Illinois baseball head coach Dan Hartleb announced on Jan. 15, 2025, the addition of Zach Luevanos to the coaching staff.

Luevanos will handle pitching coach duties while Mark Allen continues his health-related leave.

"We are excited to have Zach join our staff for the 2025 season," Hartleb said. "Zach and coach Allen have known each other for over 15 years. This hire will allow for continuity throughout our pitching staff due to the long-standing friendship and common teachings. We appreciate what Zach is doing for the program and to help coach Allen bridge the gap while he continues to work on his health."

Luevanos, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, joins the Illini from Texas Twelve, a prestigious baseball academy, where he served as the Director of High School Baseball Operations in San Antonio. While with Texas Twelve, the program has had four first round draft picks in the MLB Draft. During his four years with the program, Luevanos has assisted with the college placement of over 315 student-athletes.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Illinois baseball program," Luevanos said. "I am looking forward to working with the pitching staff, my friend Mark Allen, and the rest of the Illini coaching staff. I am ready to do my best to help the Fighting Illini have a successful season." 

Luevanos began his coaching career as He served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Lamar, in 2013 before turning his focus to management and training. He served as the director of baseball operations for two baseball training facilities in Beaumont, Texas, from 2014-2016.

He then served as an assistant coach at Our Lady of the Lake University in 2017, working with the offense and catchers, before spending two seasons (2018-19) at Incarnate Word under head coach Pat Hallmark as a volunteer assistant, where he worked with hitters, catchers and outfielders. During his time with the Cardinals, three players under his tutelage earned Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America honors.

Luevanos then spent 2020 as a volunteer assistant at UTSA, also under Hallmark, before returning to OLLU as an assistant coach in 2021.

At OLLU, Luevanos served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, where he had two pitchers on the Saints staff receive All-American honors. Luevanos helped lead the program to its first top 25 national ranking ever en route to capturing the Red River Athletic Conference regular season title, as well as advancing to the program's first NAIA Regional appearance. 

As a player, Luevanos began his collegiate career at Seminole State and earned all-region honors in 2010 and 2011. He then transferred to Lamar for his final two seasons, where he garnered All-Southland Conference honors in 2013.

Luevanos comes from a baseball family. His cousins, Tony and Rudy Jaramillo, are both former MLB hitting coaches, with over a combined 40 years of experience. 

He and his wife, Maureen, have a son, Liam (7), and daughter, Allie (2). His family will remain in Texas during the season.