Reggie Christiansen, associate baseball coach, will follow John Smith as Sacramento State’s next baseball coach.

Athletic Director Terry Wanless made the announcement on Tuesday and said it was not only Christiansen’s on-the-field work that made the decision easy, it was also the way he helped his players off the field. “Most importantly, I think he’s done a great job of mentoring student-athletes, along with Coach Smith,” Wanless said. “When Coach Smith decided this was going to be his last season, I really looked at where we were and what contributions Reggie had made and really felt like that this would be a seamless transition.” Christiansen, 34, has previous head coaching experience. Before Sac State, he led the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for four seasons – turning a perennial 12-win team into a 34-win team in his final season.

Prior to South Dakota State, Christiansen was an assistant coach at the University of Kansas, under Ritch Price – a good friend of Christiansen and Smith.

Christiansen said in a press release that he is grateful to have the chance to lead the Hornets.

“I am certainly looking forward to the chance to work with a group of young men that are eager to succeed,” Christiansen said in a press release. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help this program grow and build on the foundation that was developed by Coach Smith over the past 32 years.” Head coach John Smith said in a press release that Christiansen’s abilities to be a head coach will show.

“In a short period of time at Sacramento State, Reggie has demonstrated the work ethic, knowledge and ability to teach the game the way it should be taught,” Smith said in a press release. Smith announced his retirement on Oct. 2, effective at the end of the 2010 season – ending his 32-year run as Hornet baseball head coach. Christiansen was promoted from hitting coach to associate head coach in August.

Dustin Nosler can be reached at [email protected]