Indiana University Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- jeffmerc@iu.edu
- Phone:
- (812) 855-9155
Indiana Records and Accolades:
Career Record at Indiana: 230-180-1 (Eight Seasons)
Big Ten Championships: 1 (2019)
Big Ten Tournament Appearances: 5 (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) (tournament not contested in 2020 or 2021)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 3 (2019, 2023, 2024)
Players Selected in the MLB Draft: 30
All-Americans: 4
Head coach Jeff Mercer wrapped up his eighth season as the skipper of Indiana following the 2026 season. Mercer continues to build the program through high-level high school talent and deliberate evaluation of the transfer portal. The player development within the program has also shown in his first seven seasons with a Big Ten-best 30 unique student-athletes drafted over that span.
He has continued a tradition of excellence in his first eight years on the job. He has led the Hoosiers to 109 Big Ten victories, 30 unique MLB Draft Picks, five Big Ten Tournaments, three NCAA Regional appearances and a Big Ten regular season championships (2019).
Mercer’s start to his IU coaching career saw him join coaching legend Everett Dean as the only IU coaches to win a Big Ten title in their first year as a head coach, a trip to the NCAA Louisville Regional, a season cut short due to a global pandemic and the first-ever conference-only slate in Big Ten history. After bringing in a large crop of freshmen in 2022, Mercer delivered back-to-back tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024.
Mercer brought a winning background to Indiana. In his time as a head coach (2017-18) and an assistant coach (2014-16) at Wright State, he was a part of three Horizon League regular season and conference tournament titles, three NCAA appearances, and a combined record of 199-92 (.684). The Raiders won four NCAA tournament games over that span, having reached the regional finals twice.
Indiana Era (2019-Present)
2026: 23-31 (9-21)
After losing a pair of All-Americans to the draft, IU played an extremely young roster during the 2026 season. That was met with some ups and downs, including a 1-8 record in one-run contests. The top eight hitters in Mercer’s lineup were either freshmen or sophomores. All five players that hit above .300 (in over 100 at-bats) were members of IU’s deep sophomore class.
The Hoosiers battled their way through a difficult schedule to a 23-31 record. IU played 10 games against NCAA Tournament teams including a three-game series at College World Series participant North Carolina to open the year. IU won four of its six home series including three of five during conference action. The year was capped off with a big weekend win over Illinois.
Outfielder Hogan Denny, first baseman Jake Hanley and outfielder Caleb Koskie became a three-headed monster in the middle of IU’s lineup during their sophomore campaigns. Each of the three players hit .335 or better while combining for 200 hits, 34 home runs, 43 doubles and 134 RBIs. Hanley became the first IU player to start every game of his freshman and sophomore seasons since at least 2005.
Denny led the charge in postseason honors for the Hoosiers. He was named a First Team All-Big Ten outfielder and was an ABCA Second Team All-Midwest region pick. Hanley earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and was joined by starting pitcher Tony Neubeck on the conference’s third team. Denny is the fourth outfielder in the Mercer era to be named a First Team All-Big Ten choice.
While pitching depth was tested at times, Neubeck and Brayton Thomas became reliable starters on the mound for Mercer’s squad. The two players started a game in every weekend series and combined to toss 125.2 innings on the year. Collectively, the two southpaws had 130 strikeouts and allowed just 64 earned runs on the season. Ivan Mastalski (3.89 ERA), Gavin Seebold (4.67 ERA) and Jacob Vogel (4.84 ERA) were reliable arms.
Along the way, Mercer picked up his 300th career win as a head coach in under 10 full seasons managing a college baseball team. His team hit 66 home runs and produced 92 doubles at the plate. Six different players, all underclassmen, racked up at least 50 base knocks.
2025: 32-24 (16-14), Big Ten Tournament
In the beginning of a new era of the Big Ten, Mercer provided another 30-win season and a top-70 RPI during the 2025 campaign. After getting hit heavy by the MLB Draft the year before, the Hoosiers counted on the services of several freshmen to contribute right away.
First baseman Jake Hanley – the second Big Ten Freshman of the Year coached by Mercer – was a unanimous Freshman All-American and spent most of the year batting cleanup. Cooper Malamazian and Will Moore were each All-Big Ten Freshman Team selections while Hogan Denny also racked up 40 hits on the year. Mercer, who coaches IU’s first baseman, helped turn Hanley into a national gold glove finalist at the position.
The highlight of the Mercer era was the play of All-American outfielder Devin Taylor. The Cincinnati, Ohio native wrapped up his college career in 2025 by breaking the program’s all-time home run record (54). He racked up 229 career hits and 179 career RBIs. He helped IU to over 100 wins in his three seasons with two trips to the NCAA Tournament and four Big Ten Tournament victories.
He and redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson combined to make a formidable duo in the middle of IU’s lineup. The two players collected 37 home runs and recorded over 130 RBIs for the Hoosiers. Each player was a First Team All-Big Ten selection and earned at least one All-American honor.
Four IU players, and two high school signees, were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. All four IU players were taken before the end of the 11th round. Taylor, who left IU as one of the best players in program history, became Mercer’s highest-drafted player ever when he was taken in the second round (2-48) by the Athletics.
Dickerson, and veteran pitchers Cole Gilley and Ben Grable, all transferred to IU in the offseason and left their time in Bloomington by being picked in the MLB Draft. Dickerson was a fifth-round pick by the Mariners while Gilley and Grable were selected in the 10th and 11th rounds respectively by the Phillies and Yankees.
2024: 33-26-1 (15-9), Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, NCAA Knoxville Regional
Despite losing several talented players for the season, Mercer helped guide his young team through a rough month of March and into the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season. IU won 33 games on the season – 15 in Big Ten play – including a trio of top-25 non-conference victories.
IU produced one of the best offensive seasons in program history. The Hoosiers led the Big Ten in hits (625), RBIs (451), total bases (1,030), runs (482) and doubles (140). The Hoosiers hit 83 home runs, good for second in the conference. Seven different IU players were named to All-Big Ten teams.
Outfielder Devin Taylor (First Team All-Big Ten) and shortstop Tyler Cerny (Third Team All-Big Ten) became an outstanding duo at the plate, combining for 147 hits, 129 runs, 30 home runs, 114 RBIs and 35 doubles. Cerny, and third baseman Josh Pyne, played every single game of the season on the left side of the infield.
Mercer and the Hoosiers advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament before falling to Nebraska in a pair of games on Saturday in Omaha. In the second round against Ohio State, IU compiled 14 runs to match a single-game record in a conference tournament game.
For the second-straight year, IU won its opening contest in the NCAA Tournament. Behind a 17-hit day from the offense, the Hoosiers compiled 10 runs in the victory. Ty Bothwell and Drew Buhr combined to throw all nine innings. It was Mercer’s fourth NCAA Tournament win with the Hoosiers.
2023: 43-20 (16-8), Big Ten Tournament, NCAA Lexington Regional Final
Mercer returned the Hoosiers to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 with 43 wins overall and a second-place finish in the Big Ten conference. IU made the regional final for the first time under Mercer, advancing to the championship game of the Lexington Regional.
IU’s 43 wins were the most since 2013 and tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history. The Hoosiers had the highest RPI (31) and the most Quad 1 wins (10) in the Big Ten and won a record 26 games at Bart Kaufman Field.
Devin Taylor was named IU’s third Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining Alex Dickerson (2008) and Sam Travis (2012) while becoming just the third Hoosier to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman. Taylor earned Freshman All-American honors alongside pitchers Craig Yoho and Braydon Risedorph, marking the second-straight season the Hoosiers put three players on the Freshman All-American team.
In his first season with the program, Luke Sinnard broke the single-season strikeout record with 109 as the team finished with 593 overall, the second most by a team in school history. The Hoosiers had eight All-Big Ten selections and four ABCA All-Region honors. Taylor earned three Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards which is tied for fifth in conference history.
2022: 27-32 (10-14), Big Ten Tournament Semifinals
In 2022, the freshman trio of Carter Mathison, Josh Pyne and Brock Tibbitts each earned Freshman All-America honors, while the trio was joined by Evan Goforth on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. The freshman home run record was toppled by Mathison at 19 home runs, which raced past Alex Dickerson’s mark (14) from 2009. That total ranked third among Division I freshmen and his 58 RBIs were eighth among rookies nationally.
Catcher Matthew Ellis – a junior college transfer – was among the veterans to impact the 2022 season with his 18 home runs ranking No. 2 on the team. Ellis was a third-team All-Big Ten selection at seasons end. Pitcher Jack Perkins made the most of his one year in Bloomington with 15 starts and 91 strikeouts, before the Oakland Athletics made him the organization’s fifth-round pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Pitchers Bradley Brehmer and Reese Sharp also hear their names called in the draft, both by the Baltimore Orioles. Brehmer was the 12th round selection and Sharp was the taken in the 20th round of the event.
2021: 26-18 (26-18), No Big Ten Tournament Contested
The conference-only slate of 2021 produced just the second 20-plus win Big Ten effort in program history (2014) and a school-record 26 wins against B1G opponents. Twice during the season, the Hoosiers won eight of nine games, including eight straight games after dropping the season opener. Grant Richardson was a First Team All-Big Ten pick, while Gabe Bierman (Second Team), McCade Brown (Second Team) and Cole Barr (Third Team) also earned all-conference honors.
In the Major League Baseball Draft, the Hoosiers saw its three weekend starting pitchers, closer and top two RBI producers selected. With four picks in the first 10 rounds, the 2021 edition marked the second time in program history that four Hoosiers were taken in the top 10 rounds (2009).
2020: 9-6, Season Canceled Due to COVID-19
In the shortened 2020 season, Mercer led the Hoosiers to a 9-6 record overall. Indiana recorded three road victories over ranked teams, beating No. 11 LSU, No. 30 South Alabama, and No. 17 East Carolina. IU also defeated in-state rival Purdue, 17-2, in seven innings.
Individually, Richardson posted a .424 batting average with three doubles, two triples, five home runs, 17 RBI and 21 runs scored over 15 games. The sophomore led the Big Ten in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases. He finished among the top 20 nationally in runs per game (No. 5), total bases (No. 11), slugging percentage (No. 12) and RBIs (No. 19).
2019: 37-23 (17-7), Big Ten Tournament, Big Ten Regular Season Champions, NCAA Louisville Regional
In his first season as head coach, Mercer led the Hoosiers to the 2019 Big Ten regular season title and earned Big Ten Coach of the Year. The conference title was the seventh in program history for IU and the first since 2014.
The Bargersville, Indiana, native became the first Big Ten head coach since 1982 (John Anderson, Minnesota) to win a regular season conference title in their first season as the skipper. He became just the second coach in IU history – any sport, men’s or women’s – to win an outright Big Ten championship in his or her first year. Everett Dean (1924-25) did it in baseball in his first year at the helm.
Indiana earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Louisville Regional and finished the season with an overall record of 37-23 and a Big Ten mark of 17-7. A school-record 10 Hoosiers were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, led by outfield Matt Gorski. The highest drafted Hoosier since Kyle Schwarber (No. 4 overall) in 2014, Gorski was picked in the second round (57th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pitcher Andrew Saalfrank was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten first team along with utility player Matt Lloyd. Scotty Bradley, Cole Barr and Gorski each made the second team. Elijah Dunham rounded out the all-conference honors with a third-team selection.
Wright State Era (2014-18)
The first former student-athlete to be named head coach of the baseball program, Mercer led Wright State for two seasons and amassed 77 victories. In his two seasons at the helm, WSU won nearly 70 percent of its games and averaged 38.5 wins per season. The 2018 Horizon League Coach of the Year, the Raiders won the regular season and conference tournament title in the 2018 to earn a spot in the NCAA Stanford Regional. In 2017, Mercer’s squad earned the programs first-ever national ranking.
The 2018 Horizon League champions, Wright State won eight of its last 10 games and 15 of its last 19 to close the season. The Raiders grabbed the tournament title with three-straight wins and outscored opponents 32-11 during the run. With a 39-17 overall record and a 22-6 league mark, WSU ranked No. 8 in the country in scoring (7.8 rpg) and stolen bases (110) and was No. 21 in on-base percentage (.394). The Raiders’ .979 fielding percentage was No. 10 nationally.
Wright State was led by Horizon League Player of the Year Gabe Snyder, who paced the conference in home runs (15) and RBI (73), and was second in batting average (.359), missing the league’s Triple Crown by one batting average point. Snyder was one of 11 Raiders who earned all-league honors, including five first team honorees (Snyder, Matt Morrow, Chase Slone, Peyton Burdkick and Ryan Weiss), four second teamers (Seth Gray, JD Orr, Zane Harris and Derek Hendrixson) and two named to the freshman team (Harris and Quincy Hamilton).
Wright State saw three players drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, each taken in the first 21 rounds, led by Weiss in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks (129th overall). Caleb Sampen (20th round) was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Snyder (21st round) went to the Minnesota Twins.
Known for his strength as a recruiter, Mercer and his staff helped Wright State compiled its first-ever top 100 ranked recruiting class. The 2018 signing class was ranked 87th nationally. WSU received its first-ever top 25 ranking in 2017 and finished the year at 38-21 and 21-9 in league action. Mercer’s aggressiveness in the run game resulted in Wright State ranking No. 2 nationally with 130 stolen bases.
Weiss was selected as the 2017 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and first-team all-league along with Morrow. Pitcher Danny Sexton was named a second-team All-Horizon League along with Hendrixson and Gray. Both Weiss earned Freshman All-American and second-team ABCA All-Midwest selection.
Mercer, who was a two-time All-Horizon League honoree in 2008 and 2009, returned to the Raiders as an assistant coach in 2013 and promptly helped WSU set a then-school record for wins (43) in 2015. The Raiders followed that up with a program-record 46 victories.
He assisted then-head coach Greg Lovelady, who is now the head coach at UCF, and coached six players that were taken in the MLB Draft, including five in 2016. During Mercer’s three years as an assistant, the Raiders had 30 All-Horizon League honorees, two Horizon League regular season and tournament titles and two NCAA appearances.
The program’s recruiting coordinator, Mercer brought in a wealth of talent to one of the premier mid-major programs in the country. He also excelled in his role as hitting coach, with 47 home runs in 2016, its most in a season since 2009
Early Coaching Career (2010-13)
Prior to the return to his alma mater, Mercer spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Western Kentucky University (2012-13). While with the Hilltoppers, he worked with pitchers and outfielders and was also instrumental in the development and organization of the program’s camps.
His first Division I experience came at the University of Michigan as the volunteer assistant coach in 2011. During his time with the Wolverines, he worked with the catchers and outfielders.
Before his arrival in Ann Arbor, Mercer spent the 2010 season as the graduate assistant coach at Ohio Northern University where he was in charge of the infielders and hitters and was the recruiting coordinator.
Playing & Personal
As a student-athlete, Mercer began his career at the University of Dayton before transferring to Wright State. He was a two-time First Team All-Horizon League honoree at first base and was named a Third Team All-American in 2009 after hitting .357 with 26 doubles and 74 RBI. The Horizon League Player of the Year in 2009, he tied the WSU single season records for RBIs, doubles, games played, and games started to help the Raiders to the NCAA Fort Worth Regional.
Mercer earned a degree in organizational leadership from Wright State in 2009. Mercer’s father, Jeff Sr., served as an IU baseball assistant coach from 1988 to 1989 and helped found the noted Indiana Bulls baseball organization.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have one son, Grady, and one daughter, Grace.
