COLLEGE BASEBALL: UTPB hires Grinder to lead baseball program

Gabe Grinder is the new baseball coach at UTPB the school announced Friday.

He takes over for Brian Reinke who retired in May after 17 years at the helm of the program.

Grinder, selected following a month-long search, will lead the Falcons after coaching at the University of Ottawa (Kan.) the past four seasons, compiling a record of 115-61.

He led the Braves to three consecutive winning seasons and finished the 2022 season ranked No. 14 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Grinder was selected as the 2022 Coach of the Year for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference after the Braves finished the regular season 41-6 overall (29-4 in conference) and won the KCAC title.

“Gabe is a proven baseball coach with a history of success,” UTPB athletic director Todd Dooley said. “He brings a tremendous amount of positive energy and work ethic, especially in recruiting.

“UT Permian Basin is on the rise and adding a coach of Gabe’s caliber advances our Pursuit of Comprehensive Excellence. We look forward to Gabe, Nicole and the rest of the Grinder family joining our Falcon family.”

Previous coaching stops for Grinder include Oklahoma Wesleyan (pitching coach, recruiting), West Virginia Wesleyan College, Morningside College and his alma mater, Southeastern University, where he graduated in 2011 with a degree in sports management.

He earned a masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2017 from Liberty University.

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