Bio

In Chase Stewart’s first season as Gulf Coast pitching coach, he transformed the staff and is back for the 2026 season. The Bulldogs had a dramatic uptick in statistical performance across the board, starting with a 12-win improvement.

Gulf Coast’s ERA dropped by nearly 2.4 runs to 4.68, and opponent batting average dropped from .307 to .254. Walks decreased from 280 to 202 despite throwing 40 more innings, and there were 417 strikeouts, an increase of nearly 60.

Two of his pitchers earned spots on the All-MACCC team: James Vines (First Team) and Samuel Marsh (Second Team), with Vines earning a spot on the All-Region team. Three members of the staff signed to continue their collegiate careers at the Next Level, including Marsh (ULM), Eli Waters (Nicholls State), and Brayden Scott (Mobile).

Stewart brought MACCC experience as a coach and player to Perk. He was a teammate of head coach Zach Allen on the NJCAA runners-up in 2011 and spent the last two years coaching in the conference.

In his first year handling pitchers at Copiah-Lincoln, he helped lower the staff ERA more than three runs. The pitchers finished with the second-lowest walks total and rate in the MACCC, with three sophomores signing with four-year schools. The 2024 staff struck out 391 batters, among the 20 best in the NJCAA. Their WHIP of 1.50 was fourth in the conference and top 25 in the country, with two among the top 10 strikeout pitchers in the NJCAA and three starters finishing in the top 10 of MACCC ERA. Six more sophomores signed with four-year schools.

Stewart began his coaching career in the Mississippi high school ranks. He was an assistant coach at Wayne County for two years, followed by two years at Clinton. He served as interim head coach the last season with the Arrows.

His Petal High School staff in 2022 had a sparkling 3.16 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 245/110. Five pitchers signed collegiate scholarships.

Stewart grew up in Laurel and graduated from West Jones High School, where he was a four-year member of the baseball team. He pitched two years at Jones County Junior College, where he was a member of the 2011 NJCAA runner-up squad.  He pitched at William Carey University before finishing his bachelor’s in psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Stewart is Rapsodo and Driveline certified. He’s also served as a pitching coach in the Tidewater Summer League, a collegiate wooden bat league in Virginia.