WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg baseball has announced the addition of three new members to its staff, head coach Casey Klunder announced today. Tyler Willis '16 has been named the assistant baseball coach, Dylan Gotto '22 has been named co-pitching coach and Hunter Destival has been named catching coach.
 
Willis joins the staff after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at fellow American Rivers Conference school Simpson College. The Waverly, Iowa native also has coaching experience in the Northwoods League as the Waterloo Bucks manager, and spent multiple seasons coaching with the Central College baseball staff.
 
"Coach Willis is a proven coach and recruiter in the A-R-C," said Klunder. "We spoke with several quality candidates during this process and what separated Coach Willis was his familiarity with me and our system, his love of Wartburg and his relentlessness on the recruiting trail. He brings a diverse background with coaching at two different A-R-C schools but also head coaching experience in the Northwoods and Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (MINK) leagues," continued Klunder.
 
Willis was a two-year starter for the Knights during his playing days and was an Second-team All-Conference performer as a junior. He was part of a senior class that appeared in three NCAA Regionals and appears in the top 10 of the Wartburg record book in infield assists (253) and double plays turned (50).
 
He graduated from Wartburg with a degree in business administration and sports management in 2016 before continuing his education with a master's degree in criminal justice in 2020 from Simpson.
 
Gotto returns to Wartburg after spending the last season at Minnesota State University, where he was an impressive 12-2 in 16 total appearances on the mound for the Mavericks. The Peosta, Iowa native also spent this last year playing professionally for the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League.
 
"Coach Gotto's playing resume speaks for itself, said Klunder. "He brings instant credibility with his playing resume from high school, college, and now professional baseball." said Klunder. "Everybody that I've talked to at Wartburg speaks so highly of his character.  He already has a lot of great relationships with our players which will benefit our player's experience."
 
Gotto is Wartburg's all-time leader in strikeouts with 278 and is top 10 all-time in most strikeouts/9 inn game (3^rd – 9.47), shutouts (T4th – Four), games started (T3rd -39) and innings pitched (5^th - 264.1). Over five seasons Gotto made 41 appearances on the mound and finished with a record of 18-11 in decisions.
 
Gotto will share co-pitching coach responsibilities with Matt Milewski '20, who spent the last season with Wartburg after spending the two previous seasons as a graduate assistant for Mississippi University. He was apart of the Knights' last regional appearance in 2017 and also played football at Wartburg.
 
"Coach Milewski is a Knight through and through, he's shown himself to be a team player. said Klunder. "Pitching is certainly his more natural side of the ball as he's been a college and high school pitching coach so I'm excited about the value he brings to our staff with that experience."

Jared Pirkl '04 will also continue his current role as an assistant coach, specializing in pitchers and outfielders. Pirkl has spent the last 12 seasons on the Wartburg staff and has previous coaching experience with Klunder. "Coach Pirkl and I coached together for 9 years at WSR, said Klunder. "We coached in three state tournaments and won a state championship together in 2015, I have tremendous respect for how he interacts with the players and teaches the game with so much attention to the details." 
 
Destival comes to Wartburg after spending the last season as a graduate assistant at Upper Iowa University. He made 14 appearances and four starts as catcher for the Peacocks in 2022.
 
The Denver, Iowa native is a graduate of Waverly-Shell Rock High School where he played for and coached with Klunder.  "Coach Destival brings a familiarity with our player development system that will benefit our student-athletes," said Klunder. "He is a very fun person and has an infectious personality that our players will latch onto right away."
 
Newly appointed Director of Sports Performance Ethan Hayes '21 will assist and support all Wartburg athletic teams this upcoming academic year, including leading strength and conditioning responsibilities for baseball.
 
"I've known Coach Hayes since he was in high school, and I've been impressed with him ever since," said Klunder. "Coach Hayes has a passion for strength and conditioning, a love for Wartburg and a dedication to the baseball program. 
 
Klunder added, "Coach Hayes was on my coaching staff at WSR for four years and with his experiences at Tusculum, UNC-Charlotte and Tennessee he is uniquely qualified to lead our student-athletes in the weight room.  I look forward to moving our program forward side by side with Coach Hayes."