Chris Pfatenhauer

Two-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year Chris Pfatenhauer is in his fifth season as head coach of the Dixie State Baseball program. Since his arrival in summer of 2012, Pfatenhauer has led...

Two-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year Chris Pfatenhauer is in his fifth season as head coach of the Dixie State Baseball program. Since his arrival in summer of 2012, Pfatenhauer has led the Trailblazers to consecutive Pacific West Conference titles in 2014 and 2015, and four-straight trips (five-straight overall) to the NCAA West Regionals, including serving as the host institution in 2013. Pfatenhauer won his 100th-game at DSU in 2015 in a 2-1 victory over Cal Poly Pomona at the NCAA regionals, and has posted a 140-67 (.676) overall record, including a 99-37 (.728) record in PacWest play.

Last season 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. In addition, he was in the dugout for his 200th DSU game as head coach at Concordia (4/29/16), and also coached in his 300th-career game at Point Loma (4/8/16).

Pfatenhauer brings an extensive background in various levels of baseball, as well as teaching. Prior to his arrival at DSU, 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.

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.

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.) and at Glendale CC (Calif.). 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 two daughters - Cadence and Colbie. Pfatenhauer's oldest daughter, Dylan, is currently completing work on a bachelor's degree at Fresno Pacific University.