University of Iowa Men's Baseball

Heller guided the Hawkeyes to an at-large berth into NCAA Regional play and posted the school's first NCAA Tournament win since 1972. He led Indiana State to its first outright Missouri Valley Conference title in 2012, and Northern Iowa to the MVC title and into the NCAA Tournament in 2001, the first and only regional appearance for the Panthers as a Division I program. Heller has rejuvenated the Iowa program in just three seasons, going 101-67, making him the winningest coach in his first three seasons in school history. He is the first Iowa coach to lead the program to the postseason in three consecutive years, he has coached at least one first-team All-Big Ten selection each season, and has 11 Major League Baseball Draft picks in three seasons -- the most in a three-year stretch since 1991-93. The success has translated on the recruiting trail, where Heller has turned the Hawkeyes into a major player on the national recruiting scene. Iowa had the top-rated class in the Big Ten -- and 18th-best nationally -- in 2015, and the 2016 class was ranked third in the league. In 29 seasons as a head coach, Heller owns a career record of 791-632-4. He is one of two Iowa head coaches to lead the program to the NCAA Tournament. In 2016, Heller's team faced the toughest Big Ten Conference schedule, facing six of the eight Big Ten Tournament qualifiers. The Hawkeyes closed out the regular season with back-to-back series wins over Michigan State and Penn State to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament for a third straight season. The Hawkeyes carried that momentum into Omaha, where they won their first three games to advance to the Big Ten title game, and the Iowa faithful followed. Hawkeye fans flocked to TD Ameritrade Park, as a pro-Iowa crowd 10,350 filled the stands to see the program's first championship game appearance since 2010. Iowa fell just short of its second straight NCAA Regional bid, as Ohio State plated a ninth-inning run to hand the Hawkeyes an 8-7 defeat. Iowa ended the year with a 30-26 record, reaching the 30-win plateau for a third straight season -- a first for the program since 1983-85. Two Iowa players -- outfielder Joel Booker and shortstop Nick Roscetti -- earned first-team All-Big Ten honors at season's end. They are the first Hawkeye duo since 2007 to receive first-team recognition in the same season. Heller has coached two first-team All-Big Ten shortstops in three seasons. Booker led a resurgent Iowa offense that ranked in the top six of the Big Ten in virtually every offensive category as he emerged as a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Award after tying for the Big Ten Conference lead in hits (87) and ranking in the top 12 in the league in eight offensive categories. Roscetti, meanwhile, was a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award. Booker, Roscetti, and Tyler Peyton were selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft come season's end. Booker was taken in the 22nd round by the Chicago White Sox, Roscetti in the 26th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, and Peyton in the 29th round by the Chicago Cubs. Iowa's pitching staff posted the second-best ERA (3.54) in program history and ranked in the top four in the Big Ten for a second straight season. Sophomore Nick Gallagher led the team with an 8-2 record and a 2.57 ERA to rank second in the league in wins and seventh in ERA. The Hawkeye defense was again its strong suit, finishing the season ranked in the top 15 nationally. Iowa had a breakthrough season in Heller's second season in Iowa City, going 41-18 with the 41 victories being the second-most all-time and just the fourth 40-win season in program history. Iowa earned the school's first NCAA Regional berth since 1990, where it went 2-2 at the Springfield Regional for the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 1972. The Hawkeyes rolled to a 15-5 start and won its first 11 series of the season, including a school-record eight consecutive Big Ten series wins dating back to the 2014 season. Iowa swept No. 19 Indiana to open Big Ten play to catapult the Hawkeyes into the national rankings for the first time in 25 years. Iowa climbed to as high as No. 13 before finishing the year 20th by Collegiate Baseball, 25th by Baseball America, and 28th by the NCBWA -- the program's first appearance in the final rankings in school history. Heller guided Iowa to a Big Ten runner-up (three games ahead of the third place finisher) finish in a year where the league was at its all-time best with a record five NCAA Regional participants. Iowa went 19-5 in conference play for a .792 winning percentage -- the best winning percentage by a second place team since the Big Ten returned to single division play in 1988. In NCAA Regional play, Heller led the Hawkeyes to a pair of wins over Oregon in Springfield, Missouri, and lost two games to No. 8 national seed Missouri State by a combined three runs. Senior reliever Nick Hibbing was tabbed as the Springfield Regional's Most Outstanding Player and was named to the all-tournament team. Under Heller's watch, Iowa had a pair of players earn three All-America distinctions, had a school-record six All-Big Ten selections, and a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. Tyler Peyton earned third-team All-America honors as a utility from D1Baseball.com and the NCBWA, while starting pitcher Blake Hickman was a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American. The Hawkeyes won with Hellerball -- a term coined to highlight the team's gritty style of play. Iowa's pitching and defense both finished in the top 16 nationally (fielding percentage, 11th; ERA, 16th) in 2015 and the team had a never-say die attitude, posting six walk-off wins and going 18-9 in games decided by two runs or less. The pitching staff shattered the school ERA record, posting a 2.95 ERA in 59 games and had a school-record 19 saves. It was a remarkable turnaround for the Hawkeye hurlers -- a unit that had a 4.34 ERA with virtually the same cast in 2014. At season's end, five players had their name called in the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, tying a program record. Hickman was selected in the seventh round by the Chicago White Sox -- the highest Hawkeye draftee since 1999. Heller has seen eight players drafted, including two top-eight round picks in two seasons. On the recruiting trail, Heller has helped Iowa become a player on the national recruiting scene. The Hawkeyes' 2015 recruiting class was rated tops in the Big Ten Conference and the 40th-best class nationally. It boasted 11 top-500 prospects by Perfect Game. In his first season at the UI, Heller guided the Hawkeyes to a 9-1 start -- the program's best start since 1940 -- a Big Ten Tournament berth and conference tournament win. Iowa finished the year with a 30-23 record for just the third 30-win season since 1993. The 30 victories are the most by a first-year coach in Iowa history. Heller won his 700th career game in a 13-1 rout of Georgetown on March 15 at the Snowbird Classic in Florida. The Hawkeyes also took 2-of-3 games from Nebraska to open the Big Ten regular season -- Iowa's first conference-opening series win since 1998 and took 2-of-3 games against Minnesota for the first time since 2005. Under Heller's direction, Iowa became one of the most potent offensive teams in the Big Ten in 2014. The Hawkeyes led the conference in four offensive categories (batting average, hits, runs and on-base percentage) and ranked second in four more (slugging percentage, RBIs, home runs and total bases). Iowa finished with 23 home runs -- a season after the team had two long balls in 49 contests. Heller coached five student-athletes to All-Big Ten recognition, the most for the program since 2007. Junior shortstop Jake Yacinich garnered first-team All-Big Ten honors after ranking second in the league in batting average and steals. He was the first Iowa first-teamer since 2009. Heller came to the UI after a strong four-year run at Indiana State. He led the Sycamores to their first outright Missouri Valley Conference championship in school history and back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995 during the record-setting 2012 season. Indiana State finished 41-19, including a 14-7 record in conference play to claim the regular season crown and earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The 41 wins were the most for the program since 1991. Heller was named the 2012 Dan Callahan MVC Coach of the Year, while junior Jeremy Lucas earned the Joe Carter MVC Player of the Year award -- the first student-athlete in ISU history to earn the league's MVP -- and junior Dakota Bacus was selected as the MVC Newcomer of the Year. Eight members of the team were named All-MVC. Following the season, two Sycamores were drafted in the top-12 rounds and a total of three signed contracts to begin their professional careers. Heller led Indiana State to its fifth-consecutive winning season in 2013, and to a semifinal appearance in the MVC Tournament. The Sycamores, who finished 26-25 overall, had four players earn All-MVC honors, including Sean Manaea, the 34th overall selection in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. The draft selection was the second-highest in ISU baseball program history. Manaea became the 16th Sycamore to either be drafted or sign a professional free agent contract since Heller became head coach in 2009. Heller led Indiana State to a 35-19 record in his first season in Terre Haute, Ind. -- the most wins for any first-year coach in ISU baseball history -- and a third place MVC finish. The Sycamores were one of two MVC teams to receive votes in the national polls during the season. In 2011, Indiana State went 29-28 and advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament -- its deepest run since 2002. During his tenure at Northern Iowa, Heller's teams won 270 games, including the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference championship and NCAA Regional Berth. While building the Panthers into an annual contender, Heller coached three MVC Most Valuable Players, one MVC Pitcher of the Year and helped put 22 players in professional baseball. While at UNI, Heller's teams broke a total of 57 team or individual records, including setting team records for hits, runs batted in, doubles and extra base hits during the 2001 season. Heller led the Panthers to four MVC tournaments, winning the championship in 2001. All-American Ryan Brunner claimed the league MVP award and All-American Nic Ungs was named Pitcher of the Year. The Panthers recorded back-to-back 30-plus win seasons in 2001 and 2002 for the first time in school history and set the school single-season record with 35 wins in 2001. Heller also coached two Academic All-Americans in Brunner and Travis Welsch. Before taking over the Northern Iowa program prior to the 2000 season, Heller spent 12 years as a head coach at Upper Iowa University, a Division III institution. While at Upper Iowa, Heller recorded a 291-194-3 overall record and was named the Iowa Conference Coach of the Year four times. Heller won his first conference championship in 1993 -- the first for Upper Iowa in 20 years -- while advancing to the NCAA Division III Regionals. His team won the Iowa Conference title and advanced to NCAA Regionals again in 1995, finishing 19th in the national rankings as Heller won his third Coach of the Year honor. He repeated Coach of the Year honors again in 1996 when the Peacocks won the Iowa Conference and Central Regional to advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series. His team finished the year ranked sixth nationally and he was named NCAA Division III Central Region Coach of the Year. In 1997, his team was ranked seventh nationally in the pre-season poll and won the Iowa Conference Tournament. In 1998, his team was ranked as high as 10th nationally while finishing with a 38-8 record to set a school record for winning percentage (.826). His final UIU team finished 30-15-1 and finished third in the Iowa Conference while setting five school records. As a player at Upper Iowa from 1982-86, he was a four-year starter at shortstop and he also lettered in football and basketball. He is a member of the Upper Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame. Heller is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and serves on the ABCA All-American Committee. He is also a member of the Indiana and Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Associations. In 2008, he was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Heller has three daughters -- Tara, Alyssa, and Vivienne. His wife's name is Rachelle.

Sutherland has led the charge, helping Iowa become a player on the national recruiting scene. The Hawkeyes' 2015 and 2016 recruiting classes were ranked among the best in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa's 2015 class was tops in the league and 18th-best nationally, while the 2016 class was rated as the third-best in the conference. In 2016, Iowa posted a 30-26 record, reaching the 30-win plateau for a third consecutive season for the first time since 1983-85. The Hawkeyes won their final two league series to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament for a third straight season and carried their momentum into Omaha, where they won their first three games to advance to the tournament title game for the first time since 2010. The Hawkeyes had two first-team All-Big Ten position players in outfielder Joel Booker and shortstop Nick Roscetti -- the first duo to earn first-team honors in the same season since 2007. Booker enjoyed a breakout senior season, hitting .370 with 87 hits, 19 doubles, five home runs, and 23 steals to be a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Award. Booker's 87 hits were tied for the Big Ten Conference lead and were the second-most in a single season in school history, while his 19 doubles were tied for the third-most all-time. He ranked in the top-12 in the conference in eight different categories. Roscetti was steady with his bat and superb with his glove en route to being named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award. The senior hit .305 with 72 hits and a team-best 39 RBIs while committing just five errors in 249 chances to anchor Iowa's top-15-ranked defense. Booker and Roscetti were the fifth and sixth position players drafted in the past three seasons at season's end. Booker was selected in the 22nd round by the Chicago White Sox, while Roscetti was a 26th round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Hawkeyes' offense came to life late in the season to finish the year ranked in the top six in the Big Ten in virtually every offensive category. Iowa had five players reach double-digits in doubles and had 134 extra base hits for the year, which included 26 home runs. Sutherland helped lead Iowa to one of the top seasons in program history in 2015. The Hawkeyes went 41-18 and earned an at-large berth into NCAA Regionals -- the first berth since 1990. The 41 wins were the second-most in program history. Iowa won two games at the Springfield Regional for its first NCAA Tournament win since 1972 and finished the season ranked 20th by Collegiate Baseball, 25th by Baseball America, and 28th by the NCBWA-- the program's first appearance in the final rankings in school history. With Sutherland's assistance, Iowa was one of the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 11th overall and No. 2 in the Big Ten. Offensively, the Hawkeyes battled until the final pitch, as evident by their six walk-off wins and 18-9 record in games decided by two or fewer runs. Sutherland coached junior Tyler Peyton to All-America honors as a utility player by D1Baseball.com and NCBWA, and he was a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. Peyton hit a team-best .337 with 31 runs and 31 RBIs. The Hawkeyes had a school-record six All-Big Ten selections in 2015, including three positional players. Five players had their names called in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, tying a program record for most draftees in a single season. In his first season in Iowa City, Sutherland helped guide the Hawkeyes to a 9-1 start -- the program's best start since 1940 -- a Big Ten Tournament berth and conference tournament win. Iowa finished the year with a 30-23 record for just the third 30-win season since 1993. Iowa's offense thrived under Sutherland, as the Hawkeyes led the Big Ten in four offensive categories (batting average, hits, runs and on-base percentage) and ranked second in four more (slugging percentage, RBIs, home runs and total bases). Iowa finished with 23 home runs -- a season after the team had two long balls in 49 contests. Five Iowa student-athletes garnered All-Big Ten recognition, the most for the program since 2007, which included first-team All-Big Ten shortstop Jake Yacinich. He was the first Hawkeye to earn a first-team nod since 2009. Sutherland, a former player and coach under UI head coach Rick Heller at Northern Iowa, was an assistant for the Panthers from 2003-09, helping lead the team to 154 victories over six seasons. He coached 12 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections and an MVC Newcomer and Player of the Year honoree. Sutherland also served as an assistant coach at Wartburg College during the 2002-03 season. Most recently, Sutherland was an assistant coach at Cascade (Iowa) High School and a hitting/fielding instructor at Bases Loaded Academy in Dubuque, Iowa. Sutherland was an infielder at Northern Iowa during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, helping the team to its first back-to-back 30 win seasons in program history. He also played at Kirkwood Community College from 1998-2000. During his two seasons in Cedar Falls, Sutherland batted .318 with 25 doubles and 29 stolen bases. He also finished his career with 64 RBIs. In 2001, Sutherland was a second team All-MVC and second team All-Midwest region honoree after UNI won a school-record 35 games and claimed the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title en route to the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. Sutherland batted .349, and the Panthers finished 10th in the nation and led the MVC in hitting with a .333 batting average. In 2002, UNI won 30 games and finished fourth in the Missouri Valley. The squad finished with a .327 batting average in conference games to lead the league. The Cascade, Iowa, native earned his associate's degree from Kirkwood Community College in July, 2000, and his bachelor's degree from Northern Iowa in Dec., 2002.