June 25, 2013

Rear to head Carroll program

More news about: Carroll | Northland | UW-Whitewater

Waukesha, Wis. - Stein Rear has been named head baseball coach at Carroll University, announced Joe Baker, Director of Athletics.

"We are excited that Stein Rear has agreed to join the Carroll Athletics Department as head baseball coach," said Baker. "Coach Rear has a great baseball background and is familiar with both NCAA Division III and baseball in Wisconsin. He has a proven track record of improving programs quickly and I am excited about what he is going to with our student-athletes. Our baseball program is full of promise and the appointment of Coach Rear as head coach has the future looking bright."

Rear joins the Pioneers following a three-year stint as head coach at Northland College, an NCAA Division III member in Ashland, Wis., that competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).

In three seasons, Rear took the Lumberjack program from the conference cellar to title contenders for two consecutive seasons.

Rear inherited a squad in 2011 that returned just five players from the previous season. The Lumberjacks won five of their final seven games to finish 10-25 despite having just 11 healthy players on the roster.

Northland's baseball roster increased to 19 in 2012 and the team finished with a record of 16-25, including 9-12 in the UMAC. Nine of the team's losses were by three runs or fewer. With nine league wins, the Lumberjacks qualified as the fourth seed for the league's post-season tournament for the first time since the UMAC went to a four-team format.

In what turned out to be his final campaign at Northland, Rear guided the Lumberjacks to their most successful season since 2006. With the roster at an all-time high of 26, Northland finished last season at 15-14, including an 8-7 record in league play, to earn its second consecutive tournament berth as the No. 4 seed.

"I am very humbled to have the opportunity to lead the baseball program at Carroll University," said Rear. "In meeting with President Hastad and athletic director Joe Baker, I was excited about our shared vision and passion about the future of Carroll. I am very appreciative of the chance for my family to become a part of the Carroll and Waukesha communities and look forward achieving unprecedented success with the Pioneers."
Before Rear took over Northland's program, he coached for five seasons at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, from 2006-2010. During his time with the Warhawks, the team posted a record of 169-66, winning four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. Additionally, the Warhawks participated in three NCAA regionals and advanced to the College World Series in 2008. While on staff, Rear coached eight players that would eventually sign professional baseball contracts.

Rear began his coaching career at his prep alma mater, New Glarus High School. He turned the New Glarus program into annual conference contenders before leaving to complete his graduate studies at UW-Whitewater.

Rear, a catcher during his playing days for the Warhawks, earned his undergraduate degree in physical education in 1998 and his master's degree in physical education and coaching in 2007.