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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Marty Sutherland has been elevated to the position of associate head coach for the University of Iowa baseball program, head coach Rick Heller announced Monday. Sutherland is in his fifth season on Heller’s staff.
“Marty’s hard work and dedication have been a big reason for our successes the last four years,” said Heller. “He has done a tremendous job heading up our recruiting and with our player development on the field.
“Marty played for me at Northern Iowa and we have coached alongside one another for a decade. He has earned this promotion to associate head coach.”
During his four seasons in Iowa City, Sutherland has helped guide the Hawkeyes to 140 wins — the most in a four-year stretch in school history — two NCAA Regional appearances, the first Big Ten Tournament title in program history, and two Big Ten runner-up finishes.
Iowa has had five All-America, four all-region, and 18 All-Big Ten selections, and 15 players have had their names called in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft — the most in a four-year stretch in program history.
On the recruiting trail, Sutherland has helped Iowa become a player on the national recruiting scene. The Hawkeyes’ 2015 and 2016 recruiting classes were ranked among the best in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa’s 2015 class was tops in the league and 18th-best nationally, while the 2016 class was rated as the third-best in the conference.
Under Sutherland’s guidance, Jake Adams was the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year and Hawkeyes have been semifinalists for USA’s Golden Spikes Award, the Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Award, the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award, and the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
On the field, Iowa has won 30 or more games in each of Sutherland’s four seasons. The Hawkeyes won 41 games — the second-most in school history — during the 2015 season, one where Iowa finished as the Big Ten regular season runner-up, earned the first NCAA Regional appearance in 25 years, and won the first NCAA Tournament game since 1972.
The 2017 season was expected to be a rebuilding year, instead, the Hawkeyes earned their second NCAA Regional appearance in three seasons. Iowa won 39 games — the fifth-most in program history — claimed the first Big Ten Tournament title in program history, and earned an automatic bid into NCAA Regional play.
Sutherland, a former player and coach under Heller at Northern Iowa, was an assistant for the Panthers from 2003-09, helping lead the team to 154 victories over six seasons. He coached 12 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections and an MVC Newcomer and Player of the Year honoree.
The Cascade, Iowa, native earned his associate’s degree from Kirkwood Community College in July, 2000, and his bachelor’s degree from Northern Iowa in Dec., 2002.
