NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt baseball has hired Travis Jewett as the Director of Player Strategy and Personnel, head coach Tim Corbin announced Monday.
Jewett, a member of the Vanderbilt baseball staff from 2013-16, returns to Nashville after stops at Tulane and USC. He served as the Commodores’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2016.
“Travis brings a unique combination of experience, perspective, and relationships that will serve our program well. He has sat in the head coach's seat, understands every part of building and leading a program, and has a widespread knowledge of the game that comes from decades of coaching, evaluating, and recruiting players,” Corbin said.
“As our game continues to change, I wanted someone who could help strengthen every aspect of our player personnel process—from evaluation and recruiting to roster management and long-term planning. Travis is uniquely qualified to do that. He has a genuine passion for identifying talent, but more importantly, he understands the type of young man who fits this university and what it means to wear a Vanderbilt uniform,” Corbin added.
Vanderbilt won its first national championship in 2014, Jewett’s second season with the Dores, and became one of college baseball’s most potent offenses with a .322 average in the NCAA Tournament. The following season, Vandy hit 69 home runs, the most since 1998, and owned a team average of .290 while leading the SEC in doubles and triples.
The Commodores had at least two All-America selections in each of Jewett’s four seasons including Dansby Swanson, Tony Kemp, Mike Yastrzemski, Connor Harrell, Vince Conde, Jeren Kendall and Bryan Reynolds. More than 25 Commodores were drafted during his tenure with five players being selected in the first round.
“My wife, Tracy, and I are excited to be coming ‘home’ to Nashville and Vanderbilt Baseball,” Jewett said. “Our previous time here left lasting impressions and the opportunity to come back to such a cherished place is a dream come true. Coach Corbin, Maggie, and the entire staff have built and maintained an elite organization on so many levels and I am honored to be a small part of such an amazing team.”
Jewett most recently served as an assistant coach at USC for four seasons (2023-26). The Trojans improved each campaign, finishing fourth in the conference with 34 wins overall in 2023, the most by a Trojan team since 2015. USC again posted a 30-plus win season and a fourth-place conference finish in 2024, making a run to the Pac-12 title game. 2025 saw USC return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years, as USC won 37 games and reached the final of the Corvallis Regional. This past spring, USC won 40 games for the first time since 2005 and won the College Station Regional to advance to the Super Regional round for the first time since that same 2005 season.
Jewett helped seven position players hear their names called in the MLB Draft as the USC hitting coach. Jewett worked to develop second-team All-American Ethan Hedges, helping him get drafted 77th overall in the 3rd round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the highest selection for a Trojan since 2009. Also coaching the outfielders, Jewett helped Austin Overn become a third-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2024.
Prior to USC, Jewett was Tulane’s head coach from 2017-22, leading the Green Wave to a 160-138-1 record. During his six seasons at the helm in New Orleans, the Green Wave produced three All-Americans, five Freshman All-Americans, 13 All-Conference honorees and 17 MLB Draft selections including first-round pick Kody Hoese in 2019.
Before his first stint in Nashville, Jewett spent three years at Arizona State where he oversaw the Sun Devils’ hitters and recruiting while serving as associate head coach. He helped the Sun Devils reach the College World Series in 2010. The Sun Devils offense produced under Jewett, hitting over .300 as a team during his tenure and averaging nearly seven runs per game, while winning the Pac-10 league title in 2010 and hosting NCAA Regionals in each of his first two years.
His three-year stint at Arizona State saw 31 players drafted, 19 of which were position players.
From 2005-09, Jewett played an integral role in rejuvenating the Washington State program. He helped lead the Cougars from a 1-23 Pac-10 record in his first year to a 19-8 mark and second-place finish in his final season in Pullman. The Cougars made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years in 2009, playing in the Norman, Oklahoma Regional.
At Washington State, 15 Cougars were selected in the major league baseball draft during Jewett’s five seasons.
Prior to his five seasons in Pullman, Jewett spent 2002-04 in Seattle at Washington, where he instructed the infielders and coached third base for the Huskies, while helping lead the hitters. The Huskies made the NCAA Tournament in each of Jewett’s three seasons (2002-04), reaching the Regional finals all three years. During his tenure with Washington, 17 Huskies were drafted.
Jewett broke into the Division I level at Gonzaga, where he was in charge of the infield and coaching third base, while assisting with the offense from 1999-2001. Gonzaga won the WCC regular season title in Jewett’s final season after finishing second the previous two years. With the Zags, Jewett saw four players drafted in his three seasons. Two of those players made the major leagues in Jason Bay and Bo Hart.
Jewett began his collegiate coaching career at Tacoma Community College, first as an assistant in 1994 followed by two years as the head coach. He was the head coach at Edmonds (Wash.) Community College for two seasons, earning NWAACC Coach of the Year and National Junior College Coach of the Year honors in 1998.
Jewett is a 1993 graduate of Washington State. He played two seasons at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, before finishing his degree at WSU.
He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons, Tanner and Tommy.
More from Coach Corbin on Jewett: “I have known Travis for many years and have always respected the way he leads people, the way he communicates, and the energy he brings to those around him. His personality is contagious, and people naturally gravitate toward him. He has built meaningful relationships throughout baseball, and those relationships, along with his experience, will be a tremendous asset to our players, our staff, and our program. On a personal level, Maggie and I have always had a special appreciation for Travis, Tracy, Tanner, and Tommy. We are grateful they wanted to return to Nashville and become part of our Vanderbilt family once again.”
Coaching Career: USC – Assistant Coach (2023-26); Tulane – Head Coach (2017-22); Vanderbilt – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Associate Head Coach (2013-16); Arizona State – Assistant Coach (2010-12); Washington State – Assistant Coach (2005-09); Washington – Assistant Coach (2002-04); Gonzaga University – Assistant Coach (1999-01); Edmonds (Wash.) Community College – Head Coach (1997-98); Tacoma (Wash.) Community College – Head Coach (1995-96); Tacoma Community College – Assistant Coach (1994)