TicketsKyle Sprague joined the University of Cincinnati baseball staff in the summer of 2017.
His work on offense came through the loudest during the team's historic 2019 season when the Bearcats' bats went on a torrential pace during the postseason. During the 4-0 AAC Tournament run, UC broke the tournament records for runs (51), RBI (47) and hits (60). Seven homeruns and four in the championship game were also AAC Tournament records. The 22-5 title win over UConn was the largest margin of victory ever in the tournament while they tied for the most number of hits in a game. Eleven different players got a hit during the 4-0 tournament week. All six all-tournament honorees were offensive players with slugger AJ Bumpass named tournament MVP.
Sprague came to UC after two seasons on Head Coach Scott Googins’ staff at Xavier University as the volunteer assistant coach. Sprague directed XU’s camps, assisted in all facets of the program and coached first base during games.
“Kyle has been with me the past two years and is a great addition to our staff here at UC,” Googins said. “He brings a lot to the table - he does an unbelievable job with developing infielders and is on the cutting edge with hitters. He's a young up-and-coming coach who's very energetic and passionate about what he does.”
During his two seasons at Xavier, the Musketeers won a BIG EAST Conference regular season championship (2016), two-straight league tournament championships (2016 & 17) and played in consecutive regional finals in the NCAA Championship (2016 & 17).
Sprague worked with hitters and infielders and assisted with outfielders at Xavier. The Musketeers set a school record with a .977 fielding percentage in 2017 after tying the previous record with a .974 mark in 2016.
He mentored six Xavier players who went on to play professionally, including:
2017 second-round selection Zac Lowther, eighth-rounder Rylan Bannon, 18th-round pick Garrett Schilling and 22nd-round choice Greg Jacknewitz. Dan Rizzie and Andre Jernigan were 13th and 14th-round picks in 2016.
Sprague has previous experience in the American Athletic Conference having served as a volunteer assistant coach at UCF in 2015.
At UCF, Sprague was in charge of the Knights' outfielders and coached first base during games, while aiding the development of the team's infielders and catchers along with hitting responsibilities. The Knights achieved a program-best No. 6 ranking during the 2015 campaign.
Sprague guided seniors JoMarcos Woods and Erik Barber in 2015 to career bests in the outfield and at the plate, garnering recognition on The American All-Conference team. Woods posted a .323 avg. with five homers and 32 RBI, while Barber compiled a .313 avg. and a team-high 11 homers.
Under Sprague in 2014, all three of the Knights outfielders - Erik Barber, Sam Tolleson and Derrick Salberg - were honored to one of The American's three all-conference teams. Salberg tallied a .992 fielding pct., while junior JoMarcos Woods led all position players with a .994 pct.
While at UCF, Sprague aided the development of four players - Eric Skoglund (3rd), Dylan Moore (7th), James Vasquez (25th) and Mitchell Tripp (36th) - who were all selected in the MLB Draft.
Before coming to Orlando, Sprague held the volunteer assistant position during the 2012-13 season at Gardner-Webb. While with the Runnin' Bulldogs, catcher John Harris was a Johnny Bench Award nominee and the team set a program best in fielding pct. at .969.
Sprague has extensive experience as a camp instructor, working at the Marc Wilkins Baseball Academy from 2007-12 and for Cal Ripken Baseball in 2009. He also has served as a camp instructor at Clemson, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State, among others.
The Mansfield, Ohio, native graduated from Malone (Ohio) University with degrees in business administration and sports management. He played collegiately at Malone and Tiffin University.
Sprague and his wife Erin live in Cincinnati.
His work on offense came through the loudest during the team's historic 2019 season when the Bearcats' bats went on a torrential pace during the postseason. During the 4-0 AAC Tournament run, UC broke the tournament records for runs (51), RBI (47) and hits (60). Seven homeruns and four in the championship game were also AAC Tournament records. The 22-5 title win over UConn was the largest margin of victory ever in the tournament while they tied for the most number of hits in a game. Eleven different players got a hit during the 4-0 tournament week. All six all-tournament honorees were offensive players with slugger AJ Bumpass named tournament MVP.
Sprague helped guide the hitters in 2022 to a team batting average of .277 while also helping the defense to a team .970 fielding percentage. The Bearcats finished the year 35th in the nation with 87 homers and 27th in homers per game (1.58), both of which led the AAC. He also mentored Griffin Merritt to AAC Player of the Year honors in 2022.
In 2021, UC ranked in the top-three in the AAC in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (2nd), slugging percentage (2nd), runs scored (2nd), home runs (3rd) and total bases (2nd).
Sprague came to UC after two seasons on Head Coach Scott Googins’ staff at Xavier University as the volunteer assistant coach. Sprague directed XU’s camps, assisted in all facets of the program and coached first base during games.
“Kyle has been with me the past two years and is a great addition to our staff here at UC,” Googins said. “He brings a lot to the table - he does an unbelievable job with developing infielders and is on the cutting edge with hitters. He's a young up-and-coming coach who's very energetic and passionate about what he does.”
During his two seasons at Xavier, the Musketeers won a BIG EAST Conference regular season championship (2016), two-straight league tournament championships (2016 & 17) and played in consecutive regional finals in the NCAA Championship (2016 & 17).
Sprague worked with hitters and infielders and assisted with outfielders at Xavier. The Musketeers set a school record with a .977 fielding percentage in 2017 after tying the previous record with a .974 mark in 2016.
He mentored six Xavier players who went on to play professionally, including:
2017 second-round selection Zac Lowther, eighth-rounder Rylan Bannon, 18th-round pick Garrett Schilling and 22nd-round choice Greg Jacknewitz. Dan Rizzie and Andre Jernigan were 13th and 14th-round picks in 2016.
Sprague has previous experience in the American Athletic Conference having served as a volunteer assistant coach at UCF in 2015.
At UCF, Sprague was in charge of the Knights' outfielders and coached first base during games, while aiding the development of the team's infielders and catchers along with hitting responsibilities. The Knights achieved a program-best No. 6 ranking during the 2015 campaign.
Sprague guided seniors JoMarcos Woods and Erik Barber in 2015 to career bests in the outfield and at the plate, garnering recognition on The American All-Conference team. Woods posted a .323 avg. with five homers and 32 RBI, while Barber compiled a .313 avg. and a team-high 11 homers.
Under Sprague in 2014, all three of the Knights outfielders - Erik Barber, Sam Tolleson and Derrick Salberg - were honored to one of The American's three all-conference teams. Salberg tallied a .992 fielding pct., while junior JoMarcos Woods led all position players with a .994 pct.
While at UCF, Sprague aided the development of four players - Eric Skoglund (3rd), Dylan Moore (7th), James Vasquez (25th) and Mitchell Tripp (36th) - who were all selected in the MLB Draft.
Before coming to Orlando, Sprague held the volunteer assistant position during the 2012-13 season at Gardner-Webb. While with the Runnin' Bulldogs, catcher John Harris was a Johnny Bench Award nominee and the team set a program best in fielding pct. at .969.
Sprague has extensive experience as a camp instructor, working at the Marc Wilkins Baseball Academy from 2007-12 and for Cal Ripken Baseball in 2009. He also has served as a camp instructor at Clemson, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State, among others.
The Mansfield, Ohio, native graduated from Malone (Ohio) University with degrees in business administration and sports management. He played collegiately at Malone and Tiffin University.
Sprague and his wife Erin live in Cincinnati.