Northwestern College Athletics

Wede was named the 16th head coach of the Northwestern College Baseball program in the summer of 2006 after a two-year stint as the team's pitching coach (2004-06). Wede's tenure has been the most successful in the 50+-year history of the program, leading Red Raider teams to 490 wins, the most in program history, and holds a 53.4% overall winning percentage. Wede also serves on the athletic leadership team, serving as the events staff contact for Red Raider Athletics.

On March 29, 2014, Coach Wede became Northwestern's baseball program leader in wins with the victory at Hastings. On February 10, 2022, he notched his 400th career win at the helm of the Red Raider baseball program in the Game 1 victory over Clarke (Iowa). Wede is a two-time GPAC Coach of the Year (2013, 2018) and has coached nine All-Americans during his tenure in Orange City. Wede's 465 career wins and 228 GPAC wins both lead the conference in the league's 24-year history.

Prior to taking the Northwestern head coaching job, Wede served as the pitching coach for the Red Raiders during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He also served as the head coach at South O'Brien High School from 2001-2006 and at MOC-FV High School from 2020-2023. The 2004 South O’Brien team were the Class 2A State runners-up in 2004, and MOC-FV qualified for the state tournament in 2021. Wede has won 657 college and high school games during his coaching career.

A well-respected coach nationally, Wede served on the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association Executive Committee from 2014-21 and was the NAIA-BCA President during the 2018 season. Currently, he is on the 16-member ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) Executive Committee and has served in that role since 2020.

Wede is a 2004 graduate of Mount Mercy University, where he played baseball for the Mustangs. He is married to his wife Nicole (NWC, B.S.N, '13), and has three children - Nikolai, Larkin, and Shea. 

Coaching Experience:
    2006 - present: Head Coach, Northwestern College
    2005 - 2006: Assistant Coach, Pitching Coach, Northwestern College
    2001 - 2006: Head Coach, South O'Brien High School

Milestones:
    - 100th win at NWC - vs Waldorf, March 30, 2010
    - 200th win at NWC - vs Concordia, April 20, 2013
    - Career Leader in wins at NWC - @ Hastings, March 29, 2014
    - 300th win at NWC - vs LSU Alexandria, Feb. 17, 2017
    - 400th career win at NWC - v. Clarke, Feb. 10, 2022 (G1)
    - 200th GPAC win - vs Dordt, April 29, 2022 (G1)

Honors:
    - GPAC Coach of the Year - 2x (2013, 2018)

Team Accomplishments under Wede:
    - most postseason wins among GPAC teams (41)
    - 4x GPAC Regular Season Champions (2008, 2011, 2013, 2018)
    - 3x GPAC Tournament Champions (2010, 2013, 2018)
    - 6x NAIA National Tournament Appearances (2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018)
    - 1x Regional Champion (2007)
    - 2x ranked in final NAIA Coaches' poll (2013, 2014)
    - 9x finished among the top five in GPAC

Other Coaching Accomplishments:
    - 9 All-Americans
    - 29 1st team All-GPAC, 46 2nd team All-GPAC, 17 Gold Glove winners
    - 2 GPAC Pitchers of the Year
    - 2 GPAC Players of the Year
    - 82 Honorable Mention All-GPAC
    - 56 NAIA Scholar Athletes
    - 2 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
    - 11x NAIA Scholar Team
    - Program's all-time leader in wins
    - NAIA World Series Games Committee
    - NAIA All-American Committee; Selection Committee
    - NAIA Tournament Procedures Committee
    - Vice President of the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association
    - 6 Red Raiders played professionally
    - led three service trips to Romania and Moldova

updated June 2025

Wede at Northwestern: