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Chris Pfatenhauer


What former players say about Coach Pfatenhauer - PDF

Two-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year Chris Pfatenhauer is in his 15th season as head coach of the Utah Tech Baseball program. During his tenure as Trailblazer skipper, Pfatenhauer has posted a 386-329-1 overall record (.540) and led the program to consecutive Pacific West Conference titles in 2014 and 2015, five-straight trips (six-straight overall) to the NCAA West Regionals from 2013-17, and has had his teams play to a .500 or better record in nine seasons.

In 2026, Coach Pfatenhauer led Utah Tech to a 35-24 overall record, an 11-win turnaround from the season before, and a dominant 17-9 record at Bruce Hurst Field. The 35 wins were also the program's most since transitioning to NCAA Division I play in 2021, and tied for the fourth most in Utah Tech NCAA era overall. 

The Trailblazers also finished third in Western Athletic Conference play and advanced to the one-loss bracket semifinal at the 2026 WAC Tournament. 

The 2026 season was a banner year for the Utah Tech offense as the unit led the WAC in OBP (.429), HBP (107), and walks (338). While finishing second in the conference in overall batting average (.309). The Trailblazer bats also finished top 25 in the country in multiple categories including: runs per game (7.7/T#25), batting average (.309/#19), total hits (618/#12), OBP (.429/#8), and walks (338/#7). In addition, first baseman Miller Durham to the WAC batting title in 2026 as Durham posted a .406 average. That also placed Durham in the NCAA’s top 10 (#8) in hitting and top 50 (#41) in overall on-base percentage (.490). 

The postseason honors came rolling in for the Trailblazers in the summer of 2026 as the team had 5 All-WAC selections including first-teamers Kyle McDaniel, Ryan Kroepel, and Ty Johnsen. Meanwhile Durham and Petey Soto Jr. were selected to the All-WAC second team. Utah Tech was the only team in the conference to have their entire infield selected to the all-conference team. 

Kroepel, who served as the team’s primary third baseman and closer in 2026 was named as one of the nation’s five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. In addition, Kroepel was named NCBWA District 8 Player of the Year, and earned NCBWA Third Team and College Baseball Foundation All-America honors. 

Kroepel also rewrote the program’s record book in walks (51) and HBP’s (17) on offense, while leading the conference in saves (10) on the mound. 

Soto Jr. was also selected to the WAC All-Defensive team as the shortstop. The Trailblazer middle infielders finished first and second in the WAC for defensive assists (McDaniel/163, Soto/158). 

In 2025, Coach Pfatenhauer guided the Trailblazers to a 24-31 overall record, including a 17-15 home mark, which was a 10-win turnaround from a year prior. In addition, Utah Tech made its first WAC postseason tournament appearance and collected the program's first NCAA Division I-era postseason victory in a 6-5, 11-inning triumph over California Baptist in the WAC tourney opening round game. 

Pfatenhauer led Utah Tech to a 22-33 overall record and a fourth place finish in Western Athletic Conference play (14-16) in 2022, highlighted by victories over Arizona State, BYU and Utah. In addition, he recorded his 300th victory at Utah Tech in the Blazers' 14-8 series clinching road victory over California Baptist in the 2022 season finale (5/21/22). 

Pfatenhauer guided the program into its first season of NCAA Division I play in 2021, which saw the Blazers win 13 of their final 19 games to finish with a 24-32 overall record, highlighted by an 11-9 triumph at then-No. 6 Arizona in the penultimate game of the season (5/28). The Trailblazers also posted a 21-15 mark in its debut season of Western Athletic Conference play, which was good for fourth place in the league standings.

In the abbreviated 2020 season, Pfatenhauer led the Trailblazers to a 15-3 overall record (4-0 in RMAC play) and had his team ranked in the top-25 nationally in two polls before the season came to an abrupt halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the program's debut in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2019, Pfatenhauer guided the team to a 35-19 overall record, which included a third place finish (23-13) in conference play and a semifinal finish at the 2019 RMAC Tournament.

In 2017, Pfatenhauer led the Trailblazers to a 39-14-1 overall record and a runner-up finish in the PacWest standings. In addition, the Trailblazers advanced to the NCAA West Regional championship game. In 2016, Pfatenhauer led the Trailblazers to an NCAA-era program-best 40 victories (40-14), including a program record 10-0 start to open the year.

While here at Utah Tech, Pfatenhauer has coached twelve players who have been drafted or signed professional contracts, including three players who still play professionally - Dylan File (drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2017 Draft [21st round] - currently AAA Detriot), Logan Porter (AAA-Los Angeles Angels), Jayden Murray (drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2019 Draft [23rd round] - currently AAA-Chicago Cubs).

Prior to his arrival at Utah Tech, he spent three season as assistant coach at the University of Nevada, Reno under longtime head coach Gary Powers. Pfatenhauer worked primarily with the infielders, served as recruiting coordinator, and was a base coach. In addition, Pfatenhauer served as an adjunct professor and liaison for the UNR School of Medicine and Sports Medicine program. He coached and/or recruited nine players that signed professional contracts, highlighted by 2013 first round pick, Brady Shipley. Nevada posted a combined win total of 92-78-1, as well as a WAC conference championship in 2012.

For two seasons in 2008-09, Pfatenhauer was an assistant coach at Chico State (Calif.), where he worked with the Wildcat hitters, infielders and taught base running. He also served as recruiting coordinator and assisted in all aspects of the baseball program. During his time at Chico, the Wildcats played to a 77-38 record and were ranked as high as second-nationally. Defensively Chico State finished in the nation's top-15 both years and had a Wildcat infielder named to the National Rawlings Gold Glove team, while the 2009 CSU club ranked first in 15 offensive categories.

Prior to his time at Chico State, Pfatenhauer spent three seasons at the College of the Ozarks (Missouri), the last two as head coach. In his three years, the Bobcats posted a record of 88-74, while the 2005 team made the school's first playoff appearances in 20 years, and the 2006 club reached a national ranking of 17th, the highest in the program's history.

Was the Head Coach of the Spring Valley American Legion program in Las Vegas, NV. Was named the Southern Nevada American Legion Coach of the Year in 2007. Coached five division one commits, including Tyler Anderson (current Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher, 2022 NL All Star).

From 2001-04, he was the head baseball coach and taught physical education at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, where he led the Crusaders to a 97-23 record, a pair of state titles and three Southern Nevada Championships. Pfatenhauer also had 12 players go on to play collegiate baseball. He was a two-time AA State Baseball Coach of the Year (2003-04) and garnered AA Southern Nevada Coach of the Year honors three times. During this tenure at FLHS, Pfatenhauer also coached the Las Vegas Metro Stars, a scout team for the best players in the area.

Pfatenhauer is credited for starting the baseball program at the College of Southern Nevada as a club team in the summer of 1998. He led the efforts to raise the entire operation budget to field a competitive baseball team. In addition he spent time as an assistant coach at Treasure Valley Community College (Ore.), College of the Canyons (Calif.) and at Glendale CC (Calif.). Coached four drafted players during those three years, including 2006 NL Batting Champion, Freddy Sanchez. He also served as an assistant coach with the Durango (Nev.) American Legion program and as an instructor at the Las Vegas Baseball Academy.

Coach Pfatenhauer is a 2000 graduate of UNLV, where received a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn a Master's degree in Education from Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in 2007. He and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of three daughters - Dylan, Cadence and Colbie.

 
YEAR                WIN LOSS TIES PCT.
2013 32 17 0 .653
2014 36 17 0 .679
2015 32 19 0 .627
2016 40 14 0 .740
2017 39 14 1 .731
2018 25 25 0 .500
2019 35 19 0 .648
2020
* - Season cut short by COVID-19 pandemic		 15 3 0 .833
2021
(1st D-I season)		 24 32 0 .428
2022 22 33 0 .400
2023 13 39 0 .250
2024 14 42 0 .250
2025 24 31 0 .436
2026 35 24 0 .593
OVERALL 386 329 1 .540

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