AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball and head coach Butch Thompson announced Tuesday the addition of Nick Ammirati as the program’s assistant coach and hitting coordinator.
“This is an incredible opportunity to join a program with arguably more young talent than anyone in the country and help build on the momentum it has created the last several years,” Ammirati said. “Butch has been a mentor of mine both up close and from afar for 15 years now, and I’m ecstatic to rekindle that relationship and get to work with one of the best coaches and men in our industry.
“My family and I are excited to get emersed in the Auburn Family, and I can’t wait to get to work with such a talented group of coaches, staff and student-athletes,” Ammirati added.
A rising star in the industry, Ammirati comes to the Plains after spending the last five seasons as the hitting coach at Kentucky (2022-24) and Georgia (2025-26), helping both programs reach new heights during his tenures.
“Nick’s bio speaks for itself, but my first glimpse of his potential in this industry was as his coach in 2013,” Thompson said. “As a catcher, he called virtually every pitch and led an incredible pitching staff to the national championship series. Since then, I’ve watched Ammo begin his college coaching career with success at every level, including the SEC. Being on staff for Kentucky and Georgia’s most recent runs to the College World Series has been impressive, and I’m excited for him to bring that success and partner with Karl Nonemaker to create a winning offense and develop the ever-essential catching position.
“Nick’s track record of success and current SEC experience makes him the best fit in the country,” Thompson added. “For me personally, I’m excited to reunite with a former student-athlete, and I believe our players and program are going to be very excited to have Ammo join the Auburn Family.”
In Ammirati’s four previous stops at the Division I level – Georgia (2025-26), Kentucky (2022-24), Southern Miss (2021) and Northwestern State (2015-16) – he has had the opportunity to serve under some of college baseball’s most successful head coaches in Wes Johnson, Nick Mingione, Scott Berry and Lane Burroughs.
In the last three seasons, Ammirati has helped lead his programs to Omaha twice and has won three SEC Championships – two regular season and one tournament title. During the span, his offenses have led the league both overall and in SEC play in numerous offensive categories including average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases and stolen bases. He has mentored nine hitters who heard their name called in the top 10 rounds of the MLB Draft since 2024.
Very involved in transfer portal recruiting with his previous two programs, Ammirati has been instrumental in bringing in five straight top-10 transfer portal classes, including the No. 1 ranked transfer portal class at Georgia last year.
During Ammirati’s two years in Athens, the Bulldogs led the country and set program records in home runs on both occasions, tallying 144 homers in 2025 before upping that number to 179 in 2026. The offense hit a collective .304 and scored 8.82 runs per game across two seasons while also ranking top five in slugging percentage in back-to-back years. On its way to the program’s first College World Series appearance since 2008, the 2026 team set program records in runs scored (611), RBI (583) and total bases (1,405).
With the Bulldogs, Ammirati was instrumental in the development of catcher Daniel Jackson, who became the first catcher and third player in DI history to hit 30 or more home runs and steal 25 or more bases in a single season. Jackson took home the SEC’s offensive triple crown and swept the Golden Spikes, Dick Howser Trophy, Buster Posey and Bobby Bragan Slugger of the Year awards.
Prior to Georgia, Ammirati served as the hitting coach at Kentucky from 2022-24 and helped guide the program to a SEC Championship, two regional host bids, two super regional appearances and the program’s first trip to the College World Series in 2024. The Wildcats finished their College World Series season top five in program history in a number of offensive categories including runs scored, home runs and RBI.
Before his stints in the SEC, Ammirati made stops and served in a capacity as a hitting coach at Southern Miss (2021), Hinds Community College (2017-20), Northwestern State (2015-16) and NJIT (2014). During his time in Hattiesburg, the Golden Eagles posted a 40-21 record, ranked top 20 in the country in home runs and played for a regional title.
Prior to his coaching career, Ammirati played collegiately at Seton Hall (2010), Panola (Texas) College (2011) and Mississippi State (2012-13), where he served as the primary catcher for the team that finished runner-up at the 2013 College World Series. He played professionally in the Seattle Mariners organization for parts of two seasons in 2013-14.
Originally from Staten Island, New York, Ammirati earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Mississippi State (2013) and master’s degree in health and human performance from Northwestern State (2016). He and his wife, Caroline, have one son, Banks.