Coaching Staff - KU Baseball Camp

DAN FITZGERALD

Head Coach

Name Dan Fitzgerald, an elite recruiter, player developer, coach and ascending figure in college baseball, was named the Kansas Baseball Head Coach on June 15, 2022. Fitzgerald completed his first season with the Jayhawks in 2023.

In his first year directing the program, Kansas doubled its conference win total and improved its overall win total by five games. The Jayhawks qualified for the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2021 and won its first game in the tournament since 2019, knocking off No. 1 Texas.

Offensively, Kansas tied the program record with 75 home runs in 2023, with four players hitting at least 10 home runs for the first time since 2003. The Jayhawks also posted their highest batting average and most hits since 2014, while they also tallied their most doubles, runs and RBIs since 2010.

On the mound, Kansas lowered its ERA by 1.75 runs per game from 2022 to 2023. Defensively, Kansas tied for first in the Big 12 with 46 double plays turned during the regular season. That also ranked 25th in the nation.

In November 2022, less than five months after Fitzgerald and his staff were hired, they assembled the No. 1 JUCO recruiting class. The No. 1 ranking by Perfect Game was the Jayhawks’ first-ever top ranked recruiting class.

Fitzgerald arrived at Kansas following one year at LSU in 2022, where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, helping lead the Tigers to a 40-win season and an NCAA Regional final appearance. His time in Baton Rouge was preceded by a successful nine-year tenure at Dallas Baptist as both an assistant coach, associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

At DBU, Fitzgerald had a major hand in bringing unprecedented success to the Patriots program. In his nine seasons with the program, Dallas Baptist played in seven NCAA Regionals, won three regular-season conference championships and won three conference tournaments.

Fitzgerald came to Lawrence with a sterling reputation in player development and recruiting, along with deep Midwestern ties, having served as a head coach at Des Moines Area Community College for five seasons and spending five seasons as an assistant in the region.

During his nine seasons at Dallas Baptist (2012-21), Fitzgerald played a major role in the Patriots developing and recruiting some of the top talent in the country. He helped recruit and develop 44 Major League Baseball Draft picks, 15 of those being Top-10 picks, nine All-Americans, eight freshman All-Americans, 78 all-conference selections and two conference players of the year.

Dallas Baptist tallied 270 victories from 2015-21, which was the fifth-most by a Division I baseball program during that span. The Patriots, known best for their explosive offense, ranked in the top 25 nationally in home runs in each season during Fitzgerald’s time at Dallas Baptist. The team held a top 25 ranking in a total of 51 offensive categories across his nine seasons.

With the Patriots proving to be one of the top programs nationally, Fitzgerald was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in June 2016. Dallas Baptist posted a 341-168 (.670) record during his tenure with six seasons of at least 40 wins. Fitzgerald helped land some of the top prep players nationally, by being able to recruit throughout the country, thanks to his trusted relationships and proven track record, which he now brings to Kansas.

Fitzgerald has earned respect among his peers. In a survey of 90 head coaches conducted by Baseball America in 2020, Fitzgerald was rated No. 7 on a list of assistant coaches from across the nation that will one day make the best head coach. Baseball America also rated Fitzgerald as the No. 7 assistant coach in the nation in 2018, while D1Baseball ranked him as the 17th-best recruiter in the country in 2016.

Prior to his time at LSU and Dallas Baptist, Fitzgerald was the head coach at Des Moines Area Community College (2008-12). In his five years at DMACC, Fitzgerald was awarded Coach of the Year honors by 13 different publications. His team’s won five consecutive conference championships and advanced to the Junior College World Series on four separate occasions.

Fitzgerald also had 36 players sign with Division I programs, nine student-athletes be named Junior College All-Americans, including the 2009 National Player of the Year. His program finished with at least 40 wins in every season and compiled a 249-73 (.773) record over the five-year stretch.

Fitzgerald’s coaching career began in 2000 at Iowa as a volunteer assistant coach. He then interned with the Minnesota Twins scouting department (2002) before returning to coaching as an assistant at North Iowa Area Community College (2003-04), Flagler College (2005-06) and Des Moines Area Community College (2007-08).

In addition to coaching at schools, Fitzgerald has spent time as a head coach in top summer leagues around the country. That includes a stint in 2004 as the Field Manager for Athletes in Action in Alaska, the sport ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.

A native of Edina, Minnesota, Fitzgerald attended and played baseball at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls before graduating with a degree in English from the University of Minnesota in 2000. Most recently, he earned a Masters of Education in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist in 2016. Fitzgerald and his wife, Kelly, have three sons – Will, Max and Ben.

BRANDON SCOTT

Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach

Name Brandon Scott joined the Kansas baseball staff in June 2022. Scott came to Kansas after spending the previous six seasons at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville as the Recruiting Coordinator/Pitching Coach. His pitching staff lowered its team ERA in each of his first four full seasons with the Cougars. Since SIUE moved to the Division I level in 2009, Scott’s group set a new season team record for opponent strikeouts in both 2018 and 2019. Prior to the cancelation of the 2020 season, SIUE ranked sixth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Fourteen CBU players earned All-WAC honors over the past two seasons under Hancock’s tutelage, including Damon Keith being named the WAC Player of the Year in 2021 and Harrison Spohn receiving WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, while also leading the conference in doubles. During Hancock’s tenure as hitting coach, the 2022 Lancers led the WAC in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Lancers’ batting average ranked third in the nation.

Scott also held the title of Recruiting Coordinator/Pitching Coach at both Wabash Valley College (2014-16) and Des Moines Area Community College (2007-10) as well as Volunteer Assistant at Eastern Kentucky (2006-07). Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald and Scott worked on the same staff at DMACC from 2007 to 2010.

In 2015, Wabash Valley claimed the Region XXIV championship while finishing the season 47-13. Scott’s pitching staff finished the year with a 2.40 team ERA, while recording 506 strikeouts in 465 innings of work. In Scott’s time at Wabash Valley, 19 pitchers continued playing at a higher level as eight pitchers from the 2016 team moved on to NCAA Division I schools, and 11 pitchers moved on to the Division I level following the 2015 season.

During his tenure at Des Moines Area Community College, the team advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series in 2008 and 2009. Scott recruited and coached 13 players who were selected in the MLB Draft and 24 who signed with Division I institutions.

A native of Henderson, Kentucky, Scott earned his associate’s degree from Wabash Valley College in 2002 and his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Eastern Kentucky University in 2006. Scott played two seasons at Wabash Valley College in 2001-02 and two seasons at Eastern Kentucky in 2003-04. Scott, and his wife, Denise, have one daughter, Reese.

Scott’s Coaching Career Highlights

60 student-athletes transferred to play Division I Baseball
20 MLB Draft Selections
Eight NJCAA All-Americans
Five region Pitchers of the Year
Two MLB players
One NJCAA Player of the Year
One ABCA Player of the Year

TYLER HANCOCK

Camp Director/Assistant Coach/Hitting Coach

Name Tyler Hancock joined the Kansas baseball staff as a Volunteer Assistant Coach/Hitting Coach in June 2022. Hancock came to Kansas after two seasons as an Assistant Coach at California Baptist University where he served as the recruiting coordinator and worked with catchers, infielders and outfielders. During his two years at CBU, the program went 76-36 with a 47-19 mark in conference. They also won a share of the 2021 Western Athletic Conference regular season title with a 29-7 league record.

Before CBU, Hancock was a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Dallas Baptist for one season (2020), an Assistant Coach for three seasons at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (2017-19), a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Southern Illinois for two seasons (2015-16), an Assistant Coach for one season at Cowley County Community College (2014) and a student coach at Newman University (2013). During the summer of 2015, Hancock also worked on the staff of the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League, a team which included 19 players that were drafted by Major League organizations.

A native of Washington, Oklahoma, Hancock earned an associate’s degree from Cowley County Community College in 2010 before graduating with a bachelor of arts in sports communication and a minor in pre-law from Newman University in 2013. In 2016, Hancock received a master’s of education in sport management from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Tyler, and his wife, Natalie, have one son, Tucker, and one daughter, Josie.

Hancock’s Coaching Career Highlights

19 players selected in the MLB Draft from the Bourne Braves when he served as an assistant coach
Helped California Baptist to a 76-36 record, with a 47-19 mark in conference over two seasons
California Baptist won a share of the 2021 WAC regular season title
Coached the 2021 WAC Player of the Year and 2022 WAC Defensive Player of the Year
California Baptist led the WAC in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in 2022
14 student-athletes received All-WAC honors, including two outfielders and two catchers

JON COYNE

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Name Jon Coyne joined the Kansas baseball staff as in June 2022. Coyne arrived at Kansas following four seasons at University of New Mexico as the Infield Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. He was also responsible for working directly with the hitters where his team’s batting average was at least .285 every year.

Coyne’s recruiting efforts resulted in the highest ranked high school class in program history in 2020 as the group was ranked 33rd by Perfect Game on signing day. His JUCO signing classes also received high marks by Perfect Game as the 2022 class was ranked No. 20 and the 2020 class came in at No. 22.

Prior to New Mexico, Coyne was Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Howard College for two seasons (2017-18) and Cisco College for two seasons (2015-16). He also spent time as a volunteer assistant at Wichita State (2013-14) and University of Texas – Pan American (fall of 2012).

While at Howard, Coyne helped develop 38 players that transferred to Division I programs and had four players selected in the MLB Draft. Howard helped the team post a 71-42 overall record and made regional appearances in each of his two seasons at Howard. In 2018, Howard led all NJCAA programs in home runs with 131.

Coyne’s two seasons at Cisco were highlighted by an appearance in the 2016 NJCAA World Series and an NJCAA Region V Championship that year. Cisco had a 90-30 record and made regional appearances in both of his seasons. Coyne assisted in sending 41 student-athletes to Division I schools and had 11 players picked in the MLB Draft.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Coyne played collegiately at El Paso Community College (2008-09) and at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2010). He graduated in 2012 from University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies.

Coyne’s Coaching Career Highlights

79 student-athletes who have transferred to play Division I Baseball
20 MLB Draft selections
Highest ranked high school recruiting class in program history at New Mexico in 2020 (33rd by Perfect Game)
New Mexico’s JUCO signing classes were ranked No. 20 in 2022 and No. 22 in 2020 by Perfect Game
New Mexico hit at least .285 every year under his hitting instruction
Howard led all NJCAA programs in home runs with 131 in 2018
Cisco made an appearance in the 2016 NJCAA World Series and an NJCAA Region V Championship

WALLY MARCIEL

Assistant Camp Director/Director of Baseball Operations

name Wally Marciel joined the Kansas staff in August 2014 and finished his eighth season as Director of Baseball Operations in 2022. Marciel is in charge of helping coordinate travel and meals, providing logistical support at games and incorporating analytical technology into student-athletes development.

With the addition of Trackman, Rapsodo, Edgertronic and other video analysis programs, Marciel has helped provide additional tools to the coaching staff and student-athletes. In addition, he has ushered in virtual reality training and dugout-to-catcher communication during games. Marciel also manages the operations of all Jayhawk baseball camps, facilitating individual and group instruction to help enhance skills for children ages five to 18.

Marciel first came to Kansas in the fall of 2006 from the island of Kailua, Hawaii, as the first of a string of standout Hawaiian baseball players under former head coach Ritch Price.

During his tenure as a left-handed pitcher for Price, Marciel appeared in 79 games from 2007-11, making 25 starts. He pitched 188 1/3 innings, striking out 140 batters en route to holding opponents to a .273 batting average. He finished his career with a record of 15-11, including a win over top-25 opponent No. 19 Baylor (April 2, 2011).

His best season with the Jayhawks came in 2007 when he compiled a career-best 3.94 ERA in 19 games, making 10 starts. He struck out 47 batters in 59 1/3 innings pitched, earning Second Team Freshman All-American honors from Ping! Baseball.

A native of Kailua, Hawaii, Marciel resides in Lawrence, with his wife, the former Molly Green. The couple has one daughter, Ruby.

KU BASEBALL CAMP COACHING STAFF