Justin Wichert is in his first season as head baseball coach at Fort Hays State University.
Wichert comes to Hays after a four-season stint as head coach at Trinidad State College in Trinidad, Colo. The Stillwater, Okla. native led the Trojans to a record of 112-83 from 2019 until 2022, including two trips to the postseason. His squad reached the Region IX title game this last season and hosted the 2019 regional tournament before playing in the district tournament that year. The Trojans won the Empire Conference Championship in Wichert’s first year at the helm.
The Trojans posted a 44-17 record in 2022 while ranking third in NJCAA Division I with a team batting average of .388. His players earned 9 All-Region IX honors that year, including Pitcher of the Year Isaac Gallegos and Freshman of the Year Benji Suave.
Wichert’s squad earned recognition as an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year in 2020 and 2021 while 19 individuals earned NJCAA All-Academic Honors (three 1st team, 10 2nd team, six 3rd team).
Before starting his head coaching career at TSC, Wichert served as assistant coach at three different institutions - University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Pittsburg State University and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
He spent four years as the top assistant at UAFS (2015-18), helping the Lions to a DII-era-record 35 wins in 2017 before finishing runner-up in the NCAA DII South Central Regional that same season. His pitchers set a school record with 411 strikeouts that season while ranking in the top 20 in the nation with a team ERA of 3.45.
As pitching coach at PSU in 2013, he helped the Gorilla staff post its best ERA in 15 years. PSU won 29 games that season, it's highest total in nearly one decade.
Before that he served three seasons as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (2010-12). Wichert helped the Golden Norsemen to a pair of conference championships (2010 Bi-State Champions, 2012 OCAC Champions) and a Region II runner-up finish in 2011 while coaching All-American pitcher Keaton Hernandez.
During the summers, Wichert coached with the Laramie Colts of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League (2009), Weyburn Beavers of the Western Major Baseball League (2010) and with the Myrtle Beach Shore Eagles (2012).
Several of Wichert’s former players were either drafted or signed with big league organizations, including MLB All-Star Blake Treinen and current minor leaguers Jake Jewell and Logan Allen.
A right-handed pitcher in his playing days, Wichert played two seasons at Cowley Community College in 2002-03 before he was drafted in the 44th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. He then went on to pitch at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. from 2004-06, earning second team all-conference accolades in 2004 while helping the Cardinals to a program-record 47 wins that year.
He then played two seasons at the professional level after graduating, spending the 2006 season with the Kansas City (Kan.) T-Bones and the 2007 season with the Port Charlotte (Fla.) Redfish. While playing professional baseball he played under many great managers including Cecil Fielder, Jackie Hernandez and Al Gallagher.
Wichert earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from William Jewell in 2006 before completing a master’s degree in Health, Human Performance and Recreation from Pittsburg State in 2012. He and his wife, Susie, have three children.
Collegiate Coaching History
2006 - William Jewell - Student Assistant
2009-12 - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M - Assistant Coach
2012-13 - Pittsburg State - Assistant Coach
2014-18 - Arkansas-Fort Smith - Assistant Coach
2018-22 - Trinidad State - Head Coach
2022-Present - Fort Hays State - Head Coach
