Rice University Athletics
Staff Directory
Clay Van Hook
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
Clay Van Hook was named the Owls’ Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator on July 15, 2025, returning to South Main where he coached under Hall of Fame head coach Wayne Graham from 2012-17.
Van Hook will work with the Owls’ hitters and outfielders in addition to heading up recruiting efforts.
In his first stint at Rice, Van Hook served as Rice’s volunteer assistant coach during his first year with the program before being promoted to a full-time position prior to the start of the 2013. Rice advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of his six years and advanced to the Super Regional in 2013.
Rice's offense was nationally recognized in 2014 and 2015, finishing in the top 40 in the NCAA both seasons. During the 2014 campaign, Rice led Conference USA and had the 13th-most hits in the nation, averaging 10.2 per game.
During his tenure with Rice, the Owls claimed 11 All-Americans, 31 all-conference selections and had 28 players selected in the MLB Draft.
Prior to spending last season as an assistant coach at Houston, Van Hook spent two seasons as the head coach at Texas-Arlington.
In two seasons in Arlington, Van Hook guided the Mavericks through one of the hardest non-conference schedules in the nation, facing off against nine 2023 regional qualifiers and mentored an offensive resurgence in 2022 where they smashed 56 home runs, the 3rd most in program history.
Van Hook helped guide his UTA squad to the semifinals of the 2023 WAC Championship, just one game away from the championship. Van Hook also helped lead the Mavericks to the team's first win over a top 10 opponent in six years with an 8-7 win over #10 TCU on March 7, 2023.
Before becoming the head skipper at UTA, Van Hook spent his previous five seasons as an assistant coach for Oklahoma, culminating with a College World Series Final in June of 2022. While with the Sooners, he served as the hitting coach, helped create the offensive game plan and worked with the infielders. He was also the third base coach on game days and assisted in coordinating OU's recruiting efforts.
In 2022, the Sooners ranked among the nation's top offenses. OU finished in the top five in the NCAA in base-on-balls (3rd, 374) and stolen bases (4th, 145). They were also ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA in runs scored (11th, 518), hits (14th, 675) and on-base percentage (14th, .412).
A native of Brenham, Texas, with deep Lone Star State recruiting roots, Van Hook served as Oklahoma's recruiting coordinator since 2021. In 2022, he was responsible for bringing in the nation's 13th-ranked recruiting class, according to Baseball America.
Over a two-year stretch, the Sooners saw 13 players selected in the MLB Draft. Additionally, in the 2018 MLB Draft, a pair of Sooners went in the first two rounds in Kyler Murray (1st Round, Pick 9) and Steele Walker (2nd Round, 46th Overall).
Before his first stint at Rice, Van Hook was an assistant coach at McNeese State from 2009-11. The 2009 season saw the Cowboys set a school record in batting average (.312), while the 2010 team finished with the 7th-highest in school history. During his three seasons, he helped develop 14 all-league players and witnessed six players get drafted.
His coaching career began as a student-assistant coach at Texas during the 2008 season after earning three letters for the Longhorns where he was a member of their 2005 CWS champions while earning second team All-Big 12 honors. Van Hook was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2007 MLB Draft following his senior season.
He and his wife Selina have a daughter, Avery, and a son Briscoe.
Van Hook will work with the Owls’ hitters and outfielders in addition to heading up recruiting efforts.
In his first stint at Rice, Van Hook served as Rice’s volunteer assistant coach during his first year with the program before being promoted to a full-time position prior to the start of the 2013. Rice advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of his six years and advanced to the Super Regional in 2013.
Rice's offense was nationally recognized in 2014 and 2015, finishing in the top 40 in the NCAA both seasons. During the 2014 campaign, Rice led Conference USA and had the 13th-most hits in the nation, averaging 10.2 per game.
During his tenure with Rice, the Owls claimed 11 All-Americans, 31 all-conference selections and had 28 players selected in the MLB Draft.
Prior to spending last season as an assistant coach at Houston, Van Hook spent two seasons as the head coach at Texas-Arlington.
In two seasons in Arlington, Van Hook guided the Mavericks through one of the hardest non-conference schedules in the nation, facing off against nine 2023 regional qualifiers and mentored an offensive resurgence in 2022 where they smashed 56 home runs, the 3rd most in program history.
Van Hook helped guide his UTA squad to the semifinals of the 2023 WAC Championship, just one game away from the championship. Van Hook also helped lead the Mavericks to the team's first win over a top 10 opponent in six years with an 8-7 win over #10 TCU on March 7, 2023.
Before becoming the head skipper at UTA, Van Hook spent his previous five seasons as an assistant coach for Oklahoma, culminating with a College World Series Final in June of 2022. While with the Sooners, he served as the hitting coach, helped create the offensive game plan and worked with the infielders. He was also the third base coach on game days and assisted in coordinating OU's recruiting efforts.
In 2022, the Sooners ranked among the nation's top offenses. OU finished in the top five in the NCAA in base-on-balls (3rd, 374) and stolen bases (4th, 145). They were also ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA in runs scored (11th, 518), hits (14th, 675) and on-base percentage (14th, .412).
A native of Brenham, Texas, with deep Lone Star State recruiting roots, Van Hook served as Oklahoma's recruiting coordinator since 2021. In 2022, he was responsible for bringing in the nation's 13th-ranked recruiting class, according to Baseball America.
Over a two-year stretch, the Sooners saw 13 players selected in the MLB Draft. Additionally, in the 2018 MLB Draft, a pair of Sooners went in the first two rounds in Kyler Murray (1st Round, Pick 9) and Steele Walker (2nd Round, 46th Overall).
Before his first stint at Rice, Van Hook was an assistant coach at McNeese State from 2009-11. The 2009 season saw the Cowboys set a school record in batting average (.312), while the 2010 team finished with the 7th-highest in school history. During his three seasons, he helped develop 14 all-league players and witnessed six players get drafted.
His coaching career began as a student-assistant coach at Texas during the 2008 season after earning three letters for the Longhorns where he was a member of their 2005 CWS champions while earning second team All-Big 12 honors. Van Hook was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2007 MLB Draft following his senior season.
He and his wife Selina have a daughter, Avery, and a son Briscoe.
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02
