LA GRANDE, Ore. – Brian Valentine has been selected as the head baseball coach for the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers, as announced by Director of Athletics Anji Weissenfluh on Tuesday.
"I would like to introduce Brian Valentine as our new head baseball coach," Weissenfluh said. "Brian brings with him great experience, having been part of very successful programs. He is high energy, but most importantly, he is strongly committed to the holistic development of his athletes."
Valentine comes to La Grande after serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lower Columbia College, where he helped guide the Red Devils to a 79-29 record over the course of two seasons, winning the Northwest Athletic Conference Championship in 2023.
"I want to thank Anji Weissenfluh and the committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the Eastern Oregon baseball program," said Valentine. "I'm excited about the future of Mountaineer baseball and am eager to build on the progress that has been made."
The Mountaineers finished 16-34 overall and 5-19 in conference play last season, marking the highest single-season win total since the program's reinstatement in 2021.
"The Cascade Collegiate Conference is a very competitive and desirable place to compete," Valentine added. "Our staff looks forward to building a program that the La Grande community, EOU baseball alumni, and the university can be proud of, both on and off the field, as we pursue a championship. Time to get to work!"
Prior to joining Lower Columbia, Valentine spent five seasons as an assistant baseball coach at Linfield University. During his tenure, he was instrumental in working with hitters and outfielders and served as the recruiting coordinator for two years. His efforts contributed to the Wildcats reaching the Northwest Conference tournament twice and sharing the regular-season conference championship in 2022.
Valentine's baseball journey began at Yakima Valley College and continued at Linfield University, where he graduated with a degree in marketing. A native of Vancouver, Wash., he graduated from Skyview High School, where he was a two-time all-league player and played a key role in securing the program's only state championship.
"His approach aligns with the values of our athletic department, where he aims to develop great people, students, and athletes," Weissenfluh said. "I am excited for Coach Valentine to get on campus and begin working with our student-athletes."
