THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES BASEBALL
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Head Coach - Jonathan Freemyer
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  • Fourth season as head coach of the OU baseball program.
  • Has an overall and OU coaching record of 104-56 and a KCAC mark of 71-34.
  • Coached one NAIA All-American, one KCAC Pitcher of the Year, one KCAC Freshman of the Year, four KCAC Gold Glove selections, and 22 All-KCAC performers.
  • Led the 2025 team to an NAIA Opening Round and broke and or tied nine single season team records. 
Before coming to Ottawa University, Freemyer spent five years (2018-2022) as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU). In 2022, he helped lead the Coyotes to the program’s first KCAC Tournament Championship since 2011, the first NAIA Opening Round Appearance since 2011, and helped the program set school records for home runs and strike outs. In 2021, Freemyer helped lead KWU to a, then, school record 23 conference victories.

While at KWU Freemyer coordinated and tracked community service hours, organized and led academic efforts, led in recruitment, helped with community fundraising, and was in charge of the program’s social media accounts.

Prior to his time at KWU, Freemyer was an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) in Alva, Okla. from 2014 to 2017 under head coach Sam Carel. In 2016-2017, he was named the program’s recruiting coordinator.

During his time at NWOSU, Freemyer coached three all-conference players in Matt Benn (2015), Thomas Bess (2016) and B.A Castro (2017). The 2016 Rangers set the school record for the most conference wins in the Great American Conference (GAC) and the 2017 team achieved the first GAC sweep in school history.

Before entering coaching, Freemyer spent a year in professional baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays organization with The Florida Complex League Rays. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Rays. He signed as an undrafted free agent, playing both infield and outfield. Freemyer had to retire due to a battle with Rhabdomyolysis but witnessed first-hand how one of the top professional teams operated and developed their players.  

Freemyer graduated from NWOSU with a bachelor of science in criminal justice with a minor in communications in 2014 and a masters of arts in american studies in 2017. He was a three year letterman on the diamond and a four year letterwinner on the basketball court for the Rangers.

He was the first athlete in the GAC to earn first team honors in two sports. Freemyer finished his basketball career in the top five in NWOSU history in points, rebounds, and steals. As a senior on the diamond, Freemyer was named GAC Player of the Year, set the GAC home run record, and was the first NCAA Division II All-American in NWOSU history with his Third Team NABC selection.
Assistant Coach - Ethan Wilson

Coach Wilson is in his second season as an assistant coach with the OU baseball team. He will work with the Brave pitchers.

Wilson comes to Ottawa University from Kansas Wesleyan University where he was an assistant coach with the Coyote baseball team from 2022 to 2024. As a KWU baseball coaching staff member, Wilson was a graduate assistant, pitching coach, recruiting coordinator, and varsity reserve head coach. KWU captured the 2023 and 2024 KCAC regular season championship and he led the KWU varsity reserve team to a 2024 KCAC Championship. The Coyotes also qualified for three straight NAIA Opening Round appearances and advanced to the 2024 NAIA Baseball World Series.

During his time at KWU, Wilson interned at Thackerville High School in the summer of 2021, assisting with football and baseball. He also was the strength and conditioning coach.

Wilson was a three-year member of the KWU baseball team. In 2021 he tied the KWU school record for most appearances in a single season. In 2022, Wilson had a record of 3-1 and threw over 40 innings.

Before attending KWU, Wilson attended Northern Oklahoma College – Tonkawa. In his two seasons at NOC-Tonkawa, he had a record of 9-1, mainly as a reliever. Wilson finished with a 3.91 ERA and threw over 50 innings his sophomore season. He helped NOC-Tonkawa reach a top 5 ranking in the nation each of his two seasons.

Wilson earned his MBA with an emphasis in sports administration from Kansas Wesleyan University in May 2024. He graduated from KWU with a degree in exercise science in May 2022. Wilson was a member of SAAC and FCA. He earned his associate in science from NOC-Tonkawa in May 2019. 

Assistant Coach - Jarett Gage

Coach Gage is in his second season as an assistant coach with the OU baseball program after spending the 2024 season as a student assistant.

Gage played one season for the Braves after transferring from Eastern Oklahoma State College.

The Pryor, Okla. native is earning his degree in sports studies.

Graduate Assistant - Keaton Banister 

Coach Banister is in his second season as a graduate assistant with the OU baseball program.

Banister was a two year letterman on the baseball diamond for the Braves. Prior to his two seasons at OU, Banister was a member of the baseball team at Pierce College.

At Pierce College, Banister played in 14 games as a freshman. He had a .263 (5-for-19) batting average, scored six runs, drove in three, walked seven times, had four stolen bases, and finished the season with a .462 on base percentage, and a .263 slugging percentage. 

He was on the Dean’s List in 2023 and 2024, graduated Suma Cum Laude, and was named to the SIGMA ALPHA ALPHA Honor Society in 2024.
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Banister graduated from Pierce College with AA and earned his degree in communication studies from Ottawa University in May 2024. He is working on his masters in business leadership from Ottawa University.

Graduate Assistant - Cesar Rodriguez

Coach Rodriguez is in his first season as a graduate assistant coach with the OU baseball program.

Rodriguez comes to Ottawa University from Kansas Wesleyan University where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a member of the Coyote baseball team. He finished his two years with a 6.51 ERA, striking out 29 in 27 innings.

Rodriguez graduated from KWU in May 2024 with a degree in criminal justice. He is working on his masters in education from Ottawa University.

Graduate Assistant - Jackson Alaniz​

Coach Alaniz is in his first season as a graduate assistant coach with the Ottawa University baseball program.

Alaniz was a two year letterwinner for OU, earning Second Team All-KCAC honors in 2025. In his two seasons as a Brave, Alaniz played in 88 games, making 83 starts. He hit .355 (98-276), scored 32 runs, hit 26 doubles, one triple and 14 home runs. Alaniz drove in 72 runs, had a .609 slugging percentage, walked 25 times, was hit by a pitch 17 times had a .435 on base percentage, and stole three bases. He finished his career at OU with 550 put outs, 37 assists, and a .983 fielding percentage.

Before coming to OU, Alaniz spent two seasons at Cerro Coso Community College where he appeared in 86 games. He hit .240 (70-292), scored 49 runs, and hit 11 doubles, one triple, and one home run. Alaniz had 55 RBI, walked 42 times, had a .361 on-base percentage, and a .305 slugging percentage.

Alaniz graduated in May of 2025 from Ottawa University with a degree in sports leadership. He is working on his MBA in leadership development.

 

Graduate Assistant - Dylan Garcia​​

Coach Garcia is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Ottawa University baseball program.

Garcia was a two year letterwinner for the Braves, earning First Team All-KCAC honors in 2025 as a utility player. In his two seasons as a Brave, Garcia played in 103 games, making 96 starts. He hit .330 (107-324), scored 73 runs, hit 29 doubles and 18 home runs, drove in 78 runs, had a .586 slugging percentage, a .442 on base percentage, and stole 13 bases. Garcia had 492 put outs, 29 assists, only committed four errors in 103 games, and had a .992 fielding percentage.

Before coming to Ottawa, Garcia spent a season at Vernon College and Garden City Community College. He was an All-Conference performer at GCCC.

Garcia was the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning his degree in business administration from Ottawa University in May of 2025. He is earning his MBA.
 
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