Iowa Lakes Community College Men's Baseball

Iowa Lakes Community College has named championship-winning coach Bob Hlavac as the next head coach of the Lakers baseball program, pending board approval. Known for building competitive programs and developing student-athletes into leaders both on and off the field, Hlavac brings a proven history of success to Iowa Lakes. Athletic Director Troy Larson said Hlavac quickly distinguished himself during the search process through his leadership philosophy, commitment to student-athlete development, and ability to build winning cultures.  "Coach Hlavac is exactly the type of leader we were looking for to guide our baseball program into its next chapter," Larson said. "His success speaks for itself, but what impressed us most was his commitment to developing young men—not only as athletes, but as students, teammates and leaders. He builds programs the right way, creates cultures that players want to be part of, and holds everyone to a championship standard. We believe Bob will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes and position Iowa Lakes Baseball for sustained success." Hlavac succeeds Chris Witzke, who accepted the head baseball coaching position at North Iowa Area Community College earlier this summer. Iowa Lakes thanks Witzke for his leadership and contributions to the Lakers baseball program and wish him continued success. Hlavac now takes the helm with a championship pedigree, a passion for player development and a vision for building on the program's strong foundation. Hlavac said he is eager to join the Iowa Lakes community and begin connecting with returning and incoming student-athletes. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead Iowa Lakes Baseball and become part of the Laker family," Hlavac said. "I'm looking forward to building relationships, setting high standards, and creating a winning, player-led culture rooted in accountability, hard work, and daily growth." Hlavac arrives at Iowa Lakes after transforming the baseball program at Millard North High School in Omaha into one of Nebraska's premier Class A programs. After inheriting a team that had not qualified for the Nebraska Class A State Tournament since 2017, he led the Mustangs back to the state tournament in his first season. The following year, Millard North finished as the Class A state runner-up before capturing the 2026 Nebraska Class A State Championship in Hlavac's third season. Before becoming head coach at Millard North in 2023, Hlavac spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Millard West High School. During his tenure, the Wildcats captured Nebraska Class A state championships in 2019 and 2022 while finishing as state runner-up in 2021 and 2023. Over the past seven seasons, Hlavac has coached in six Nebraska Class A state championship games. Throughout his coaching career, Hlavac has built programs focused on player development, leadership, academic achievement and preparing student-athletes for opportunities beyond high school. His coaching philosophy emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement and creating an environment where athletes can reach their full potential both on and off the field. Hlavac will begin working immediately with returning players and incoming recruits as preparations begin for the upcoming baseball season.

Iowa Lakes Community College has announced the addition of Noah Greise as the new graduate assistant for the Lakers baseball program pending board approval. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Greise joins the Lakers after competing and coaching at high levels of collegiate and high school baseball. He will work alongside Head Baseball Coach Bob Hlavac, bringing a player-centered coaching philosophy built on accountability, discipline, preparation, and continuous development. Greise played NCAA Division I baseball at the University of Nebraska Omaha after beginning his collegiate career at Wichita State University. His experience competing at the Division I level helped shape his approach to coaching and mentoring student athletes. Following his playing career, Greise joined the Nebraska Prospects Organization, where he has coached athletes of all ages, helping them develop their baseball skills, increase their baseball IQ, and build confidence while emphasizing a competitive, team-first mindset. Most recently, Greise served on Hlavac's coaching staff during Millard North High School's 2026 Nebraska Class A State Championship season, primarily working with hitters and catchers. The championship experience further strengthened his ability to develop players within a winning culture. Having experienced the recruiting process firsthand, Greise is passionate about preparing student-athletes for success at the collegiate level. He believes successful programs are built on strong relationships, accountability, and a daily commitment to improvement, with an emphasis on developing complete student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. "I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to join the coaching staff at Iowa Lakes," said Greise. "I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Bob Hlavac for giving me the opportunity to continue coaching alongside him. Being part of his staff during our state championship season was an invaluable experience, and I'm excited to help carry that same culture of accountability, competitiveness, and player development into this next chapter." "Coach Hlavac has built a reputation for winning because of the standards he sets every day and the relationships he builds with his players," Greise continued. "His experience, leadership, and proven ability to develop successful teams will push Iowa Lakes to compete at a championship level, and I'm excited to learn from him while doing everything I can to help our players succeed." "Our goal is to create an environment where players develop not only as baseball players, but as young men. We want to prepare them to compete at the highest level possible and help them move on to four-year programs and professional opportunities. I'm looking forward to building relationships with our players, earning the trust of recruits and their families, and continuing to develop athletes who represent the program the right way every single day." Head Coach Bob Hlavac said Greise's experience as both a Division I student-athlete and coach makes him an excellent addition to the Lakers program. "Noah brings tremendous energy, a strong work ethic, and a genuine passion for developing student-athletes," said Hlavac. "Having coached alongside him during our state championship season, I've seen firsthand the positive impact he has on players. He understands what it takes to compete at a high level, communicates well with our athletes, and shares our commitment to building a championship culture. We're excited to welcome him to Iowa Lakes." Greise's addition further strengthens an Iowa Lakes baseball program committed to developing championship-caliber student-athletes in the classroom, on the field, and within their communities. As the Lakers continue building under the leadership of Head Coach Bob Hlavac, the program remains focused on recruiting high-character student-athletes, fostering a competitive culture, and providing opportunities for players to continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions and beyond. Prospective student-athletes interested in learning more about Iowa Lakes Baseball are encouraged to visit iowalakes.edu or contact Coach Bob Hlavac to learn more about the Lakers program and recruiting opportunities.