The Maryville University department of athletics announced that Bryan Niedbalski will serve as the head coach of the Saints baseball program for the 2018 season. He has been on the coaching staff since 2015. Niedbalski has been the primary recruiter for the Saints and is credited with signing the majority of current players on the roster.
Â
The Saints posted 25 victories during the 2017 season, the highest total in the Division II era. Niedbalski helped coach Mitch Carriger and AJ Dean to All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors. The Saints set Division II-era records in runs (292), doubles (103), triples (18) and RBIs (274), while tying the mark for home runs in a season with 33. The baseball team led Maryville with 26 Great Lakes Valley Conference Academic All-Conference honorees.
In 2016, the Saints saw two infielders earn All-Conference honors as Niedbalski continued to work with the infield and hitters. His recruiting efforts have helped expand Maryville baseball across the country. He helped lead the way to bringing 21 new student-athletes to Maryville. His work with the defense helped set a new school record for fielding percentage at .964.
Niedbalski helped guide the 2015 offense to a .293 team batting average while four offensive players earned all-conference honors. The lineup at times played with four freshman in the order. Mitch Carriger helped lead the offense by hitting .385 while breaking the programs single season on base percentage record. The Saints set program records for doubles, walks, stolen bases, on base percentage and slugging percentage.
Niedbalski, a graduate of DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, finished his collegiate playing career in 2014 at the University of Iowa under head coach Rick Heller. Iowa played in the Big 10 Conference tournament in his final season in what was one of the best turn arounds in Big 10 history. In his Iowa career, Niedbalski appeared in 40 games for the Hawkeyes. He is married to the former Lindsey Carr.
