SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics have announced the hiring of TJ Oakes as head baseball coach.
 
"We are excited to welcome Coach Oakes to Yellowjacket Athletics and to lead our baseball program. His passion for the game and commitment to player development will have an immediate impact on our program," Director of Athletics Nick Bursik said. "His coaching philosophy and style are strongly rooted in helping student-athletes become champions – in sport, academics, and in life, and I know he will have a positive impact on our student-athletes and the future of Yellowjacket baseball."
 
Oakes spent the past six seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Saint Mary's University in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). During that time, the Cardinals had a record of 121-91-1 and in 2021 Saint Mary's won the MIAC tournament championship and qualified for the NCAA tournament. Before joining the staff at Saint Mary's, Oakes coached a pair of high school seasons at Legacy Christian Academy, where he spent one season as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach in 2014.
 
Oakes had a storied playing career. He was a three-year starting pitcher at the University of Minnesota, earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors as a freshman and a sophomore and All-Big Ten First Team honors as a junior. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft and played two seasons in the Rockies organizations before embarking on his coaching career.
 
"I would like to thank Nick Bursik and the entire search committee for putting their trust in me to lead the UW-Superior baseball program," Oakes said. "From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew this could be a good fit for what I was looking to be a part of. I am excited to get started and have the opportunity to help guide a group of young men to achieve success both on and off the field. I'm looking forward to the future of Yellowjacket baseball."
 
A native of Jordan, Minnesota, Oakes graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development in 2014, earning a bachelor of science degree in sports management.
 
Oakes' first day on the UW-Superior campus will be August 2.