Tyler Willis '16 enters his third year on the coaching staff of the baseball program in 2026.
He returned to Waverly after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at fellow American Rivers Conference school, Simpson College.
His current duties on the Wartburg staff include:
- Hitting coach
- Infield coach
- Recruiting coordinator (including planning out all visits and handling all communication)
- Planning travel and logistics for away trips
- Organizing and leading all first year study tables 2 times a week
The Waverly, Iowa native also has coaching experience in the Northwoods League as both an assistant and the Waterloo Bucks manager. In 2021, the Bucks had success by winning the first and second halves of the Great Plains East Division and led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored and runs per game in 2021. Willis coached two infielders selected in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft; Josh Kasevich (Oregon) was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round and Garrett McGowan (Pitt State) was taken in the 17th round by the Houston Astros.
Willis also spent multiple seasons as a hitting coach for fellow American Rivers Conference school Central College. During his time in Pella, Willis had three players earn all-conference honors and one tally ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region Third Team honors. He was part of a coaching staff that guided the Dutch to two conference tournament appearances.
In total, Willis has coached 13 all-conference players, two All-Region honorees, and one All-American.
Willis was a two-year starter for the Knights during his playing days and was a 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.
