Wilson (center), hands the lineup card to the umpires prior to Game 2 of a series against Ozarks (photo by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru)
ABILENE, Texas-Mitch Wilson, who was an instrumental part of UMHB baseball’s success over the last five years as the program’s head assistant coach, is headed to Abilene to lead the program at Hardin-Simmons.
The news came in a press release on Monday morning from HSU, as Wilson earns his first head coaching opportunity after six years on staff with UMHB head coach Mike Stawski. Wilson served as a graduate assistant under Stawski in 2019 at Concordia-Chicago, where Wilson also had an outstanding playing career, before coming to Belton for the 2020 season. At CUC, playing for Stawski, he set program records in career hits and triples, and was named to D3baseball.com’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to run my own program at Hardin-Simmons, said Wilson in HSU’s press release. “HSU is a special place and I feel very fortunate to start my head coaching career here. I have learned so much from my many coaching mentors through the years and hope to blend it all together into my own style. I am passionate about investing in and developing young men through the game of baseball. At the end of the day, our program will be about the players and for the players. Go Cowboys!”
Wilson’s lengthy experience at the Division III level, from both a coaching and playing perspective, played a role in HSU’s decision, Vice President for Athletics Dr. John Neese said. It also helps that Wilson developed an exceptional understanding of Texas’ recruiting base through his five years at UMHB, as well as good knowledge of the baseball landscape in the American Southwest Conference.
“We had a strong field of candidates and Mitch came to the top of the list,” Neese was quoted as saying in HSU’s press release. “His enthusiasm and passion for the game and his success at the Division III level as a player, graduate assistant and assistant coach were desirable traits. Everyone we talked to while vetting the candidates spoke highly of his ability to teach the game, develop a winning culture and develop young men both on the field and off.”
During his time at UMHB, Wilson played a key role in the development of Malek Bolin and Rhett Grosz, the 2022 and 2024 ASC Players of the Year, respectively. Both Bolin and Grosz made great strides at the plate, as he primarily worked with The Cru’s hitters during his time at UMHB. Wilson also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. UMHB went 85-39 over the last five seasons.
UMHB’s coaching staff has now seen two departures within the offseason, with the current staff made up of Stawski, volunteer assistant Malek Bolin, and graduate assistant Cooper Hake. Read the full press release here.
