Blake McFadden begins his second season as the pitching coach/graduate assistant for the Griffons.
McFadden put together one of the best pitching staffs in the MIAA during his first season that propelled Missouri Western to clinch the second seed in the MIAA tournament and qualify for the NCAA Central regional. MWSU had two starting pitchers in the top three and three starters in the top ten for ERA in the MIAA, the only program in 2016 to do so. As an entire staff, the Griffons were third in the MIAA for ERA. He also coached four pitchers to All-MIAA honors led by first team selection Richie Peoples.
Prior to Missouri Western, McFadden pitched for Kansas State University and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. He pitched a key role for the Wildcats in their successful 2013 season as they won the Big 12 conference title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. During that season, McFadden earned Big 12 All-Rookie team with a 6-3 record and threw approximately 60 inninngs as the Sunday starter.
In the summer of 2015, he was the pitching coach for the St. Joseph Mustangs in the college wooden bat summer league team and help guide the Mustangs to the league title.
A native of St. Joseph, Missouri, McFadden was one of the most decorated high school baseball players in Missouri State High School Activities Association history. In 2012, he was MSHSAA Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year, Louisville Slugger All-American and draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.
McFadden graduated from Kansas State with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology with a major in Athletic Training and minor of Kinesiology. He will be working towards a masters in Sport and Fitness Management at MWSU.
