Concordia University-Wisconsin Baseball

Mitch Rogers completed his first season as the assistant coach in charge of pitching and recruiting for the Concordia University Wisconsin baseball program in 2025. In his debut season, the Falcons saw two pitchers earn All-Conference honors. Sophomore left-hander Alex Kuntz was named First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) after tying the program's single-season strikeout record with 83. Meanwhile, senior right-hander Zach Slome earned Honorable Mention All-NACC recognition for the second consecutive year. Rogers joined Concordia with two years of prior coaching experience, providing a strong foundation in player development and pitching strategy. Before arriving in Mequon, he served as Interim Head Coach of the Lakeshore Chinooks in the Northwoods League during the summer of 2024. Under his leadership, the Chinooks' pitching staff ranked in the league's top 10 in strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), first-pitch strike percentage, and fewest home runs allowed. Rogers also played a key role in player development, helping Cohen Achen become a 14th-round MLB Draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles and guiding two other pitchers to professional contracts with the Lake Country DockHounds. Rogers began his coaching career as a Student Assistant at Tennessee Tech University in the fall of 2023, where he worked closely with the pitching staff. During his time with the Golden Eagles, the team led the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in both walks per nine innings (BB/9)

Dr. Val Keiper completed his 12th season as an assistant coach for the Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team in 2025, continuing his decades-long commitment to the program. Keiper previously served as the Falcons' head coach for 30 seasons, compiling 436 career victories before stepping down from the role in 2013. During his tenure as head coach, Keiper guided the Falcons through several major milestones. His teams won 20 or more games in six different seasons, including a program-best 24 wins in 1991. In 2004, he led CUW to a 20-18 record and a berth in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament. Under his leadership, the Falcons captured back-to-back Lake Michigan Conference regular-season titles in 1997 and 1998, including a 12-2 record in 1997 — the program's best conference winning percentage (.857). CUW also earned consecutive Northern Athletics Conference Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011, finishing third in the league both years with a combined 30-14 conference record. Keiper was instrumental in reviving CUW baseball, re-establishing the program in 1982 after it had been dormant since 1928. Aside from a two-year break in 1989 and 1990, he served as head coach through the 2013 season, shaping the program's foundation and mentoring generations of student-athletes. In addition to his coaching contributions, Dr. Keiper serves as a professor in the School of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He holds a degree from Concordia University Portland and is