Rick Heller has been a model of consistency for the Iowa Baseball program since 2013, but he has struggled to maintain a key part of his staff over the past six seasons.
It was a season full of milestones for Heller as he notched career win No. 1,100 and guided the program to its 11th straight Big Ten Tournament appearance, which is the second-longest active streak in the conference. Heller's continued success with the program has been amazing to witness, but for some reason, he can't keep a pitching coach.
Pitching coach Wes Obermueller won't return to the program in 2027
Iowa has had a never-ending coaching carousel at pitching coach over the past six seasons, and after finally promoting Wes Obermueller from a player development coach to pitching coach before the 2026 season, that carousel finally halted for a few seasons. Now, for the fourth time in six seasons, Heller is searching for a new pitching coach.
NEW: Iowa Baseball pitching coach Wes Obermueller will not return for the 2027 season
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) July 8, 2026
- HawkeyeReport has confirmed, first reported by D1Baseball's Kendall Rogers
- Iowa searching for their fourth pitching coach in six seasons
MORE⚾️: https://t.co/1iM0NXTumV pic.twitter.com/MqQRqyMHlF
According to D1Baseball's Kendall Rogers and confirmed by Hawkeye Report's Kyle Huesmann, Obermueller won't return to the program in 2027. Obermueller, the father of former Hawkeye left-handed pitcher and second-round MLB draft pick, Cade Obermueller, was added to the coaching staff before the 2025 season as a player development coach who worked closely with the pitching staff. The pitching staff had incredible success during Obermueller's first season, with starters Aaron Savary, Cade Obermueller, and Reece Beuter earning All-Big Ten selections.
Cade Obermueller was also named a Perfect Game All-American before becoming a second-round MLB draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies.
During a magical 2025 season for the pitching staff, the unit ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in hits allowed per nine innings (7.26), No. 11 in strikeouts per nine innings (10.8), and No. 16 in team ERA (4.16). After all of their success, pitching coach Sean Kenny left for the Arizona Wildcats baseball program, and Obermueller was promoted. To say it all fell apart in his first season in charge might be an understatement.
A major step back for the pitching staff could be behind Obermueller's exit
Obermueller wasn't officially "fired," as every report suggests he simply "won't return," but Iowa's pitching staff took a major step back last season, which could have easily led to his decision. The pitching staff ranked No. 13 in the NCAA in hit batters (110), No. 93 in hits allowed per nine innings (9.22), No. 121 in strikeouts per nine innings (8.4), and No. 170 in team ERA (6.16).
The squad was propped up by its stellar offensive output all season, but a lack of consistent pitching led to a quick exit in the Big Ten Tournament, ultimately ending their season. It is sad that the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native couldn't last longer than one season in his new position, but hopefully, he will catch on with a different program. For now, Heller has the difficult task of finding yet another pitching coach and getting the pitching back to where it needs to be.
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