CONWAY — Coastal Carolina baseball head coach Gary Gilmore, the former USC Aiken coach who brought home a College World Series title to Conway, will retire after the 2024 season as he continues to battle cancer with longtime assistant Kevin Schnall set to replace him.
“Time to retire and see what other ways God can use me to make an impact on lives. (I’m) excited but curious what lies for me after next season," Gilmore told The Post and Courier a day after the Chanticleers learned they will host a regional postseason round.
Gilmore initially broke the news earlier May 29 during an interview with the SportsTalk Media Network.
Gilmore told The Post and Courier that he will retire after his 29th season in Conway as he continues to battle Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in 2020. He said it has since metastasized to his liver, with the tumor impacting his hormones. Gilmore wants to be able to spend more time with his family.
"(I) have been blessed by God and the doctors that treat me to be in a fully stable condition today not knowing what tomorrow brings," Gilmore said. “I have a faithful wife, two children and four grandsons that I want to play ball with, coach and just spend time with being an amazing granddad.”
Kevin Schnall, Coastal's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, will take over the program after Gilmore steps down. Schnall played under Gilmore for two years and has coached under him at Coastal for 21 years over two separate stints from 2001-12 and 2015 to present.
Schnall served as acting head coach in 2020 when Gilmore took medical leave after his cancer diagnosis.
In addition to leading the Chants to a national title in 2016, Gilmore has led Coastal Carolina to 18 NCAA Division I Regional appearances, including the 2023 season. He also led the Chants to three NCAA Division I Super Regionals.
He won 10 Big South regular-season titles, 11 Big South championship tournament titles, three Sun Belt regular-season titles and two Sun Belt tournament titles.
Gilmore was named the 2016 National Coach of the Year. He is also a nine-time Big South Coach of the Year and a two-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2018 and 2023.
Before coming to Coastal, Gilmore coached at USCA from 1990-95, reaching the NCAA Division II College World Series in 1993. A 2014 inductee into USCA's Hall of Fame, Gilmore compiled a record of 256-102-2 and started his career with four 40-win seasons, including a program-record 48 victories in 1991.
In 1993, Gilmore was named the Division II ABCA National Coach of the Year as he led the Pacers to the Division II World Series. He was also named the Peach Belt Conference and South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
The Pacers won PBC Tournament titles in 1992-93, then won the regular-season title the following season with a record of 16-5 in conference play.
He coached one PBC Player of the Year (Adam Riggs in 1994), nine all-conference performers and two future Major League Baseball players at USCA.
Gilmore’s overall record as a college baseball head coach is 1,332-672-5. He has gone 1,079-570-3 at Coastal.
Coastal has gone 39-19 this season and won the Sun Belt regular-season title.
Gilmore will have a chance to add more accolades when the Chants, who are the No. 10 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament, host the Conway Regional at Springs Brooks Stadium. Coastal’s first game in the regional will be June 2 against Rider at 7 p.m.
