Chris Shank

Chris Shank was named the SNHU baseball program's head coach in August 2023, after previously spending eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Penmen from 2009-16.

Shank arrived back in Manchester following a pair of Division III head coaching stints, most recently at Eastern Nazarene College. Shank guided the Lions to a 62-45-1 (.579) record over four seasons, including the pandemic-shortened 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Shank, who won 20 games in each of his two full seasons, led ENC to a 26-14 mark and a spot in the New England College Conference (NECC) championship game in 2023. The 26 wins set a new single-season program record, while it was the first time ever the Lions had advanced to the conference title game. While at ENC, Shank nearly doubled the roster size he inherited in less than a year and recruited, and then developed, the program's first All-American.

Prior to his four years at ENC, Shank spent two seasons as the head coach at New England College, where he guided the Pilgrims to a record of 50-35 (.588), as well as their first two North Atlantic Conference (NAC) title game appearances. Shank inherited a seven-win team and immediately won 24 games in 2017, before piling on another 26 victories in 2018, while setting new school records in nearly every major statistical category. He also recruited and developed the roster of the 2019 squad that advanced to the NCAA Super Regional.

Shank spent 2009-16 as an assistant coach at SNHU, including the 2015 season in which he served as the interim co-head coach. The 2015 team finished 31-14 and earned an NCAA Regional berth. Including that season, Shank owned a record of 143-94-1 (.603) over seven seasons as a head coach, prior to coming back to Manchester.

During his eight seasons at SNHU, the Penmen put together a record of 257-142-2 (.643), advanced to five NCAA Regionals, captured a pair of NE10 Championships (2014, 2016) and earned a spot in the 2012 NCAA Division II College World Series.

Shank, who also served as pitching coach for the Worcester Tornadoes of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (Can-Am League) in 2011, spent 2006-08 as an assistant coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which went 50-41-1 (.549) during his time and captured its first ECAC Championship in '06.

Shank began his coaching career at his alma mater, spending 2003-05 as an assistant at Franklin Pierce University. The Ravens went 96-54 (.640) with him on the staff, in addition to earning a pair of NCAA Regional berths, a trip to the 2003 DII World Series and the 2005 NE10 title. Shank was 372-223-3 (.625) in 13 seasons as an assistant coach, bringing his 20-year record (2003-22) in collegiate baseball to 515-317-4 (.618).

Shank was drafted in the 23^rd round of the 2002 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics and spent three years in the organization. Shank was a non-roster invite for Major League camp in Spring Training in both 2003 and 2004, and finished his Minor League career 12-12 with a 3.81 ERA. He pitched for the Worcester Tornadoes from 2005-07, going 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA.

Shank starred for Franklin Pierce from 2000-02, setting or equaling career program records for wins (20), strikeouts (235), complete games (17) and innings pitched (243.2).

Shank resides in Auburn with his wife, Mary, and their children, Grayson and Ainsley.