Fitzgerald named Big 12's best

For the first time in Kansas baseball history, the Jayhawks officially have the Big 12’s best skipper.

Third-year coach Dan Fitzgerald, a contender for national coach of the year, on Tuesday was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year after leading the Jayhawks to a 42-14 regular season regular, including a 20-10 mark in Big 12 play.

Dave Bingham, who earned Big Eight and ABCA Coach of the Year honors in 1993, is the only other KU baseball coach to earn such recognition.

The Jayhawks’ 42 total wins and 20 conference victories in 2025 were the most of any team in the conference.

This season, the Jayhawks set school records for regular season wins (42), Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (7), conference series sweeps (5), road wins (20) and home runs (98).

KU is one of 10 Division I teams with at least 42 wins this season, including one of five Power Four teams with 42 or more wins. KU is also one of six Division I programs with at least 20 road wins, which includes one of only two Power Four teams. And Fitzgerald, who has built his KU program with a heavy dose of junior college transfers, proved this season that consistency pays.

While the roster has flipped over considerably during each of his three seasons at KU, Fitzgerald has not budged on two requirements.

To play for him at Kansas, you have to be an unbelievable teammate and you have to be willing to work incredibly hard.

No matter who you’re talking about, from first team all-Big 12 selection Brady Ballinger and power-hitting menance Jackson Hauge, who earned a second team nod, to role players and unsung heroes like reserve outfielder Mike Koszewski and closer Alex Breckheimer, the Jayhawks have made Fitzgerald’s approach to the game their own, year after year.

Earlier this week, he called this special season three years in the making, and he noted that none of it would’ve been possible without the contributions of his staff and buy-in from his players.

"Individual awards always point to the awesome accomplishments of a team,” Fitzgerald said in a news release announcing the coaching honor. “My assistants are elite baseball coaches but even better men. I'm very proud of the work we have all done together."

Before coming to KU following a 1-year stint as a top assistant at LSU, Fitzgerald coached for 9 seasons at Dallas Baptist and five at Des Moines Area Community College before that.

It was at DMACC where he last won coach of the year honors.

As for the accolades Fitzgerald’s players received, designated hitter Dariel Osoria (2nd team), No. 2 starter Cooper Moore (2nd team) and infielder Brady Counsell (honorable mention) joined Ballinger and Hauge on the postseason teams.

“Brady is very deserving of the award,” Fitzgerald said of Ballinger’s first-team nod. “He is one of the top hitters in the country. More impressively, he is one of the best teammates in the country. He's a really special Jayhawk. Moore, Hauge, Counsell and Osoria all had great years and very much earned this recognition. They performed at a really high level and are huge pieces to this year's success.”