Utah Tech University Men's Baseball

Pfatenhauer begins his fourth season as head coach of the Dixie State Baseball program. Since his arrival in summer of 2012, Pfatenhauer has guided the Storm to consecutive PacWest titles and three-straight trips (four-straight overall) to the NCAA West Regionals, including serving as the host institution in 2013. Pfatenhauer won his 100th-game at DSU last season in a 2-1 victory over Cal Poly Pomona at the NCAA regionals, and has posted a 100-53 (.653) overall record, including a 73-27 (.730) record in PacWest play. Pfatenhauer brings an extensive background in various levels of baseball, as well as teaching. Prior to his arrival at DSU, he spent three season as assistant coach at the University of Nevada, Reno under longtime head coach Gary Powers. Pfatenhauer worked primarily with the infielders, served as recruiting coordinator, and was a base coach. In addition, Pfatenhauer served as an adjunct professor and liaison for the UNR School of Medicine and Sports Medicine program. For two seasons in 2008-09, Pfatenhauer was an assistant coach at Chico State (Calif.), where he worked with the Wildcat hitters, infielders and taught base running. He also served as recruiting coordinator and assisted in all aspects of the baseball program. During his time at Chico, the Wildcats played to a 77-38 record and were ranked as high as second-nationally. Defensively Chico State finished in the nation's top-15 both years and had a Wildcat infielder named to the National Rawlings Gold Glove team, while the 2009 CSU club ranked first in 15 offensive categories. Prior to his time at Chico State, Pfatenhauer spent three seasons at the College of the Ozarks (Missouri), the last two as head coach. In his three years, the Bobcats posted a record of 88-74, while the 2005 team made the school's first playoff appearances in 20 years, and the 2006 club reached a national ranking of 17th, the highest in the program's history. From 2001-04, he was the head baseball coach and taught physical education at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, where he led the Crusaders to a 97-23 record, a pair of state titles and three Southern Nevada Championships. Pfatenhauer also had 12 players go on to play collegiate baseball. He was a two-time AA State Baseball Coach of the Year (2003-04) and garnered AA Southern Nevada Coach of the Year honors three times. During this tenure at FLHS, Pfatenhauer also coached the Las Vegas Metro Stars, a scout team for the best players in the area. Pfatenhauer is credited for starting the baseball program at the College of Southern Nevada as a club team in the summer of 1998. He led the efforts to raise the entire operation budget to field a competitive baseball team. In addition he spent time as an assistant coach at Treasure Valley Community College (Ore.) and at Glendale CC (Calif.). He also served as an assistant coach with the Durango (Nev.) American Legion program and as an instructor at the Las Vegas Baseball Academy. Coach Pfatenhauer is a 2000 graduate of UNLV, where received a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn a Master's degree in Education from Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in 2007. He and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of three daughters - Cadence, Colbie and Dylan, who is currently the girl's volleyball coach at Porterville (CA) HS, after she played collegiately at Taft College.     Chris Pfatenhauer Head Coach Two-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year Chris Pfatenhauer begins his fourth season as head coach of the Dixie State Baseball program. Since his arrival in summer of 2012, Pfatenhauer has guided the Storm to consecutive PacWest titles and three-straight trips (four-straight overall) to the NCAA West Regionals, including serving as the host institution in 2013. Pfatenhauer won his 100th-game at DSU last season in a 2-1 victory over Cal Poly Pomona at the NCAA regionals, and has posted a 100-53 (.653) overall record, including a 73-27 (.730) record in PacWest play. Pfatenhauer brings an extensive background in various levels of baseball, as well as teaching. Prior to his arrival at DSU, he spent three season as assistant coach at the University of Nevada, Reno under longtime head coach Gary Powers. Pfatenhauer worked primarily with the infielders, served as recruiting coordinator, and was a base coach. In addition, Pfatenhauer served as an adjunct professor and liaison for the UNR School of Medicine and Sports Medicine program. For two seasons in 2008-09, Pfatenhauer was an assistant coach at Chico State (Calif.), where he worked with the Wildcat hitters, infielders and taught base running. He also served as recruiting coordinator and assisted in all aspects of the baseball program. During his time at Chico, the Wildcats played to a 77-38 record and were ranked as high as second-nationally. Defensively Chico State finished in the nation's top-15 both years and had a Wildcat infielder named to the National Rawlings Gold Glove team, while the 2009 CSU club ranked first in 15 offensive categories. Prior to his time at Chico State, Pfatenhauer spent three seasons at the College of the Ozarks (Missouri), the last two as head coach. In his three years, the Bobcats posted a record of 88-74, while the 2005 team made the school's first playoff appearances in 20 years, and the 2006 club reached a national ranking of 17th, the highest in the program's history. From 2001-04, he was the head baseball coach and taught physical education at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, where he led the Crusaders to a 97-23 record, a pair of state titles and three Southern Nevada Championships. Pfatenhauer also had 12 players go on to play collegiate baseball. He was a two-time AA State Baseball Coach of the Year (2003-04) and garnered AA Southern Nevada Coach of the Year honors three times. During this tenure at FLHS, Pfatenhauer also coached the Las Vegas Metro Stars, a scout team for the best players in the area. Pfatenhauer is credited for starting the baseball program at the College of Southern Nevada as a club team in the summer of 1998. He led the efforts to raise the entire operation budget to field a competitive baseball team. In addition he spent time as an assistant coach at Treasure Valley Community College (Ore.) and at Glendale CC (Calif.). He also served as an assistant coach with the Durango (Nev.) American Legion program and as an instructor at the Las Vegas Baseball Academy. Coach Pfatenhauer is a 2000 graduate of UNLV, where received a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn a Master's degree in Education from Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in 2007. He and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of three daughters - Cadence, Colbie and Dylan, who is currently the girl's volleyball coach at Porterville (CA) HS, after she played collegiately at Taft College.    

Rinard is entering his first year at Dixie State as a baseball assistant coach and camp director. Rinard spent last season as an undergraduate assistant coach at the University of Arizona working directly with Arizonas outfielders and hitters. He also coached first base during games and provided assistance in numerous other areas of the program, including organization of scouting reports and other information essential to the coaches and players.  Rinard played at Arizona in 2010 and 2011 helping lead the school to a pair of NCAA Regional appearances. As a junior, he hit .323 in 25 starts, scoring 18 runs with 15 runs batted in to go along with 11 stolen bases in as many attempts. As a senior, Rinard led the club with a .442 batting average in 19 starts, which included 18 runs scored and 12 runs batted in. He played in 70 total games over his two seasons. Prior to Arizona, Rinard spent two years at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona.  In 2009, Rinard was named All-Conference hitting .350 and driving in 39 runs.  He also led the team in both hits (76) and runs scored (53).  Following the 2009 season Rinard was drafted in the 43 rd Round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the New York Mets. Rinard signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees in 2011 following his career with Arizona. That summer, Rinard hit .208 with two homers, 22 runs scored and 17 runs batted in over 44 games.  Following a season in the Yankees organization Rinard played in the Frontier League in 2012 and United League in 2013, both are independent leagues. Rinard was born in South Bend, Ind., in 1988. He has two siblings, Lauren and Jeffrey. His father, Jeff, played baseball at Valdosta State.  Rinard earned his bachelors degree in general studies from Arizona in 2014.    

Former Trailblazer infielder Braxton Ipson returns to the Utah Tech program ahead of the 2023 season as the new Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant Camp Director.  Ipson is back at UT after serving two seasons as an assistant baseball coach at his prep alma mater, Dixie High School. Also during that time, he was the owner of BlueChip Baseball, a club team based out of southern Utah.    Ipson played four seasons for then-Dixie State, starting in 48 of 88 games. He finished his career with 11 extra-base hits, including five home runs and 41 RBI, along with a career .980 fielding percentage while primarily playing first base. Ipson was also a three-time academic all-conference selection, including earning academic all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors in 2019 and 2020.  A native of St. George, Ipson graduated for DSU with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration in 2020. He and his wife, Clara, are the parents of two children son Britain, and daughter Scarlett.