Aurora University
Spartan Baseball

Coaching Staff

Shaun Neitzel
Head Coach
Sixth Season (138-79-2)
630-844-6515
sneitzel@aurora.edu

Shaun Neitzel was named the head baseball coach at Aurora University in 2002, and has been coaching at the collegiate level for over a decade. Neitzel leads one of the most successful baseball programs in the country, as the Spartans currently hold the fourth-best winning percentage (.750) and tenth-best overall win total (527) since 1990. Neitzel is a two time recipient of the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Baseball Coach-of-the-Year award (2005, 2006) and a two time recipient of the ABCA Central Region Coach-of-the-Year. His 2004 Spartans finished with a 3rd place finish in the NCAA Division III National Championships, and his 2006 team finished with a 7th place finish respectively. Along with working several instructional camps and individual lessons yearly, Neitzel is also a long-standing member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

During his tenure as an assistant with the Spartans, Neitzel served as the pitching coach, 1st base coach, administered AU's junior varsity program and coordinated the recruiting. During that time the Spartans compiled a record of 167-45 (.790), winning five conference championships, while making four regional and two national tournament trips. "Playing at the national level is a high priority for our program, our commitment every year is to recruit high quality student-athletes that will take pride in putting on that Spartan uniform."

Neitzel has his roots in the Aurora area as a graduate of nearby Oswego High School, where he was all-area in football and basketball and all-conference in baseball for the Panthers. He also played baseball for Waubonsee Community College. While at WCC, he was twice the national co-leader for saves in a season. He set the school season and career records for saves and appearances while pitching for the Chiefs as well.

He also pitched for the nationally prominent William Penn College's program and upon finishing his collegiate playing career; he became an Assistant coach for the Statesman. As an assistant with the Statesmen, WPC was a NCAA tournament qualifier in 1995 as he served as an infield coach and pitching coach through the 1996 season.

Neitzel earned his B.A. in Sports Administration from William Penn College and his Master's of Science degree in Recreation Administration from Aurora University. He also currently serves as the Coordinator of Athletic Marketing and Promotions and Fall/Winter Game Operations Manager. He and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters, Allison and Lily, and currently reside in Montgomery, Ill.

Ryan Buchanan
Assistant Coach
First Season
630-844-6891
Buchanan@aurora.edu

Ryan Buchanan joins the Aurora University baseball staff as an assistant coach after spending the previous four seasons as a member of the Benedictine University baseball staff. In addition to his duties assisting head coach Shaun Neitzel, he will work with the infielders, hitters and junior varsity team.

A NCAA Division III All-America first baseman in his playing days, Buchanan started at first base for the Eagles for three seasons, earning team MVP honors in both 2002 and 2003 and All-Northern Illinois Iowa-Conference (NIIC) accolades in the latter of those two campaigns. In 2003, he batted a team-high .415 with nine home runs and 53 runs batted in, paced the squad with 68 hits and 17 doubles, and was a first-team All-Region pick and a third-team All-America honoree by the American Baseball Coaches Association. That followed up a 2002 campaign in which he posted career highs of 13 home runs and 56 RBI.

During his playing career, Benedictine made NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in both 2000 and 2003, and won the NIIC title in 2003. A native of Peoria, Ill., Buchanan earned his bachelor's degree in communication arts from Benedictine in 2004.

Alex Chapple
Assistant Coach
First Season

Alex Chapple joins the Aurora University Baseball coaching staff and will work with the pitchers and the junior varsity program.

Chapple entered the AU baseball program as a junior in the 2005 season and played two years with the Spartans. In those two years, he was part of two NIIC championship teams, made two trips to the NCAA regional and one trip to the Division III World Series (2006). Chapple was a All-NIIC selection in 2006 and a two-time All-Central Region selection.

A native of Naperville, IL, and graduate of Neuqua Valley High School, Chapple currently is finishing his degree at Aurora University.

Rich Swann
Assistant Coach
First Season

Rich Swann enters his first year at Aurora University. He brings 18 years of coaching experience with him from Aurora Central Catholic. Throughout his years at Aurora Central Catholic, Swann spent his time coaching baseball, basketball, and football.

In the 18 years of coaching, Swann spent six years as Head Baseball Coach, 12 as an assistant baseball coach, six years as Football Defensive Coordinator and seven years as Assistant Football Coach.