Utah Tech University Athletics

Tyler Malone is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Utah Tech baseball program. Coach Malone will oversee the development of the hitters and catchers.

In 2026, Coach Malone helped guide the Trailblazers to a 35-24 overall record, an 11-win turnaround from the season prior, and to a third place finish in their final season in the Western Athletic Conference. The 35 victories last season were also the program's most in its brief time as a Division I program. 

The 2026 season was a banner year for the Utah Tech offense as they 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). Ipson also helped guide 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 in infielders Kyle McDaniel, Ryan Kroepel, and catcher Ty Johnsen. While infielders Miller 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. 

Prior to joining the Utah Tech staff, Malone served as the Director of Player Development for Dallas Baptist University in 2025. He was also an assistant coach for the Lincoln Potters, a member of the Pacific Empire League in the summers of 2024 and 2025, where he worked with college players from some of the top programs throughout the country. 

Malone played collegiately at Oregon State for Head Coach Pat Casey from 2017-19. In 2017, he was part of a Beaver team that set numerous school and conference records, including the most wins in a single season (56-6). 

In 2018, Malone earned all-tournament team honors after he helped lead OSU to the NCAA Division I College World Series national championship, during which he .304 with three home runs and eight RBI over the Beavers’ eight games in Omaha.

Malone was selected in the 27^th round by the San Diego Padres in the 2019 June MLB Draft and experienced all minor league levels up to Triple-A as a catcher, outfielder, and first baseman. 

Following the end of his professional playing career in 2023, he decided to pursue his coaching career helping with the development of PXF Athletics in Arizona, while also being part of Nelson University’s 2024 inaugural season under Head Coach Josh Milner. 
 
Malone graduated with a Bachelor of Science History degree and a leadership minor in 2020 from Oregon State, and he is currently working on a Master of Leadership degree from DBU. A native of Roseville, Calif., Malone graduated from Woodcreek High School in 2016.