New South Carolina baseball coach Kevin Schnall has wasted little time putting his stamp on the program, quickly assembling a coaching staff and making key roster moves. Over the past day, multiple coaching hires have been finalized, while one Gamecock player has also announced plans to return for the 2027 season.
In a recent interview with Gamecocks+ and Gamecocks Online, Schnall outlined his vision for building a winning program, emphasizing that constructing a top-tier coaching staff is his first priority.
“The first thing is the staff,” Schnall said. “We need to put together an elite coaching staff, one that can compete with any staff in college baseball.”
Schnall, who spent the last two seasons as head coach at Coastal Carolina, has already brought together a group that includes several former Chanticleers assistants as well as a veteran ACC hitting coach. He believes assembling the right staff is every bit as important as recruiting talented players when it comes to sustained success.
Among the key additions is pitching coach Matt Williams, who is joining Schnall in Columbia after helping lead Coastal Carolina’s pitching staff. Williams is already familiar to South Carolina fans, having previously served on Mark Kingston’s staff in 2023. He played a major role in developing one of the best pitching units in Chanticleers history, as Coastal Carolina finished the season with a 3.22 ERA—the fifth-lowest mark in program history. At South Carolina, Williams will look to elevate a Gamecocks pitching staff that recorded a 4.81 ERA last season.
After spending 17 years with Wake Forest, Bill Cilento will join Schnall’s staff as the hitting coach.
After nearly two decades at Wake Forest, Bill Cilento is headed to South Carolina to serve as Kevin Schnall’s hitting coach. Throughout his 17-year tenure with the Demon Deacons, Cilento built a strong reputation for player development, helping numerous athletes advance to professional baseball. He held several roles during his time at Wake Forest, including hitting coach, associate head coach, third-base coach, and recruiting coordinator. His experience and offensive expertise could prove valuable for a Gamecocks lineup that struggled at the plate last season, finishing with a .235 team batting average.
Chad Oxendine and Tyler Shewmaker, both of whom worked alongside Schnall at Coastal Carolina, are also making the move to Columbia. Shewmaker will take over as recruiting coordinator after serving as Coastal Carolina’s Director of Player Development and Recruiting. Prior to joining the Chanticleers, he spent time with the Vanderbilt baseball program, adding another respected program to his résumé.
Marlatt Returns
South Carolina also received positive roster news with Parker Marlatt announcing his return for the 2027 season. The right-hander appeared in 19 games under Paul Mainieri and Monte Lee last year, recording a 5.68 ERA while striking out 28 batters across just over 25 innings of work. Marlatt is set to enter his senior campaign and should provide valuable experience for the Gamecocks’ pitching staff.
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