   Dean was drafted twice during his time at LSU, going in the 10th round to the Minnesota Twins in 2009 and in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.   He played two seasons professionally in the Dodgers organization, suiting up in Rookie League for the Ogden Raptors in 2010 and the Class A Great Lakes Loons in 2011 before returning to LSU to finish his degree.   Dean completed his bachelors degree in sports administration from LSU in 2013. Blake Dean Head Coach Blake Dean was named the University of New Orleans' seventh head coach in its 45 year history during the summer of 2015 following a breif stint as the school's interim head coach following the retirement of Ron Maestri.In his first season at the helm, UNO saw a 17-game turnaround, the eighth-best in Division I in 2016, while the team was one of 17 to increase their winning percentage by .200, boasting the fourth-highest improvement at .285.   The Privateers 31-26 record marked the first winning record for the baseball program since 2008 and qualified for the Southland Conference for the first time since joining the league prior to the 2013-14 academic year. The Privateers set eight-year highs in batting average (.300), total hits (600), doubles (77), on base percentage (.368) and fielding percentage (.966) saves (15), strikeouts (400) and the lowest opponent batting average in the span (.286).   Nationally, UNO finished eighth in triples per game with a 0.44 average and 10th in total triples with 25 while Dakota Dean cracked the top 25 individually with six on the season, the 22nd-most.   UNOs resurrected offense led the Southland Conference in triples, while finishing second in in hits, batting average, third in RBI, fewest batters struck out (328) and fourth in slugging percentage (.416). Under Deans guidance, five Privateers were named to All-Southland Conference Teams with Hezekiah Randolph, a first team honoree after finishing in the top 10 of the conference in runs scored (49), runs batted in (45), doubles (16) hits (71) and slugging percentage (.502), garnered America Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings South Central Region second team distinction. Kyle Bracey (first team), Dakota Dean (second team), Aaron Palmer (second team) and Daniel Martinez (honorable mention) all gained recognition from the league. The Privateers took on the top Louisiana programs in the country during the 2016 campaign taking two from eventual NCAA Tournament participant Southeastern in their regular season series before dropping a decision to the Lions in the Southland Conference Tournament while splitting a two-game series with Tulane and besting Louisiana Tech, both qualifying for the national tournament.   Following two years working under the legendary Ron Maestri, Dean was initially tabbed the interim head coach before officially becoming the Privateers seventh head coach on June 30, 2015. Prior to assuming his current position, Dean worked his way up the ladder starting as a volunteer assistant in 2014 before being promoted to a full-time position the following year.   During his time on the Lakefront, Dean was instrumental in Samuel Capielano and Hezekiah Randolph claiming Freshman All-America status in 2014 while helping several Privateer hitters improve their production at the plate.   As the teams hitting coach last season, the Privateers saw their average rise 20 points from the 2014 campaign and three of the five returning position players saw significant increases in their respective batting averages.   Highlights on the diamond, however, are nothing new for Dean as the native of Crestview, Florida, has experienced success at every stop of his baseball career to date.   As a prepster at Crestview High, Dean was a four-year all-state honoree and was a member of the USA Baseball Youth National Team. Following his senior season, he claimed Louisville Slugger All-America recognition and was named to Baseball Americas Top 300 High School Players of 2006.   From there, he packed his bags for Baton Rouge where he helped LSU post a combined 175 wins, three trips to the NCAA Super Regionals and a pair of berths in the College World Series including a National Championship in 2009.   As they had done during his high school career, honors came in by the handful for Dean in college. As a rookie, he was named Freshman All-SEC, Louisiana Freshman of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.   One year later, Dean was tabbed first-team All-American by Baseball America, second-team All-South Region by the American Baseball Coaches Assocation and Louisiana Hitter of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. He also claimed SEC Tournament MVP and Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player recognition during the Tigers march to Omaha.   Dean claimed first-team all-state honors in each of his final three collegiate seasons, was tabbed first-team All-SEC as a junior and was a candidate for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award in 2010.   Along the way, he finished second in school history in hits (332), RBI (260) and total bases (575), fourth in home runs (56) and fifth in runs scored (223).   Dean was drafted twice during his time at LSU, going in the 10th round to the Minnesota Twins in 2009 and in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.   He played two seasons professionally in the Dodgers organization, suiting up in Rookie League for the Ogden Raptors in 2010 and the Class A Great Lakes Loons in 2011 before returning to LSU to finish his degree.   Dean completed his bachelors degree in sports administration from LSU in 2013.

The New Orleans Privateers have announced the hiring of Andrew Gipson as the new baseball head coach. The former Belhaven head coach and Southeastern associate head coach will formally start his tenure on July 1. He will become the ninth head coach in program history.   Gipson compiled a record of 59-32 in two seasons at Belhaven. In his first season, the Blazers won 25 games. In 2025, that total shot up to 34 wins. They made it to the Division III Super Regional where they were defeated by #2 overall seed, Denison. The tournament appearance was the first in Belhaven's history.   Gipson's first season with the Blazers included individuals taking major conference awards. Gipson guided the Collegiate Conference of the South Pitcher of the Year in Brett Sanchez and the Player of the Year in Owen Abney.   Prior to his two-year stint in Belhaven, Gipson was entrenched in the Southland Conference as he spent seven years with Southeastern. He held various roles within the program including recruiting coordinator, pitching coach and associate head coach.   The Lions made three NCAA Regionals (2016, 2017, 2022) during his stay in Hammond. The 2015 Lions squad won 42 games and set a Southland record for most conference wins in a season with 25. A multitude of awards came flowing in, including 47 All-Southland selections, four All-Americans and three Southland Players of the Year.   There is also an extensive MLB Draft record tied into Gipson. 17 players were drafted between 2015-19. Four student-athletes from his tenure made it to the Majors and Will Warren is currently in the starting rotation for the New York Yankees.   A graduate of Belhaven in 2011, Gipson spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the program. There were three All-Americans in that stint including Kyle Wheeler who was selected in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.     WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ANDREW GIPSON   JAY ARTIGUES- ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, SOUTHEASTERN "Coach Gipson is one of the best young coaches in the country. Andrew is one of the most organized and thorough coaches you're going to find. His attention to detail, knowledge of the game, and passion sets him apart. He truly cares for his players and they love playing for him…he's the kind of coach you want your son to play for."   MATT RISER- HEAD BASEBALL COACH, MEMPHIS "The University of New Orleans hit a home run with the hire of Andrew Gipson. I've known Vince for years, and I'm thrilled he was able to bring in someone as knowledgeable and driven as Gip. Few people work harder or understand today's game better. He's a visionary leader, undeterred by obstacles, and grounded in faith while competing with relentless intensity. I couldn't be happier for my good friend. Gip and the Privateers are a perfect fit in the pursuit of championships."   DREW AVANS- FORMER SOUTHEASTERN OUTFIELDER, MADE MLB DEBUT IN 2025 "Coach Gipson is the man! He shows up every day ready to win! I know his players will be talented, smart, and gritty!"   JACK CRESSEND- NATIONAL PITCHING CROSSCHECKER, LOS ANGELES DODGERS "Andrew Gipson is a tireless worker and will be a great leader of the program. He is a man of character and he truly cares about his players. This is a great hire for UNO baseball."   WILL WARREN- FORMER SOUTHEASTERN AND CURRENT NEW YORK YANKEES PITCHER "Coach Gipson might be the hardest working person on the field at all times. That's why he has had success at every place he's been. He's changing the identity of every program and the players buy in to that hard work. Not only is he a great baseball coach, but he truly cares about every player. He's developing them into great men on and off the field."

Stewart brings a wealth of experience to his role as the Privateers hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Hired in Fall 2015, Stewart came to UNO from Northwest Florida State College where he served as an assistant coach from 2013-15. In addition to his two seasons with the Raiders, he also served as the volunteer assistant at Nicholls for the 2013 season and coached the Rockville Express of the Cal Ripken League in summer 2012. In two years at Northwest Florida State, Stewart helped the team post a combined 69-31 overall record and a 21-18 mark in Panhandle Conference action, including a 42-13 mark in 2015 when the Raiders finished second in the PC with a 12-7 record, a Region VII/Gulf District Tournament title and the NJCAA Division I World Series championship. As the teams recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and strength coach, Stewart was instrumental in the team hitting .) with a .391 slugging percentage courtesy of 127 doubles, 25 triples and 45 home runs over his two seasons at NWFSC. While half of the student-athletes Stewart brought into the school still have junior college eligibility remaining, 19 of his 36 recruits at the school have already signed scholarships with four-year schools, including current Privateers Dakota Dean, Ryan Leone and Aaron Palmer. Stewarts first stop on the coaching carousel was to Thibodeaux, Louisiana, at Nicholls where he was responsible for all field maintenance, while serving as the assistant hitting coach and working directly with the Colonel outfielders. In his lone season at Nicholls, he helped the team hit .271 (501-of-1851) with a .365 slugging percentage on the strength of 95 doubles, 16 triples and 16 home runs. That year, outfielder Matt Richard was the teams lone all-Southland Conference honoree as he claimed third-team recognition after hitting .290 and finishing third in the SLC with 21 stolen bases. During his time in the Cal Ripken League, Stewart was an assistant coach for the Express where he served as the teams hitting and fielding coach for a the regular-season league champions. He also worked for the Virginia Baseball Club as well as providing personal instruction as a private hitting coach. Stewart was a four-year prep letterman at Niceville (Florida) High, he went on to play at Tallahassee Community College. In two years with the Eagles, he appeared in 62 games and hit .308 (52-for-169) with three home runs and 31 RBI. He earned a spot on the Panhandle Conference All-Academic Team as a freshman and garnered second-team All-PC recognition as a sophomore after hitting .320 (39-for-122) with 12 doubles, two home runs and 17 home runs. Stewarts .467 slugging percentage in 2006 ranked sixth in school history at the conclusion of his JuCo career and he earned a scholarship to Appalachian State. After missing the 2007 season after recovering from surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, Stewart went 20-for-80 with three doubles, six home runs and 19 RBI at the plate and fielding .983 with 108 putouts and seven assists while helping turn seven double plays. Athletic success runs in Stewarts family as his father, the late Bruce Stewart, played basketball at Jacksonville State and was a head basketball coach for 26 years and won 650 games, 16 Coach of the Year awards and was one of two coaches to guide his teams to four different tournaments: NCAA, NIT, NAIA and NJCAA, and his brother, Brandon, played baseball at Jefferson Davis Community College. A native of Niceville, Florida, Stewart earned his associates degree in general studies from Tallahassee Community College in May 2006 and his bachelors degree in psychology from Appalachian State in 2009. He is marries to the former Ashley Patterson or Fairfax, Virginia, and the couple resides in Metairie, Louisiana.