Former big leaguer Wes Obermueller takes over pitching coach duties for Iowa Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY — He’d helped out tutoring his four kids and their youth teams over the years. But this was next level.

Next couple of levels.

University of Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller approached Wes Obermueller late summer of 2024 about joining his staff. Heller told the former Hawkeye and major league pitcher that he’d be at the games anyway considering Obermueller’s oldest son Cade was a pitcher on the team.

So why not go to every one, run the bullpen and mentor guys as director of player development? Obermueller bit, which has led to him being Iowa’s pitching coach this 2025-26 season.

The Hawkeyes begin their late winter/spring journey this weekend with three games in the MLB Desert Invitational in suburban Phoenix. Iowa plays Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Kansas State, Saturday night at 7 against Air Force and Sunday afternoon at 2 against Northeastern.

The first and third games will be televised by MLB Network.

"I've always been a Hawkeye, I've always followed the program,“ Obermueller said. ”I just didn't realize how much I missed the game and how much I fell back in love with it and just how much I have held on to that (after last season). Hopefully I can help these guys further their careers, be the best Division I pitcher they can be. And if they get the opportunity to go the next level, help set them up for success."

Obermueller prepped at Vinton-Shellsburg and went to Kirkwood Community College before finding his way to Iowa City. He was a second-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 1999 MLB Draft and pitched 10 seasons professionally, including a stint in Japan.

He spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues, throwing in 80 games, 48 starts, for the Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Florida Marlins. Ironically, Cade Obermueller ended up being a second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies last summer.

Wes Obermueller takes over for Sean Kenny, who left just before Christmas to take the pitching coach position at the University of Arizona.

"Coach Heller has given a lot of coaches that have come through here opportunities,“ Obermueller said. ”He doesn't withhold them, which you expect that as a head coach, when there are other opportunities. It doesn't mean that he doesn't want you, but he allowed (Kenny) to go out and interview for that. And when I heard that, that there was a chance that this could happen, I went in to Coach and said 'You know, I really like these kids. I really like this level. I've got great experience for these kids, just through my experiences playing 10 years professionally, being around the world, getting the opportunity to play.

"I told him I really have conviction applying for this job. And you know, right place, right time, right opportunity.“

Obermueller takes over running a pitching staff that is very inexperienced. Iowa needs to replace 434 innings and 54 of its 56 starts from last season.

Sophomore Tyler Guerin is expected to be Friday’s starter, and he threw all of 16 2/3 innings a season ago. Rapid development of pitchers will be integral in whether Iowa has a good season.

“Coach Kenny, I learned a lot from him,” Obermueller said. “I think he ranks as one of the top three pitching coaches, top two pitching coaches that I've ever been around. He's really, really, really good, so I have a lot of respect for Coach Kenny. Just picking his brain and just watching how he works, and just trying to apply what he established here from last year into the fall (is important).

“I tried to not throw too big of a curveball at the kids, even though, obviously, a change of coach throws a huge curveball at the kids. No matter who (Heller) hired, I wanted to stay on as the player development coach or the volunteer assistant, just to help mesh that bridge, that gap just for the kids.”

Obermueller said he likes the raw ability of his staff.

"There are some really lively arms. It's just a matter of just keep building these kids' confidence,“ he said. ”Just attack the zone, trust their stuff, and that's what they're going to hear pretty much all year. We'll fine tune some mechanical things when they arise, but for the most part, it's just between the ears on the attack with their stuff, just trusting them, going after contact.“

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