LAKEWOOD, CO- For the last two seasons now, Joe Gimbel (assistant coach) and Jake Gimbel (pitcher) reunite on the baseball field again as father-son for the Colorado Christian University Cougars Baseball team.



Jake Gimbel, a senior and starting pitcher for the 2023 CCU baseball team, transferred from Garden City Community college to play for the Cougars in 2021. Jake has enjoyed the game of baseball ever since his dad showed him how to hit and throw a baseball at a young age. Over the last few seasons, Jake has been a dominating pitcher for the Cougars and posts performance numbers like this season's win against a ranked (13-3), Metro State University where Jake pitched a total of 6 innings with 5 strikeouts and 1 earned run. Choosing to play for the Cougars and his father allowed Jake to be close to home for his final years of eligibility.



After speaking with Jake, we asked him about this experience he gets to have with his father. "It is a real privilege to be able to play the game I love with my Dad as one of my coaches. My dad has been my coach since the time I was a real young boy. He has taught me everything I know about baseball and has taught me to be the man I am today. My dad is fun and has always brought a lot of energy into the game of baseball and into my life. It has been an amazing honor to play under him for as long as I have".

Joe Gimbel has been an assistant coach for the Cougars since 2016, but he has been a life and baseball coach for his son and current CCU pitcher Jake Gimbel. Joe or "smokin Joe" as named by his players, is a very loved coach and the whole team admires him for his attitude and work ethic. His son Jake has been around his dad's coaching since he was very young and growing up to love the sport his father coaches. Jake shared with us stories from his dad's early coaching career.



One memory that both Joe and Jake share was when Joe won the 2006 5A state championship as an assistant coach for Columbine High School. Joe will always cherish his memories of winning a state championship, but he speaks more highly of his memories of being able to coach his son throughout all of his youth, high school, and college baseball experience.



The relationship between a player and coach is special. It is more special when the player is the coach's son. Joe and Jake continue to value their relationship through the sport of baseball as they battle for the Colorado Christian Cougars baseball team.