Lamar University Athletics

Sean McGrath was hired as Lamar University's pitching coach in July 2024 after a successful two-year stint at Iowa where he produced some of the nation's top pitching talent. In addition to his time with the Hawkeyes, McGrath has also spent time serving as a pitching coach within Major League Baseball.

In his first season at Lamar, the pitching staff boasted two All-Southland Conference players (Riely Hunsaker - first team and Peyton Havard - second team). The staff broke the single-season program record for strikeouts with 491, surpassing a record that stood since 2006. Hunsaker at one point was ranked 10th in the nation in ERA. LU's staff led the Southland Conference in strikeouts, innings pitched (488.1) and saves (14) while it ranked second in ERA (4.33). Hunsaker finished as the conference leader in ERA (2.47). 
 
During his two seasons with the Hawkeyes, McGrath put together one of the top pitching staffs in the country, including a 2023 squad that helped Iowa post 44 wins and advance to the NCAA Championships where they advanced to the finals of the Terre Haute Regional.
 
During the 2023 season, McGrath's pitching staff ranked second nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (6.74), fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.9), 11th in earned run average (4.19) and 12th in shutouts (6). That season Iowa also led the Big Ten in ERA, strikeouts (630 – which was a new program record), shutouts, and opponent's batting average.
 
The Hawkeyes had to two pitchers get drafted from that squad – Jared Simpson (Washington Nationals – Eighth Round) and Ty Langenburg (Minnesota Twins – 11th Round) – while a third (reliever Will Christopherson) signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
 
Iowa's pitching staff continued to rank among the nation's elite again in 2024 despite losing several key pieces to the major leagues. The Hawkeyes ended the 2024 campaign ranked fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.1) and 13th in hits per nine innings (7.99). Brody Brecht, who struck out 109 batters in 2023, which is the second-most single-season strikeouts in Iowa history, is currently rated as the No. 21 draft prospect by MLB.com.
 
McGrath joined the Hawkeyes after spending the 2022 season within the Seattle Mariners organization working with the Double-A affiliate Arkansas Travelers. The Travelers posted a 4.27 ERA which led the Texas League. Under McGrath's direction, the Travelers led the league in shutouts (11), WHIP (1.30) and opponents' batting average (.229).
 
His time with the Travelers came following a one-year stint with the High-A Everett AquaSox. He was also named pitching coach of the Single-A Modesto Nuts in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

Prior to his time with the Seattle Mariners organization, McGrath served as the pitching coach at Elon University from 2018-19. In his first season with the Phoenix, Elon's pitchers amassed a program record 575 strikeouts.

His stop at Elon came after serving in a similar position at UMass Lowell, where he tutored a pair of River Hawk pitchers to all-conference honors. In 2017, the squad's top two starters combined for 10 wins, 128 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA over 143.1 innings of work. 

McGrath also served two season as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Iona College. During his time at Iona, the pitching staff improved its win total each season. McGrath coached and developed 2015 fourth-round MLB Draft selection Mariano Rivera into the 2015 MAAC Player of the Year.
 
McGrath was a standout in his own right as a player. A four-year letterwinner at Lafayette College, McGrath made 70 appearances totaling 111.1 innings pitched. He ended his career with five wins, five saves and 108 strikeouts. He graduated from Lafayette College in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in government law. 

He is married to the former Ashley Springer. The couple have one daughter, Madison, and one son, Mason.