The University of Iowa announced this week that Blaine Harpenau, a former Iowa high school baseball standout, has been appointed Director of Pitching Development for the Hawkeyes' baseball program.
Harpenau, a graduate of Remsen St. Mary’s High School, arrives after a prep career that featured a 13‑0 record, a 0.62 earned run average and 129 strikeouts in just 68 innings, while also hitting .479 with 11 doubles and two triples.
A Proven Competitor Turned Coach
During his senior season he allowed only 24 hits and 18 walks, showcasing the command that later helped him transition to college baseball at Kirkwood Community College, Arkansas State and Southern Illinois.
After completing graduate studies, Harpenau served as a graduate assistant at Concordia University, where he contributed to a Bulldogs team that earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament.
Leadership Under Coach Rick Heller
University of Iowa head coach Rick Heller highlighted the strategic value of Harpenau’s hiring, noting that his deep understanding of the state’s talent pool will help sustain the program’s recent success.
Heller announced the move together with Matt Gabriel, who will join as an assistant athletic performance coach, underscoring a coordinated effort to strengthen both the pitching staff and overall athlete development.
The Hawkeyes finished the 2025‑26 season with a 33‑23 record and secured an 11th straight appearance in the Big Ten tournament, setting the stage for a high‑profile homecoming game.
Iowa will host Kansas at the iconic Field of Dreams ballpark in Dyersville on October 10, giving fans a chance to see Harpenau’s vision in action as the new pitching development leader.
With a roster that includes returning standouts such as Myles Davis, Max Burt and Wrigley Matthys, the program looks poised to build on its recent momentum while leveraging Harpenau’s expertise to nurture the next generation of Hawkeye pitchers.