EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire head baseball coach Patrick Reilly has announced his coaching staff for the 2024 season. Derek Baumgartner, Jeff Dykes, Bob Johnson and Logan Matson will be assistant coaches for the Blugolds.
Reilly's assistants bring plenty of high-level playing and coaching experience from around the state and beyond. Baumgartner will work with the Blugolds' catchers, Dykes will coach the pitchers, Johnson will work with the outfielders and Matson will coach infielders.
Derek Baumgartner
Baumgartner joins UW-Eau Claire fresh off a playing career at Winona State University, where he was a four-year starter prior to graduating in 2023. He was a first team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference catcher in 2023 after hitting .356 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs and a .426 on-base percentage. He was a second team All-NSIC catcher in 2021 and served as a team captain three times for the Warriors.
Baumgartner is from Almond, Wisconsin. He starred for the Almond-Bancroft baseball team, earning third team all-state recognition from the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association in 2017.
"After graduating from Winona State, I moved to the Eau Claire area for work," Baumgartner said. "When Coach Reilly approached me about helping him at UWEC, I thought it would be a great opportunity to stay in the game and help him start building a successful program."
Jeff Dykes
Dykes brings extensive experience in the pitching game to the Blugolds' pitching staff. He served as the pitching coach for Regis High School in Eau Claire in stints that totaled 13 years, helping the Ramblers win a pair of state championships. He developed several pitchers who went on to compete at the college level, including NCAA Division I. Dykes also recently served as a pitching coach for the Eau Claire American Legion 19U team that reached the Great Lakes Regional and was one of the final 32 teams competing in the nationwide playoffs.
Prior to his coaching days, Dykes starred for Whitnall High School, where he led the Falcons to a WIAA summer baseball state championship in 1991. He went on to pitch as a late-game closer at the Division II level with UW-Parkside. Post-college, Dykes pitched with the Eau Claire Cavaliers, where he posted a career ERA of 1.77 across four seasons. He set single-season and career save records with the Cavaliers.
In 2021, Dykes became a certified pitching instructor under the National Pitching Association (NPA) and Dr. Tom House. Dykes runs NPA clinics for elite high school talent through Eau Claire's Momentum Baseball Academy during the offseason, where many of his pitchers have gone on to successful college careers.
Dykes is married to his wife of 23 years, Jenny, and has 3 children: Devin (20), Cooper (19), and Ashlee (15). He served 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic before taking a job at CVTC instructing future firefighters/paramedics. In his free time he can found on his boat fishing or in the woods hunting.
Bob Johnson
Johnson is a well-known figure in the area's baseball scene, having served as the head coach at Eau Claire North High School for 17 years. Johnson guided the Huskies to WIAA Division 1 state championships in 2011 and 2019 and was named the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Spring Coach of the Year in 2011. He was inducted into the WBCA Hall of Fame in 2023. His .795 career winning percentage ranks among the best in the history of Wisconsin high school baseball.
In addition to the two state titles, Johnson's Huskies won nine Big Rivers Conference championships and reached the state tournament eight times. Johnson compiled a 307-79 record at North and was named the WBCA's District I Coach of the Year six times.
Johnson has spent 25-plus years in coaching, having also held posts at the JV and freshmen levels prior to taking over at North. He also coached football for 10 years.
Johnson grew up in Eagan, Minn., and graduated from Burnsville High School in 1986. He played baseball at Winona State University and graduated from there in 1992 before later attending graduate school at UW-Eau Claire. He currently teaches elementary physical education at Locust Lane Elementary School, a position he has held since 1992. He and his wife, Michelle, have three children.
"I retired from high school baseball in the summer of 2022. I knew there would be a day for new adventures but I figured that would happen in the future," Johnson said. "After meeting with Coach Reilly, I was very intrigued by the offer to become an assistant coach at UWEC and be a part of his vision to build and coach a quality baseball team. Ultimately, I love baseball, competing, and working alongside student athletes."
Logan Matson
Matson joins the Blugolds after wrapping up his playing career at UW-Stevens Point. He started all 52 games for the Pointers in 2022, a season in which they reached the final four of the NCAA Division III College World Series. The infielder helped the Pointers win the 2022 WIAC Tournament and the 2023 WIAC regular season championship. He was a career .292 hitter with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 58 RBIs for UW-Stevens Point.
Prior to joining the Pointers, Matson played for UW-Eau Claire in 2021 and Olivet Nazarene from 2019-20. He was a .278 hitter with 25 RBIs for the Blugolds in 2021.
After graduating from UW-Stevens Point, Matson served as an assistant coach for the Auburn DoubleDays in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League during the 2023 season.
Matson is from Neillsville, Wisconsin. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 2018.
In regard to rejoining the Blugolds, Matson said, "When you find an idea that you just can't stop thinking about, that's probably a good one to pursue."
