Seth Wing has been named Cornell College's new head baseball coach, only weeks removed from an appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game as associate head coach at Winona State University.
 
Wing, a native of Maquoketa, returns to his eastern Iowa roots and becomes the fourth skipper to lead Cornell's baseball program since 1994. He replaces Adam Hadenfeldt, who stepped down in May after two seasons at the helm.

"I'm excited to get back to this area and take on a new opportunity here at Cornell College," said Wing, who begins his new coaching duties July 5. "This is a great challenge career-wise. I will bring energy and a strong work ethic to the program. I'm anxious to see what I can do."

Wing spent the past eight seasons on head coach Kyle Poock's baseball staff at Winona State, including the last three as associate head coach. His stay in Winona, Minn., culminated with the program's most successful season in 2011. Wing helped lead the Warriors to their first regional championship and a berth in the Division II World Series for the first time.

At the World Series, Winona State knocked off three top-10 nationally-ranked opponents before falling to West Florida in the national championship game on June 4 in Cary, N.C. Wing's squad finished the campaign at 42-18, doubling the team's win total from 2008.

"Seth Wing was significantly involved in the recruitment of a team that fell one win short of an NCAA Division II championship this past season," Cornell Director of Athletics John Cochrane said. "Seth has deep roots in eastern Iowa and has demonstrated success in recruiting excellent student-athletes, establishing strong rapport with players, and effectively developing a culture that expects to win. As we prepare for significant enhancements to our football and baseball facilities, Seth's presence will have an immediate impact on our program and we are extremely excited to have him join us at this critical time."

Wing was Winona State's baseball recruiting coordinator and hitting coach while working with all position players on the team. He also served as admissions counselor since July 2005.

During Wing's coaching tenure, Winona State averaged more than 30 wins a season and achieved a team grade point average above 3.0 in each of the past five years. Wing coached 33 all-conference and 17 all-region performers while landing five Division II All-Americans. The Warriors twice fielded the Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Wing's impressive list of recruits includes Ben Barrone, the 2007 American Baseball Coach Association/Rawlings Division II Player of the Year. He also accounted for 28 academic all-conference players.

Winona State advanced to the NSIC Tournament in each of Wing's eight seasons, winning the league's postseason title in 2007. The Warriors earned regional berths in 2007, 2010 and 2011.

Wing inherits a Cornell program that finished 3-29 overall and 1-23 in the Iowa Conference this spring. The Rams' last postseason appearance was 2004.

"We're going to take everything one day at a time," Wing said. "We're always going to try to be better than the previous year; that's my mentality. I want to add depth and talent to the program and establish relationships with the guys. I want them to believe in me, and me to believe in them."

Wing was a two-sport athlete at Winona State, competing in football (1999-2000) and baseball (2000-03). He earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Winona State in 2003. Wing graduated with a master's in Educational Leadership from Winona State in 2008.

Wing has been baseball camp instructor at the University of Iowa since 2005 and served as clinician for Batter-Up 17 Lessons and Clinics in Rochester, Minn., the past five years.

Wing was assistant baseball coach at Maquoketa High School from 2000-01. He was head coach at Blair-Taylor (Wis.) High School from 2002-03.

At Maquoketa High School, Wing earned all-state accolades in baseball and football and was team captain in both sports. In 1999, he played in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game and the Iowa Shrine Bowl for football.