PJ Finigan will begin his third season on the Lindenwood baseball staff in 2025, and his second as head coach.
Lindenwood made quite the jump in year two under Finigan, posting a 30-30 overall record, including a 14-13 mark inside OVC Play. Those 30 wins were the most in Lindenwood's Division I era and a plus-14 win improvement from 2024. The Black and Gold made it to the OVC Tournament semifinals and had the OVC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in Josh Newell and Charlie-Isom McCall. Overall, the Lions had five players earn All-Conference honors
During the 2025 season, Lindenwood ranked third in the OVC in ERA, while leading the conference in innings pitched and complete games. At the plate, the Lions led the conference in doubles with 114, and ranked fourth in home runs with 64.
In his first year at the helm of the program, the Lions won 16 games, including nine inside the Ohio Valley Conference. Josh Newell was tabbed conference pitcher of the week once during the season, while Dawson Hokuf went on to earn second team all-OVC honors. Hokuf finished the 2024 season hitting .344, and led the team in home runs (6) and RBI's (33). Lindenwood was active on the base paths this season as the Lions led the OVC with 99 stolen bases. Five players finished the year with double digit steals.
Under the direction of Finigan, Joe Copeland and Easton Rakers earned all-conference honors. Copeland garnered second-team recognition as a utility player after hitting .333. Rakers landed on the all-newcomer team as he was the best arm out of the pen for Lindenwood, posting a 3.31 ERA in 20 appearances. Preston Salazar was tabbed OVC Pitcher of the Week one time during the year after tossing a complete game five-hitter against Tennessee Tech on April 6.
Finigan comes to Lindenwood after spending the last three seasons at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as an assistant baseball coach. From 2021-22, Finigan also served as the interim head softball coach. In his lone season as the interim head softball coach, Finigan helped lead the team to an OVC Tournament appearance in three years, and first tournament win in four years. Finigan guided four all-OVC baseball selections and three all-OVC softball selections.
Prior to his stop in Edwardsville, Finigan spent nine seasons at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Finigan served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, before being promoted to associate head coach in 2018-19. Under the pitching leadership from Finigan, the Saluki baseball program produced one National Pitcher of the Year, eight MLB Draft picks, and four school records. Finigan guided 20 all-MVC selections, 12 MVC Pitchers of the Week, and two Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans.
Finigan was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers as the 210th overall pick. In 2006, Finigan was named the Detroit Tigers Gold Glove Award Winner. Finigan was a four-year starter at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Finigan collected Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American accolades in 2002, and was named academic all-MVC honorable mention in 2004. In 2005, Finigan was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, earning first-team honors as a starting pitcher and a shortstop. Finigan was inducted to the 2018 SIU Athletics Hall of Fame, and was named to the MVC All-Century team.
