Baseball Coach Ryan Kragh

Ryan Kragh

Kragh is currently entering his eighth season as a member of the Bethany Lutheran College coaching staff and fifth as head coach. Prior to taking over the reins of the program in 2005, Kragh was the Vikings' pitching coach for three years, working with squads that combined for a 71-52 record, including back-to-back NJCAA Region XIII Championships. Bethany has been part of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference since 2004. Each year since, the Vikings have qualified for the conference tournament.

Kragh's baseball history is a rich one. The Minot, North Dakota, native was a four-year letter-winner at the University of North Dakota, where his name appears in the top 10 of numerous pitching categories and his school record for career pitching wins was just recently broken.

After earning his bachelor's degree in physical education and elementary education, he pitched professionally with the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks of the Northern League. An injury cut his playing career short and he returned to his alma mater, coaching pitchers for three seasons. Under Kragh's tutelage, three pitchers were drafted and went on to play professionally. Kragh also headed up the American Legion baseball program for Jamestown, N.D., leading the Blue Jays to a fifth-place finish in the State A Tournament.

Kragh's dedication to the game of baseball is clearly evident from his community involvement. He directs Bethany baseball camps throughout the year and spends his summer months involved in clinics and camps throughout southern Minnesota. Kragh also finds time to umpire many amateur and high school games in the Mankato area.

Coach Kragh is currently pursuing a master's degree at Minnesota State, Mankato. His wife, Ruthann, is the registrar at Bethany. The Kraghs and their two children, Mariah and J.D., make their home in Mankato.

Assistant Coach Todd Mann

The 2009 season will be Todd Mann's first season with the Vikings. Mann brings years of experience into the role of assistant coach for Bethany. Mann has coached baseball at many different levels. He was the community education recreation director in Waseca for 10 years, where he coached and administrated the youth baseball program. From there he went on to become the Waseca High School Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach for five seasons. Previous to the head coaching position, Mann had served as the assistant baseball coach for seven years.

In college, the Waseca, Minnesota native moved south to play for the University of Southern Mississippi. Mann was a catcher/third baseman and was a three-year letter-winner. After earning his bachelor's degree in Sports Administration and Coaching, he moved back to Minnesota where he filled his summers catching for 22 straight seasons for Waseca Braves amateur baseball team. Mann also had a short stint with the St. Paul Saints.

Mann and his son Ty, reside in Waseca.

Assistant Coach Ben Smith

Coach Smith is in his first season coaching baseball at Bethany. Smith, a native of Maple Plain, Minnesota, was a three-year letter winner at Orono High School and received an All-Conference Award for his senior campaign. Smith was All-Conference Honorable Mention during his sophomore and junior year in high school.

After graduating, Smith came to Mankato to play baseball for the Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) Mavericks. After lettering for two years at MSU, Smith transferred to Hamline University where he was named First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region.

After finishing out the year at Hamline, Smith is back in Mankato and is perusing a degree in sports management from MSU. Smith will be working with the outfielders.

Assistant Coach Jordan Miller

Coach Miller is in his first season coaching at Bethany. Miller transferred to Bethany after attending Iowa Central Community College for two years. After becoming a Viking, Miller made an impact becoming a two-year starter for Bethany.

During his two years, Miller was voted team captain, and won the team's Gold Glove Award during his junior season. Miller, a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, attended Fort Dodge Senior High where he was a two sport athlete and First-Team All-State performer during his senior campaign.

Miller is now in his senior year at Bethany and plans to graduate next fall with a degree in Elementary Education. During the summers, Miller returns to Fort Dodge as the head sophomore baseball coach for the Dodgers. Miller will be working with the infielders and hitters.

Student Assistant Coach Wyatt Cote

The 2009 season will mark Wyatt Cote's fourth year serving as part of the Bethany Lutheran College baseball staff. Cote has regularly gone out of his way to make the baseball program at Bethany Lutheran all it can be.

The Luverne, Minnesota, native will graduate from Bethany in May with a degree in History and a coaching certification in baseball.

Cote's baseball experience includes playing four years of high school baseball for the Luverne Cardinals. Cote also played town ball for the Luverne Cardinals for three years helping them make the section championship in 2005.

In his spare time spent away from the baseball field, Cote enjoys playing the guitar.