Nick Zumsande

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Position: Pitching Coach Experience: Fifth Year

Nick Zumsande is in his fifth season coaching the Iowa Hawkeye pitching staff. He brings a wealth of coaching knowledge that spans two decades.

"In order to win a championship you need to have a pitching coach that can recruit and develop a staff that will compete and beat the top teams in the country," Head Coach Jack Dahm said. "I know Coach Zumsande is the guy to do that. Nick has done a great job with our pitching staff the past four seasons. He has been instrumental in the development of all-Big Ten performers Nate Johnson, Tim Gudex, Austin Seward, Nick Erdman and the rest of the staff. I am confident you will see our pitching staff develop into one of the Big Ten's best, and the nation, in the near future under Nick's direction."

Under Zumsande's guidance, the Hawkeye pitching staff has flourished. Iowa has had a pitcher named first team all-Big Ten three of the last four years, and a pitcher named all-conference in each of his four years at Iowa.

Last season, Zumsande helped mentor the Hawkeyes to its best record in 14 years with a 31-23 mark. Iowa placed fourth in the Big Ten Conference (17-13), and earned its second trip to the Big Ten Tournament in the last three years, after going just once in the previous 15 seasons. During the season, Iowa defeated five teams (Nebraska, Fresno State, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan) that reached the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes also put together a 12-game winning streak, which is the second-longest in school history. Included in the streak was a school-record 10-game Big Ten winning streak.

Zumsande guided Nick Erdman to a spot on the all-Big Ten second team. He also continued Iowa's tradition of dominant closers, helping Mike Schurz to a 6-1 record with a 3.72 ERA and nine saves.

Two years ago, he helped closer Tim Gudex to his second consecutive first team all-Big Ten honor and a professional contract with the Texas Rangers. Starter Austin Seward was named to the second team under his tutelage.

In 2005, Zumsande guided Gudex to a record-breaking season in which he was named first team all-Big Ten, while Nate Johnson earned first team laurels in 2004. Johnson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies.

In each of his three years at Iowa, Zumsande helped the Iowa pitching staff lower its ERA, opponent batting average, along with hits, doubles and home runs allowed from the year before.

Zumsande was also a big factor in helping Iowa land the top-ranked recruiting class in the Big Ten during the coaching staff's first year of recruiting.

Prior to being named Iowa's pitching coach in August of 2003, Zumsande served as a pitching instructor at Indiana State University. He joined the Sycamores in 2001 as the pitching instructor and recruiting coordinator. In his second and final season with the Sycamores (2003), Zumsande guided the hurlers to a 36-21 record and a 4.15 earned run average, the second-lowest team ERA in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Before arriving at Terre Haute, IN, Zumsande served one year as pitching coach at Iowa State University. In his lone year at Iowa State, the Cyclones earned run average was lowered by nearly two. The team made it to its first Big 12 Tournament appearance in school history. Zumsande's staff finished the conference season with a 4.38 ERA, which tied for fourth in the conference.

Zumsande held the head coach's position at Muscatine Community College before accepting the assistant position at his alma mater, Iowa State. Zumsande headed the Muscatine program from 1988-2000, recording 431 career victories against 195 losses, a .688 winning percentage. During that period, Zumsande earned NJCAA Region IX Coach of the Year honors in 1990, 1994 and 1999.

Over 50 of Zumsande's former MCC players were sent on to major four-year colleges and 30 former players signed professional baseball contracts.

A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association, Zumsande has twice guided his team to the NCJAA Division I World Series (1994 & 1999). In 1994, the Muscatine baseball program was awarded the Homa Thomas Team Sportsmanship Award by designated members of the media.

In the professional ranks, Zumsande spent the 1993 season working for Major League Baseball International in Northern Europe. While in Europe, he served as an ambassador as he promoted and instructed baseball for MLB.

Zumsande graduated from Iowa State in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He earned his master's degree in Athletic Administration from Northwest Missouri State in 1986.