Travis Creel Named Head Baseball Coach at Jacksonville State
6/14/2026 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Jacksonville State Vice President for Athletics Greg Seitz announced today the hiring of Travis Creel as the new head coach of the Gamecock baseball program.
Creel arrives at Jax State after seven highly successful seasons at Southern Miss, where he served as recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and infield coach while helping guide the Golden Eagles to six NCAA Tournament appearances, two Super Regional appearances, multiple conference championships and more than 220 victories.
"Throughout this process, we were looking for a leader who could build upon the championship foundation of our baseball program while positioning us for continued success in the future," said Seitz. "Travis has been an integral part of one of the most successful programs in college baseball and has consistently demonstrated the ability to recruit, develop and retain outstanding student-athletes. He is a proven winner, a relentless competitor and someone who understands what it takes to compete at the highest levels of college baseball."
Creel has been instrumental in Southern Miss' sustained success, helping the Golden Eagles reach NCAA Regionals in each of the last six seasons, including Regional Championships in 2022 and 2023 and Super Regional appearances in both years. During his tenure, Southern Miss captured a Conference USA regular season championship and consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles.
His offensive units consistently ranked among the nation's best. In 2025, Southern Miss won 47 games and set a school record with 106 home runs while leading the Sun Belt Conference in batting average, hits and home runs. The Golden Eagles advanced to the championship round of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional and finished among the nation's leaders in multiple offensive categories.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Jax State baseball program," said Creel. "This is a program with a proud tradition, outstanding facilities, tremendous support and a clear commitment to winning at the highest level. My family and I are excited to become part of the Jax State community. We look forward to building relationships with our players, alumni and supporters while pursuing championships and representing this university with pride."
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Creel spent three seasons at Louisiana Tech, where the Bulldogs won 109 games and established the program's best three-year stretch in nearly four decades. Before Louisiana Tech, he helped lead Jones College to the 2016 NJCAA National Championship while serving as recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and infield coach.
A former Southern Miss standout infielder, Creel was a member of the Golden Eagles' 2009 College World Series team and served as a two-time team captain. He earned both his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Southern Miss.
Since entering the coaching profession, Creel has developed 18 Major League Baseball Draft selections since 2021 while helping establish championship cultures built on player development, accountability and academic success.
Creel becomes the sixth head coach in Jax State baseball history and takes over a program that captured the 2026 Conference USA Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
"Jax State baseball has a rich history that includes national championships, conference championships and generations of outstanding student-athletes," said Seitz. "We believe Travis is the right person to build on that tradition and lead our program into its next chapter."
