FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head baseball coach Tod Brown announced Thursday, Aug. 16, that pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler Oakes has been promoted to associate head coach.
“Tyler’s hard work and loyalty to NDSU baseball has been vital to the consistent success of the program,” Brown said. “He is extremely deserving of this promotion, and I am ecstatic to continue working with him here at NDSU.”
Oakes, who is entering his sixth season in the dugout with NDSU, has helped the Bison pitching staff rise to the top-half of The Summit League. In the last three seasons, North Dakota State has ranked second in the league in team ERA.
The Bison have also set single-season program records for shutouts in each of the last two seasons, compiling seven in 2017 and 2018. In addition, North Dakota State established single-season records for both strikeouts and saves in 2016, tallying 405 Ks and 17 saves.
One no-hitter (Riley Johnson vs. Central Connecticut State, 2018) and two one-hitters (Blake Stockert vs. Western Illinois, 2018; Luke Lind at South Dakota State, 2017) have occurred since Oakes arrived at North Dakota State.
While at NDSU, Oakes has worked with six All-Summit League pitchers and one Summit League Tournament MVP.
He also coached Jay Flaa, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, and Kevin Folman, who was signed by the Chicago White Sox this summer. Additionally, he worked with Luke Lind, who inked a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.
Prior to joining the Bison, Oakes was a graduate assistant pitching coach at South Dakota State in 2010 and 2011 before spending two years as a volunteer assistant at Minnesota. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten performer from 2006-09 at Minnesota, where he pitched in the starting rotation as a sophomore and worked out of the bullpen for three seasons.
Oakes signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an undrafted free agent and played one season with the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League.
