Jim Weyandt will take over the reigns of the Piper baseball
program for the 2013 season, replacing Jason Verdugo. Under
Verdugo's stewardship, the Piper baseball team recorded 216 wins,
with a 18-22 record in 2012.
It is a program Weyandt knows very well. For the last nine
seasons, Weyandt served as an assistant on the Hamline
baseball staff, where he served as the Pipers’ Infield Coach,
First Base Coach, and Director Of Baseball Operations.
The Pipers’ long list of accomplishments during that span
includes an MIAC championship, an NCAA tournament berth, a 169-153
overall mark, five 20-win seasons, four MIAC playoff appearances,
and an assault on the program’s record book. Weyandt
has led a significant change in Hamline’s team defense.
Hamline has finished in the top 2 defensively in the MIAC three out
of the last five years. Hamline has also finished in the top
25 in the nation in team fielding percentage the last two
seasons.
As a coach, Weyandt worked with former professional players at Dan
Gladden Baseball Camp for five seasons. Weyandt has also
spent the last three seasons working for Next Level Baseball.
Weyandt has served as the lead infield instructor and an assistant
hitting instructor for next level baseball. Weyandt is in his
first year as Next Level Baseball Training Director overseeing and
planning for all programs at Next Level Baseball Training.
As a player Weyandt earned four varsity letters during his playing
career at Hamline. He played four different positions during his
four seasons here (first base, third base, catcher, and
pitcher). Weyandt graduated from Hamline in 2003 with a
degree in social studies. He currently resides in
Oakdale.