Report: Washington hiring Utah Valley's Eddie Smith as new head baseball coach

Washington reportedly has its new head baseball coach. The Huskies are hiring Eddie Smith away from Utah Valley as their new head coach, according to Kendall Rogers.

Eddie Smith led Utah Valley to a 29-29 record in 2024, after the Wolverines went 34-24 in 2023. Prior to Smith’s arrival, Utah Valley was 10-47.

He has previously been an assistant at several schools, including LSU, Notre Dame and Virginia.

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“BREAKING: @UW_Baseball is hiring Eddie Smith as its new head coach, @d1baseball has learned. Smith, who spent time at #LSU, #UVA, #NotreDame, #Tulane, spent the last three seasons as the HC for @UVUbsb. Smith takes over for Jason Kelly,” Rogers posted on Twitter.

Smith was named the head coach at Utah Valley ahead of the 2022 season. His background is in hitting, and he will be counted on to improve a Washington offense that hit .248 as a team last season.

Washington struggled to a 19-30-1 mark in 2024, including a 10-20 record in Pac-12 play.

Jason Kelly left the Huskies program after only two seasons to become an assistant at Texas A&M. He will serve as the assistant head coach and pitching coach for the Aggies.

Washington loses Lou Fujiwara, Carson Ohland to transfer portal

Not long after news broke that Washington had its new head coach, a couple of players entered the transfer portal.

Shortstop Lou Fujiwara and catcher Carson Ohland have both entered the transfer portal, On3 has learned.

Lou Fujiwara played one season with the Huskies. During that year, he appeared in just three games for Washington. He did not get an at-bat in any of those games. However, he was as good as he could have been defensively in those limited opportunities, with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

In the summer of 2024, Lou Fujiwara has been playing in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League for the Lima Locos in Ohio. There, he’s played in 15 games and has 68 at-bats. He’s hitting .276 there with a .368 OBP and a .293 slugging percentage. He also has four RBIs and two stolen bases.

A native of Japan, Lou Fujiwara played his high school baseball at Brett Kay at JSerra Catholic High School while staying with a host family. Back then, he led the school to the 2022 CIF Championship. He also earned second team all-league honor and was named OC Varsity Second Team All-County.

As for Carson Ohland, he appeared in 44 games, making 36 starts for the Huskies in 2024. Ohland hit .274 with one home run and nine RBIs.