University of Cincinnati Men's Baseball

Kyle Sprague joined the University of Cincinnati baseball staff in the summer of 2017. His work on offense came through the loudest during the team's historic 2019 season when the Bearcats' bats went on a torrential pace during the postseason. During the 4-0 AAC Tournament run, UC broke the tournament records for runs (51), RBI (47) and hits (60). Seven homeruns and four in the championship game were also AAC Tournament records. The 22-5 title win over UConn was the largest margin of victory ever in the tournament while they tied for the most number of hits in a game. Eleven different players got a hit during the 4-0 tournament week. All six all-tournament honorees were offensive players with slugger AJ Bumpass named tournament MVP. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, UC ranked 12th in the nation in triples per game, 14th in doubles per game, 21st in on-base percentage, 30th in scoring and 31st in slugging percentage. Sprague came to UC after two seasons on Head Coach Scott Googins staff at Xavier University as the volunteer assistant coach. Sprague directed XUs camps, assisted in all facets of the program and coached first base during games.   Kyle has been with me the past two years and is a great addition to our staff here at UC, Googins said. He brings a lot to the table - he does an unbelievable job with developing infielders and is on the cutting edge with hitters. He's a young up-and-coming coach who's very energetic and passionate about what he does.   During his two seasons at Xavier, the Musketeers won a BIG EAST Conference regular season championship (2016),  two-straight league tournament championships (2016 & 17) and played in consecutive regional finals in the NCAA Championship (2016 & 17).   Sprague worked with hitters and infielders and assisted with outfielders at Xavier. The Musketeers set a school record with a .977 fielding percentage in 2017 after tying the previous record with a .974 mark in 2016.   He mentored six Xavier players who went on to play professionally, including: 2017 second-round selection Zac Lowther, eighth-rounder Rylan Bannon, 18th-round pick Garrett Schilling and 22nd-round choice Greg Jacknewitz. Dan Rizzie and Andre Jernigan were 13th and 14th-round picks in 2016.   Sprague has previous experience in the American Athletic Conference having served as a volunteer assistant coach at UCF in 2015.   At UCF, Sprague was in charge of the Knights' outfielders and coached first base during games, while aiding the development of the team's infielders and catchers along with hitting responsibilities. The Knights achieved a program-best No. 6 ranking during the 2015 campaign.   Sprague guided seniors JoMarcos Woods and Erik Barber in 2015 to career bests in the outfield and at the plate, garnering recognition on The American All-Conference team. Woods posted a .323 avg. with five homers and 32 RBI, while Barber compiled a .313 avg. and a team-high 11 homers.   Under Sprague in 2014, all three of the Knights outfielders - Erik Barber, Sam Tolleson and Derrick Salberg - were honored to one of The American's three all-conference teams. Salberg tallied a .992 fielding pct., while junior JoMarcos Woods led all position players with a .994 pct.   While at UCF, Sprague aided the development of four players - Eric Skoglund (3rd), Dylan Moore (7th), James Vasquez (25th) and Mitchell Tripp (36th) - who were all selected in the MLB Draft.   Before coming to Orlando, Sprague held the volunteer assistant position during the 2012-13 season at Gardner-Webb. While with the Runnin' Bulldogs, catcher John Harris was a Johnny Bench Award nominee and the team set a program best in fielding pct. at .969.   Sprague has extensive experience as a camp instructor, working at the Marc Wilkins Baseball Academy from 2007-12 and for Cal Ripken Baseball in 2009. He also has served as a camp instructor at Clemson, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State, among others.   The Mansfield, Ohio, native graduated from Malone (Ohio) University with degrees in business administration and sports management. He played collegiately at Malone and Tiffin University.   Sprague and his wife Erin live in Cincinnati.

Nagel joined the UC baseball staff on Aug. 31, 2015, as the Director of Baseball Operations. He brings an extensive baseball background, including an 8-year stint as an assistant coach at local Archbishop Moeller High School. Nagel coached at Moeller from 2008 until 2015, running the JV program for the first two years and acting as a varsity assistant from 2010-15. His duties included working with the infielders, outfielders and pitchers on defense, as well as instructing the hitters and baserunners. He was in charge of the in-game defensive alignment and was the first base coach for the Crusaders. In 2015 Nagel was named the Ohio High School Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the Southwest District. The highlights of his eight-year coaching career include four Ohio state championships (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015), seven state semifinal appearances and seven regional championships. Moeller finished at the top of the Ohio Coaches Poll in 2010, 2011 and 2015 and was the city of Cincinnati Coaches Poll champion on four occasions. Nagel tutored 60 student-athletes who went on to play collegiately and four players who were selected in the Major League Baseball draft. He played at Moeller from 1984-1988 alongside MLB legend Ken Griffey, Jr.,  former MLB player and current St. Louis Cardinals bench coach David Bell and former MLB player Adam Hyzdu. Nagel played collegiately at Walsh University and was named First Team All-Mid-Ohio Conference during his senior season. He graduated in 1992 with a degree in communications. He and his wife Julie currently reside in Green Township, Ohio, with their three children, Jim, Tricia and Alex.