INDIANOLA, Iowa - Simpson College Director of Athletics Brian Niemuth announced today the hiring of Nathan Roling as the next head coach of the Storm baseball team. Roling spent the last three seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Loras College and prior to that helped Coe College to a pair of NCAA Tournament runs and an Iowa Conference title.
"I am thrilled to introduce Nathan Roling as our head baseball coach," Niemuth said. "Nathan has eight years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Six of those years are in the Iowa Conference where he has been a part of a conference championship, two conference tournament championships, and two trips to the NCAA tournament. He knows what it takes to win in this conference and came highly recommended by head coaches and athletic directors. We're excited to get him."
Roling becomes the 26th baseball coach in school history. He replaces Ben Blake, who resigned this spring following 10 seasons at the helm. The Storm went 14-29 in 2016 and finished sixth in the IIAC.
Simpson's last conference title came in 2006.
"I would like to thank Brian Niemuth, the search committee, the entire administration and staff for this opportunity to be a part of the Simpson community," Roling said. "I am very honored and humbled to lead the Storm baseball program moving forward.
"Through this hiring process, I was impressed by the passion and vision that Brian Niemuth and the staff has for this baseball program and athletic department. I am very excited to get on campus and start working with this tradition-rich baseball program, athletic department, and the college."
Head coach Carl Tebon's assistant from 2014-16, Roling was in charge of recruiting, hitting, catching and team defense at Loras. The Duhawks experienced an offensive outburst under Roling's tutelage, hitting .314 as a team in 2016 to tie for second in the IIAC. He coached both the league's batting champion and co-home run leader in 2016, as freshman Austin Konagel led the league with a .429 batting average and sophomore Ryan Koester hit 10 long balls.
Prior to Loras, Roling held the same position at Coe from 2011-13. The Kohawks went 89-43 during that stretch, winning an IIAC Championship in 2011 and making two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Coe experienced the three winningest seasons in school history during the stretch, including a then school-record 32 wins in 2011.
Roling served as head coach of the River Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League's Dubuque Waves in 2010, winning the league championship and earning Manager of the Year honors. Prior to his stint in the Iowa Conference, Roling spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Md., serving as an assistant from 2008-10.
Roling graduated from Loras in 2008 with degrees in business and sport management. He was a three-time Academic All-IIAC pick and served as co-captain of the baseball team in 2008. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Roling earned his master's degree in business and technology management from Stevenson in 2010.
The Roling File
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
High School: Cascade, 2004
DOB: 4/4/1986
Education: M.S., Stevenson, 2010; B.A., Loras, 2008
Playing Experience: Loras, 2006-08; Iowa Central, 2005
Coaching Career
2017: Simpson, head coach
2014-16: Loras, assistant coach
2011-13: Coe, assistant coach
2010: Dubuque Waves (River Valley Summer League), head coach
2009-10: Stevenson, graduate assistant