Aggies prioritize player durability and long-term performance with a seasoned MLB strength guru, signaling a professional player development overhaul.
Texas A&M baseball didn’t close out its 2026 coaching staff with a routine hire, it made a statement.
When Michael Earley announced Nate Friedman as the Aggies’ new strength and conditioning coach, it marked more than just the final box checked on the organizational chart.
It was a clear signal that Texas A&M is leaning fully into a professional model of player development, durability, and long-term performance.
Friedman arrives in College Station after spending the last eight seasons inside the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, working his way through nearly every level of minor league baseball.
That body of work alone separates this hire from the typical college shuffle, but it’s the type of work Friedman has done that makes this move especially intriguing for the Aggies.
Earley didn’t mince words about why Friedman stood out.
“We conducted an extensive search with a strong focus on identifying the best strength and conditioning coaches in professional baseball, and Nate’s name continued to surface at the highest levels of Major League Baseball,” Earley said.
“What separated Nate was his elite ability to communicate and connect with players, along with his understanding of how to build strength while prioritizing durability and injury prevention.”
That quote tells you everything about what Texas A&M is trying to become.
This isn’t about louder weight rooms or maxing out for social media clips. It’s about keeping pitchers healthy in May, hitters fresh in June, and rosters intact when postseason baseball demands the most.
Friedman’s baseball roots trace back to 2017, when he entered the strength world under Eric Cressey, one of the most respected performance minds in the sport.
Cressey’s influence on modern baseball training is enormous, with more than 100 professional players training under his methods each offseason.
That early exposure helped shape Friedman’s philosophy ... strength matters, but movement quality, recovery, and communication matter just as much.
After his year at Cressey Sports Performance, Friedman jumped into pro ball with the Diamondbacks in 2018 and immediately began climbing.
He served as head strength coach for the Missoula Osprey in 2018 and 2019, earning Pioneer League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons.
From there, his responsibilities continued to grow, including time overseeing strength operations at Arizona’s Salt River Fields complex during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
By 2021, Friedman was the head strength coach for High-A Hillsboro.
In 2022, he moved again, taking over the Triple-A Reno Aces, where his work translated directly to results as Reno claimed the Pacific Coast League championship. Before the 2024 season, Friedman reached one of the most demanding roles in player development when Arizona promoted him to minor league rehab strength and conditioning coordinator.
That last position may be the most valuable experience he brings to Texas A&M.
Rehab work isn’t about intensity; it’s about precision. Friedman spent the last two seasons guiding injured prospects back to form while maintaining performance progression, working closely with players like Corbin Carroll, Brandon Pfaadt, and Jake McCarthy along the way.
That type of experience is gold for a college program navigating the grind of SEC play.
For Texas A&M, this hire fits neatly into Earley’s broader vision. Modern college baseball is no longer just about talent acquisition; it’s about talent retention.
Teams that survive the SEC schedule aren’t simply the most skilled; they’re the healthiest, the freshest, and the most consistent. Friedman’s entire career has been built around that idea.
“I am extremely excited and grateful to join such a prestigious program,” Friedman said. “I cannot wait to get to work and start our pursuit of a championship in 2026.”
The staff is now complete. The message is clear. Texas A&M isn’t just building a team for Opening Day ... it’s building one meant to last.