Joanna Hornets Announce Return of Head Coach Stuart Lake for 2026 Season

Joanna, S.C. — The Joanna Hornets are thrilled to announce that Head Coach Stuart Lake will return as the Hornets’ skipper for the 2026 summer season.

Coach Lake joined the Hornets for their inaugural 2025 campaign, bringing with him a wealth of experience and leadership from a distinguished collegiate coaching career.

Lake currently serves as the Assistant Director of Development for the Gamecock Club and University of South Carolina Baseball. A seasoned baseball mind, he was named the Big South Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the Charleston Southern Buccaneers to a 29–30 record and a tie for third place in the conference — a remarkable turnaround from a last-place finish the prior season.

About Coach Stuart Lake

Playing Career:
Lake began his playing career at USC Salkehatchie and Newberry College before graduating from Charleston Southern University in 1994.

Early Coaching Career:
After four years coaching high school baseball, Lake entered the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at South Carolina (1999–2002). During his tenure, the Gamecocks appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and finished as national runners-up once. He later served as an assistant at College of Charleston (2003), Ole Miss (2004–2006), and The Citadel (2007–2008).

Head Coaching Career:
Lake took over as Head Coach at Charleston Southern in 2009. After early rebuilding years, his 2011 squad’s success earned him Big South Coach of the Year honors. In 2014, Lake led Charleston Southern to its first winning season under his leadership (30–26).

Since 2020, he has been part of the University of South Carolina baseball coaching staff, continuing to mentor players and contribute to the program’s development.

Coaching Career Summary

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have Coach Lake leading our program again,” said the Hornets’ GM Michael Riefsnyder. “His passion for player development, leadership, and competitive spirit were instrumental in establishing our identity in our first season — and we can’t wait to see what’s next in 2026.”