Wichita State University has announced the hiring of Daniel Stange as its new Pitching Strategist and Director of Analytics, a move that brings together his extensive coaching background and a deep commitment to data‑driven baseball development.
Career Highlights
Stange’s résumé reads like a chronicle of progressive responsibility in college baseball. He spent a year as director of baseball operations at UC San Diego before serving two seasons as pitching coach at Utah Tech. At Riverside City College he guided the Tigers to a 28‑13 record and a second‑place finish in the Orange Empire Conference, showcasing his ability to shape competitive teams.
From 2016 to 2022 he served as head coach and athletic director at the University of St. Katherine, where he compiled a 159‑127 record and led the Firebirds to a 2021 CalPac championship. In his role as athletic director he more than doubled the program’s revenue, growing it from $300,000 to over $6 million, while also raising student‑athlete retention and graduation rates.
Before turning to coaching, Stange was selected in the 33rd round of the 2003 draft by the Atlanta Braves and played college baseball at UC Riverside, earning honorable‑mention All‑Big West recognition in 2006 with 11 saves. He ranks fifth all‑time in career saves at Riverside with 12, and his professional playing career included MLB debuts with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 and stints with the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside (2015) and a master’s from Concordia‑Irvine (2017).
Strategic Vision
University officials say Stange’s blend of on‑field experience and analytical acumen is expected to sharpen the Shockers’ pitching staff and integrate advanced metrics into game planning. Brian Green, a longtime figure in the program’s administration, welcomed the appointment, noting that the new hire aligns with the university’s push to modernize its baseball operations.
With a track record of building winning cultures, boosting financial health, and leveraging data to gain competitive edges, Stange arrives at Wichita State poised to influence the next chapter of Shockers baseball in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas.