With the end of the college baseball season now in the rear view mirror, it’s time to take a look at the new head coaches at schools across the Sooner State.
So far three schools will have new head coaches for the 2025 season (although all three schools didn’t have to look far to find their guy). All three also knew before the end of the season that they’d be looking for a new guy to be at the helm.
NCAA D2
Southeastern OK State Savage Storm
- Out: Zach Crabtree
- In: Alan Trayler
Crabtree had guided the Savage Storm program for 7 seasons starting in 2018. During that time, SE had a record of 150-154 including a 17-32 mark in 2024.
It was announced on May 31 that Trayler would take the reins as the Savage Storm’s head coach. Trayler had served as an assistant coach for SE the previous 7 seasons. Before Southeastern, Trayler had stops at OK Panhandle St, Stephen F Austin, and Murray State College.
Trayler is just the 3rd head coach in the last 30 years at SEOSU.
Southwestern OK State Bulldogs
- Out: Zack Saunders
- In: JR Head
Saunders had been the head coach at SWOSU for the last 13 seasons. The Bulldogs went 298-280 (.520) including a GAC Regular Season Championship in 2016 during Saunders tenure. Saunders announce earlier in the season that 2023 would be his last in Weatherford.
On May 23, SWOSU announced that Head would take over the program as the 10th head coach in program history. Head had been an assistant for the Bulldogs for the last 10 seasons in Weatherford.
Head has spent the last 12 seasons in Weatherford as he played for the Bulldogs his junior and senior seasons before joining the staff as a grad assistant.
NAIA
OK Panhandle State Aggies
- Out: Shawn Joy
- In: Jared Mayeda
Joy served in the head coach position for the past 5 seasons. During his tenure, the Aggies qualified for the SAC Tournament each season. Joy will stay at OPSU expanding his roles as Director of Alumni Relations and Assistant Athletic Director.
A successor has not been named yet.
On July 18, OPSU announced the hiring of Jared Mayeda as the next Aggies head coach.
Mayeda had served on the Aggies’ coaching staff since the fall of 2019 after playing his senior season the previous spring.
He also has served as the head coach for the Liberal Bee Jays – a prominent college summer league team out of Liberal, KS.
For the complete press release from OPSU, click here.
JUCO
Redlands CC Cougars
- Out: Kyle Koehler
- In: Trent Troxell
After double digit seasons at Redlands, Koehler departed the program in April.
Troxell spent the last 3 seasons in as an assistant in El Reno before he was named the interim head coach after Koehler’s departure. Prior to that, Troxell spent time at Vernon College (TX) as an assistant.
Redlands name Troxell the official head coach on Monday.
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