THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University head baseball coach Brent Haring announced staff changes heading into the 2026 season.
 
Coach Haring elevated Brandt Jones to Recruiting Coordinator and Hitting Coach while adding Tyler Shipley as the new Pitching Coach. Additionally, Kade Trischell and Morgan Blank join the fold. The Colonels will also welcome back former student-athletes Jaden Collura and Nick Fields as Graduate Assistants.
 
Haring gave his thoughts on Jones and how he will continue to be a strength for the program.
 
"Brandt has been a huge asset to our program from the day he arrived. His work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to connect with players are second to none. He's earned the trust and respect of our team and our coaching staff, and this promotion is a direct reflection of the value he brings to Nicholls Baseball," Haring said. "As our new Recruiting Coordinator, Brandt will be at the forefront of identifying and bringing in the type of players who fit our culture — men who embrace A.I.G.A., compete relentlessly, and represent Nicholls the right way."
 
"Coach Jones is a difference-maker, and this program is better every day because of the work he puts in. I couldn't be more excited for him in this role."
 
Shipley takes over the pitching duties after serving as Director of Pitching Director at DBU, Pitching Coach at Evansville where they made a Super Regional run. Haring spoke about Shipley's experience and how that can help the unit moving forward.
 
"Tyler is one of the most respected and forward-thinking pitching coaches in the country, and we are extremely fortunate to have him leading our staff. His track record speaks for itself — from serving as the Director of Pitching at DBU, one of the premier developmental programs in college baseball, to guiding Evansville on their incredible Super Regional run in 2024 season.
 
"He brings an elite combination of technical expertise, player development, and game management. He knows how to build pitchers who can dominate in the moment, and he knows how to prepare a staff to be ready for the grind of a championship season."
"What sets Tyler apart is his ability to connect with his pitchers. He challenges them to be accountable, to understand themselves as athletes, and to compete with confidence. He brings the same energy and attention to detail every day, and that's exactly the standard we want for Nicholls Baseball."
 
"I have no doubt that under his leadership, our pitching staff will be one of the most disciplined, prepared, and competitive groups in the country."
 
Fields stays on as a graduate assistant. He will help with the pitchers as well as the outfielders this season. He brings unique experience having played here as a pitcher and position player. Collura stays on as a graduate assistant and will help with the hitters, catchers, and infielders. He is staying on following a great career and senior season last spring. 
 
Haring gave his thoughts on how Fields and Collura can help the program as coaches after being on the other side as players.
 
"Nick is an outstanding young coach with a bright future in this game. Having played here at Nicholls as both a pitcher and a position player, he brings a unique perspective and understanding of our program that you just can't teach. He knows firsthand what it means to wear this uniform and live up to the standards of Nicholls Baseball. He was part of two SLC Championship teams."
 
"JC is a perfect example of what we want Nicholls Baseball to be about. He's coming off a great career and an outstanding senior season last spring, and now he's choosing to give back to this program as a coach. That says a lot about who he is and the pride he takes in being part of this family."
 
Trischel comes to us from Brookhaven College where he was a utility player and Haring spoke about how he can help the program.
 
"Kade is a great addition to our staff and someone who brings a fresh perspective to the program. Coming to us from Brookhaven College, where he played as a true utility guy, he understands the game from multiple angles and has the ability to contribute in a variety of ways."
 
"He'll be working with both our offense and defense, and his baseball IQ and feel for the game are going to be a real asset for our players. Kade has a great energy, asks the right questions, and brings a team-first mentality to everything he does. We're excited to get him on the field and in the cages with our guys. He's going to help push our program forward."
 
Blank joins us as the Director of Analytics, she brings so much value to our program having worked in several different avenues in baseball including professional baseball, working for a player agency, as well as helping other NCAA I schools. Haring gave his thoughts on the how Blank can help with the advancement of analytics.
 
"Morgan brings a tremendous amount of value to our program and is going to make an immediate impact. She's worked in several different areas of the game — from professional baseball to the player agency side, to helping other Division I programs — and that range of experience is rare.
 
"As our Director of Analytics, Morgan will play a key role in helping us prepare, evaluate, and make the best decisions possible. She can take complex information and translate it into something our coaches and players can use right away to get better. Beyond her skill set, Morgan has a great feel for the game and a real passion for helping players reach their potential. She's another example of how we're surrounding our guys with people who care deeply about their development and our program's success."