PELLA—New Central College head baseball coach Casey Klunder added another assistant coach to his staff this fall, hiring Ryley Kozisek to coach the infielders.
           
Kozisek, a 2021 University of Iowa graduate, joined the program in September. He spent two years as a student manager for the University of Iowa baseball team and worked with the infielders at Iowa under coach Rick Heller.
           
Prior to Iowa, he spent two seasons as a student assistant coach for North Iowa Area Community College
           
"I know Ryley's high school coach (Shawn Schlechter) really well and he came highly recommended," Klunder said. "We're excited about his experiences at NIACC and with the University of Iowa."
           
Also a former high school baseball coach, Kozisek served as head coach at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School in 2021 after serving as an assistant from 2018-20, coaching the junior varsity in 2020 and the freshmen in 2018-19. In 2021, he piloted the Cardinals to their first conference title in five seasons, posting a 21-5 record. He was named the Top of Iowa Conference West Coach of the Year.
           
Klunder was named head coach August 3 after a highly successful 16-year run as coach at Waverly-Shell Rock High School. He guided the Go-Hawks to their fourth state tournament appearance last month.
           
The Dutch are coming off a 14-27 season in a pandemic-altered campaign but were 24-16 in 2019 and captured the 2012 conference championship. The college recently completed an $18-million renovation and addition to P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.