A.J. Gaura enters his second year as Belmont's assistant head coach and fourth season as the Belmont pitching coach, after being introduced to the Bruins' staff on Jan. 3, 2022.
Gaura's first season in the dugout for the Bruins resulted in Belmont owning the best pitching staff in the Ohio Valley Conference, leading the league in ERA (4.59) with the runner-up nearly a full run behind (5.52). Belmont was also first in the conference in opponent batting average (.253), first in wins (39), first in saves (18), second in home runs allowed (60), and third in walks allowed (217).
With Gaura's guidance, the Bruins owned one of the best weekend rotations in the country, with OVC Pitcher of the Year Andy Bean and Second-Team All-Conference selection Jalen Borders bookending two-time OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Joshua South. Bean, Borders, and South were all in the top-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference in ERA, in the top-5 in opponent batting average, in the top-7 in innings pitched, and in the top-10 in strikeouts.
Under Gaura's tutelage, Bean earned Belmont's first-ever OVC Pitcher of the Year honor after going 9-1 with a 4.64 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 2022, to help lead the Bruins to their first OVC Regular Season Championship, winning the league with an 18-6 conference mark while tying the program-record for wins (39).
In the bullpen, reliever Kyle Brennan enjoyed a record-breaking year as the Bruin closer, finishing 4th in the country in saves (14) while breaking the program's all-time career record for saves (31). Gaura's efforts with reliever Dusty Baird resulted in the right-hander developing finishing the season on a scorching stretch that saw him allow just one run over his final 13 innings, before signing a professional contract with the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League.
A native of Suamico, Wisconsin, Gaura came to Belmont after three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Evansville.
In 2021, the Aces finished with a 28-27 overall record competing in the Missouri Valley Conference, their first winning season since 2014. That season, Gaura helped sophomore pitcher Shane Gray to one of the best pitching performances from an Ace in recent memory, coaching Gray to a spot on the All-MVC Second Team after he finished with a 2.84 ERA, the third best mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. Under Gaura, the Aces finished with a 4.82 team ERA in his first season in 2019, down from a 6.04 ERA mark the previous year.
Prior to arriving in Evansville, Gaura spent three seasons at national power Mississippi State, where he worked as a graduate assistant video coordinator in 2016 before being promoted to the Bulldogs' director of player development in 2017. In that role, Gaura was responsible for the organization of all on-campus recruiting, the scholarship and recruiting database, and video needs for both player development and advanced scouting.
Gaura's assistance in recruiting the 2018 and 2019 classes to Mississippi State resulted in both being ranked No. 4 in the nation by Perfect Game.
Prior to the 2018 season, Gaura became the Bulldogs' volunteer assistant and camp coordinator while also taking on the duties of catchers' coach and assistant pitching coach, helping Mississippi State take two out of three games from Vanderbilt in the Super Regional before winning two games at the College World Series in Omaha.
Gaura graduated from Austin Peay in 2015 with a degree in business administration, helping the Governors to the OVC Championship in 2013 as a right-handed pitcher. Prior to arriving in Clarksville, Gaura pitched for Iowa Western Community College, where he was a part of the 2012 NJCAA Division I national championship team.
Upon his graduation in 2015, Gaura remained with the Austin Peay program in 2016 as a volunteer assistant/camp coordinator while earning his master's of science in management.
Gaura lives in Nashville with his wife, Rachel.
