FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State head baseball coach Justin Wichert has announced the hiring of Brandon Applewhite as assistant coach.
"We are very excited to have Brandon, Madeline and their children join the Tiger baseball family," said Wichert. "He has a winning pedigree and a proven track record of success that will help our program immediately."
Applewhite transitioned to Hays after a four-year stint at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he served as the recruiting coordinator and offensive coach. He helped turn the Tritons into one of the GLVC's top offenses, culminated by a conference tournament championship and NCAA Midwest Regional appearance in 2026. It was UMSL's first conference title and NCAA berth in 23 years, with the Tritons going on to win their first NCAA postseason game in 30 years.
In his four years in the dugout, UMSL had one MLB draft pick (Dustin Hagens - 2026 - 15th rd - NYM), three other professional players (Trent Anderson, Mitch Bonczkowski and Eli Cartwright), two All-American selections, seven All-Region picks and 16 All-GLVC performers. The 2026 squad broke the school record with 557 hits while swiping 151 bases, 13th-most in Division II and their highest stolen base count in more than 40 years. Three of UMSL's four best home run totals were recorded in the last three years (2025 - 51, 2026 - 50, 2024 - 49). After inheriting a team that slugged .392, he helped lift that by nearly 80 points to .469 by 2025.
Prior to his time in St. Louis, Applewhite was a recruiting/placement coordinator and hitting coach at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa after a two-year term as the hitting and infield coach at Minot State University. In the summer of 2019, Applewhite was head coach for the Bulldogs in the Puerto Rico Collegiate Summer League. He began his career as an assistant coach for the hitters and infielders at Schreiner University.
Applewhite played collegiately for one year (2013) at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, one year (2014) at Cedar Valley College and two years (2015-16) at LeTourneau University.
A native of Rhome, Texas, Applewhite graduated from LeTourneau University with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and earned a master's degree in sport management at Minot State University.