Washburn University of Topeka Men's Baseball

Former All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his 12th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2026. Douglas was an assistant with the Ichabods for three years before he was named interim coach after the death of 35-year head coach, Steve Anson, following the 2014 season. He earned the permanent title of head coach on August 22, 2014. In eleven full seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 284-242, including five 30-win seasons including three straight. In 2015, WU started the season 14-0, climbing to as high as No. 19 in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) national poll (weeks four and five) and No. 6 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) rankings (week four). Douglas has coached a total of 72 All-MIAA selections, including one MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year and five MIAA first team selections. He has also coached two MLB draftees, David Gauntt who was selected by the Miami Marlins during the 2016 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, and Casey Steward who went to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2023 draft. Several other Ichabods during Douglas' tenure have gone on to sign professional contracts in numerous leagues across North America.  During his tenure Washburn has received 19 total All-Region selections between the ABCA, NCBWA and D2CCA. Three Ichabods have earned CoSIDA Academic All-American status (Darian Abram, 2018), (Brett Ingram, 2022) and Cash Jay (2024). Douglas has also helped four players achieve All-American status from either the NCBWA or ABCA. The 2022 season was one for the record books as the Ichabods went 33-22 overall and earned the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. The Ichabods outscored their opposition, 450-381, and finished in the top-five in Washburn's single season record book in doubles (127/1st), hits (586/2nd), home runs (77/2nd), and runs (450/4th). The Washburn pitching staff also turned in a solid season and set the program's single season record in strikeouts (542) and in saves (15). Eight Ichabods earned All-MIAA honors and six Ichabods were named to the MIAA All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the conference postseason. Left-handed pitcher Dalton Huggins was named to the All-MIAA Second Team and the NCBWA All-Central Region Second Team while infielder Brett Ingram, who was also an All-MIAA Second Team selection, received CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team honors.  Douglas is the first former Ichabod player to serve as Washburn’s coach and just the fifth person to coach the Ichabods since complete historical records were archived in the 1950s. Douglas played for the Ichabods from 1997-2000. In 2000, as a senior, Douglas earned All-MIAA second team honors as an outfielder after posting a .417 average with 88 hits and setting a single-season record with 48 stolen bases - which still stands. Douglas' standout performance during his career has his name etched throughout the Washburn record book as he is listed third in school history in triples (11), fourth in stolen bases (74), 12th in runs scored (136), while his .362 career batting average, is the 14th highest in school history. The Ichabods went 110-81 and advanced to the MIAA tournament every season during Douglas’ four years. After his All-MIAA career at Washburn, Douglas ventured into the professional ranks as he signed with the New York Mets organization in 2000 and spent time as a member of minor league organizations. Douglas began his professional career in the rookie league for Kingsport (Tenn.) before advancing to Single-A where he played in Pittsfield (Mass.). Following his baseball career, Douglas returned to Kansas where he served as a high school head coach before working as a special education teacher at Rossville Junior/Senior HS. Within the high school ranks, Douglas acquired a 124-58 record in his eight years. He started in 2003 at St. Marys HS where he went 67-28 in four years before taking the helm at Lansing HS from 2007-10 and put together a 57-30 there. Douglas steered his high school teams to top three finishes at state in five of his eight years as a head coach. Douglas is a two-time Washburn graduate, receiving his Exercise Physiology degree in 2002 before earning an Education degree in 2004. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State in 2010.  He and his wife, Amy, have three daughters, Britnee, Ashley, and Caylee, and a son, Dreyson.  Year Overall MIAA Postseason 2015 33-20 22-14 (T-4th) MIAA Championships Semifinals 2016 34-20 26-13 (3rd) MIAA Championships Semifinals  2017 21-28 12-24 (11th) 2018 17-30 11-25 (T-11th) 2019 25-21 16-17 (9th) 2020 11-11 3-3 (T-6th) 2021 20-22 18-15 (5th) MIAA Tournament First Round 2022 33-22 19-14 (5th) NCAA Regional Tournament 2023 30-22 21-12 (3rd)    MIAA Tournament First Round 2024 32-21 21-12 (5th) MIAA Championships Semifinals 2025 28-25 18-18 (7th) MIAA Championships Semifinals TOTAL 284-242    187-167

Former two-sport standout at Washburn, Crimmins returned to Ichabod baseball in August 2018 as an assistant coach after spending the prior two seasons on Brad Hill’s Kansas State staff serving as a graduate assistant. He enters his eighth season in the Ichabod dugout as a coach in 2026.  During his time at Washburn as a coach he has helped Washburn to three 30+ win seasons and one NCAA Tournament appearance, the first in program history in 2022. He has coached 53 total All-MIAA selections and three Ichabods that earned All-American honors. He has also helped coach one MLB Draft Pick with the Ichabods in Casey Steward (Philadelphia Phillies, 19th round, 2023). In his first season with K-State, Crimmins helped the team to a 29-26 record, its first winning season since 2013. Before completing his tenure following the 2018 campaign, Crimmins saw a total of five Wildcats get selected during the MLB Draft including a trio of top 20 round picks in Jordan Floyd (10th round, Kansas City, 2017), Jake Scudder (16th round, Washington, 2017), and Drew Mount (16th round, Cincinnati, 2018).   During the prior two summers, Crimmins served as manager for the summer collegiate team, Topeka Golden Giants. In his first season in 2017, Crimmins was named Mid Plains Coach of the Year as he led the Golden Giants to a Cowdin Cup crown while also claiming a western division title. In 2018, he team were Cowdin Cup finalists and Mid Plains Regular-Season Champions. In both seasons with the Golden Giants, Crimmins coached the Mid Plains Player of the Year.   A four-year member of Washburn baseball, Crimmins finished his career with the Ichabods ranked among the program’s top 10 in sacrifice flies (4th/11), doubles (6th/38) and RBI (t-7th/132), while having the 12th-most at-bats (575). Crimmins started 171 of 191 in the Ichabod outfielder, including all 53 games as a senior.   During his final season in 2015, Crimmins batted .319 with 32 runs, 58 hits, 14 doubles and was tied for sixth among the league leaders with 53 RBI as the Ichabods went 33-20 overall and finished fourth in the MIAA at 22-14.   Crimmins also played four seasons with Washburn football at wide receiver and accounted for 10 touchdowns and amassed more than 900 yards.   A four-time MIAA Academic Honor recipient in both baseball and football, the native of Topeka, Kan., graduated from Washburn in 2016 with a bachelor’s in marketing. At K-State, Crimmins earned his master's in college student development and counseling.

Former All-MIAA pitcher Rane Pfeifer enters year three as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff in 2026, joining directly after finishing his playing career in 2023.  In his two seasons in the Washburn dugout as a coach the Ichabods have tallied 18 total All-MIAA selections, two MIAA Gold Glove Team selections and had three players earn All-American honors while winning 25+ games in both seasons.  Pfeifer also spent part of a season with the Kansas City Monarchs in 2025.  The Comfort, Tex. native finished his career at Washburn second all-time in opponent batting average (.218), third in games started (36), fourth in strikeouts (210) and 19th in innings pitched (165.2). His 13 strikeouts against Northeastern State on March 11, 2023 are tied for the fourth most in a single game in Washburn history. As a senior in 2023 he went 4-3 in 14 starts and ranked fourth in the MIAA with 90 strikeouts. He also led the conference in fewest hits allowed (52) and in lowest opponent batting average (.199). After the season he was named a member of the All-MIAA second team.   Prior to moving to Topeka, Pfeifer started his collegiate career at California State - Northridge before transferring to College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. His summer ball team, the Jamestown Jammers, won the 2018 Perfect Game Collegiate League Championship. Pfeifer graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management from Washburn in May 2022.

Washburn University