HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover College Athletic Department announced Grant Bellak as the next head coach of the baseball program Monday, June 11.
Bellak comes to Hanover after spending the last seven seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for fellow Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference institution, Franklin College. Bellak was also the co-coordinator of the College's Campus Wellness Program and a lecturer for the Physical Education Department.
During his most recent coaching stint, Bellak helped guide the Grizzlies to a 170-115 overall record, four HCAC Tournament appearances, two HCAC Tournament Final appearances, and one regular season and conference tournament championships. He also assisted Franklin to its first NCAA Division III National Tournament appearance since 2011, as the Grizzlies set a program record with 39 victories in 2018.
Prior to his time in Central Indiana, Bellak was an assistant coach for Concordia University in Chicago. In two years, the Cougars posted a 66-19 overall record and were nationally ranked during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. He also spent one season as a student assistant for Webster University (Mo.) in 2009, when the Gorloks posted a 28-15 overall mark, including a perfect 24-0 record in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
"I would like to thank Lynn Hall and the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Panther baseball program and for trusting me with the vision for the future of the program," said Bellak. "I cannot wait to get on campus with the team and take an active role in engaging with the Hanover baseball alumni base."
Overall, with three NCAA Division III institutions, Bellak has been a part of 264 victories to 149 losses, a .639 winning percentage. Additionally, his teams have accumulated three regular season conference championships, six conference tournament appearances, three conference tournament finals appearances and one national tournament bid.
Outside of his collegiate coaching experience, Bellak has been an associate head coach for the Indianapolis Pony Express Travel Baseball Club since 2011. He also spent one year as the head coach of the Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League, an elite wood bat summer league for collegiate players. During his summer coaching experience, Bellak has had the opportunity to work with multiple Division I athletes and Major League Baseball draft picks.
Bellak played two seasons at Waubonsee Community College (Ill.) where he finished sixth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for stolen bases his sophomore year. He then played his final two collegiate season at Webster. During his time on the squad, the Gorloks went 36-6 in SLIAC play and participated in two NCAA Division III regionals.
A native of Big Rock, Illinois, Bellak graduated from Webster in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He went on to add a master's degree in leadership and management from Liberty University (Va.) in 2013. Bellak and his wife, Natasha, have one daughter, Bexley.