Former South Carolina baseball coach Mark Kingston hired to succeed Creighton's Ed Servais after '25

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mark Kingston, fired by South Carolina two weeks ago, was hired as Creighton's coach effective at the end of the 2025 season, the school announced Monday.

Kingston will replace Ed Servais, who announced last month he would retire after next season. Creighton said at the time it wanted his successor to be on staff for a year.

Kingston was South Carolina's coach the past seven seasons and led the Gamecocks to four NCAA Tournaments, reaching super regionals in 2018 and 2023.

The Gamecocks were 37-25 this season, tied for fifth in the SEC East, and went 1-2 in NCAA regionals. They haven't played in the College World Series since their run of three straight appearances in the finals (2010-12). They won national titles in 2010-11.

Creighton was 35-17 but finished sixth in the Big East and failed to qualify for the conference tournament. Servais has coached the Bluejays 21 seasons and led them to five NCAA regionals.

Kingston has a career record of 490-335-1 in 15 years as a head coach. Before South Carolina, he was at South Florida (2015-17) and Illinois State (2010-14).