Steve Gust is entering his 11th season as head baseball coach for the University of Minnesota Crookston. In his first 10 seasons with the Golden Eagles, Gust has taken the U of M Crookston from the bottom of the NSIC to a consistent contender in the top half of the league. Gust has led the Golden Eagles to seven 20-win seasons in the last 10 years, including back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2023 and 2024. He led Minnesota Crookston to their most wins in school history in 2023 with 38, and their most conference wins in school history in 2024 with 28.
In 10 seasons, Gust has done something no other coach has ever done in any sport at Minnesota Crookston in the history of the school. He has amassed 240 wins. He is only the second coach in school history in any sport, joining Gary Senske, to eclipse 200 wins. Gust has elevated the play of a plethora of student-athletes in his career in the dugout. He coach Jake Hjelle to a NCBWA National Player of the Year nod in 2023, the first in any sport for the Golden Eagles. He also helped Jake Hjelle and Reed Hjelle to NSIC Player of the Year nods. In 2023, he coached Alex Koep to a NSIC Pitcher of the Year accolade. In addition in 2023, he helped Mike Hallquist to a Newcomer of the Year nod, and Josh Dykhoff to NSIC Freshman of the Year recognition. In his career, Gust has coached four players to All-America accolades, eight players to All-Region honors, and 18 players to All-NSIC honors. He has also coached Anthony Stewart to a Rawlings Gold Glove, and Jake Hjelle, Reed Hjelle, and Alex Koep to All-Region Player/Pitcher of the Year laurels. In the classroom, he has helped Brody Sorenson, Alex Koep, and Ben Thoma to NSIC Honor Student-Athlate status. He also helped Thoma achieve the NSIC Elite 18 Award in 2021, and aided Jesse Jennings as he received Capital One Academic All-America Second Team honors in 2015.
After losing 12 seniors in 2016, the Golden Eagles knew it would be tough to rebound but they were able to do so and make it to back-to-back NSIC Tournament appearances with 24 wins. Minnesota Crookston would fall just one win shy of their school record 25 wins. The U of M Crookston was led on the mound by Zach Seipel, who was among the nation's top closers with 12 saves. Seipel earned All-NSIC Second Team honors, as did center fielder Anthony Stewart. Stewart and East Grand Forks-native Reed Hjelle would earn All-NSIC Gold Glove. Stewart also became the first player in program history to earn the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove, given to the top nine Division II defensive players in the country. In the classroom, Crookston-native Aaron Hollcraft led the way, earning UMC's Student-Athlete of the Year honors.
The 2018 squad, started the season off great in non-conference play, defeating NCAA regional participants Northood University and Seton Hill University in games in Florida. The team also held their own in a 3-1 loss to defending National Champion West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The Golden Eagles would struggle in NSIC play, but would end the year with 24 wins, reaching the 20-win plateau for the third-straight season.
The 2018 team was highlighted by Reed Hjelle, who posted one of the best single-seasons in school history. Hjelle was the first player in school history named NSIC Player of the Year. He was an All-NSIC First Team pick. Hjelle went on to be named all-region first team by ABCA/Rawlings, NCBWA, and D2CCA. He was the ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Position Player of the Year. Hjelle would become the program's first ever All-American, earning the accolade from ABCA/Rawlings, and the NCBWA.
In addition, Zach Seipel was one of the nation's top closers and was an All-NSIC First Team pick. Seipel went on to become the program's first-ever Major League Baseball (MLB) draft pick, as he was selected in the 27th round by the Atlanta Braves.
The Golden Eagles continued to build on their success on the 2019 season. Minnesota Crookston posted a school-record 28 wins and 20 conference victories, marking their best season in program history. The season was capped by a return trip to the NSIC Tournament, for the third time in four seasons. The Golden Eagles were led by Hjelle, who became the program's first back-to-back All-NSIC First Team selection. Hjelle was also the 2019 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. He went on to earn all-region honors for the Golden Eagles. In addition, Dalton Grose picked up where Seipel left off as a closer, breaking Seipel's single-season saves record with 13 under the tutelage of Gust. Grose would be one of the nation's top closers, and earned All-NSIC Second Team accolades.
Minnesota Crookston started out the 2020 season with an 8-5 mark, including going 6-3 during their games in Florida. Gust helped Jayden Grover to a Minnesota Crookston record 14 strikeouts in a game against Saint Anselm. The Golden Eagles were off to a great start, but had their season cut short in 2020 due to Covid-19.
2021 was a year to remember for the Golden Eagles. Gust helped guide the Golden Eagles to a 26-12 record on the season, while also winning on the road at Minot State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament, for the program's first ever victories in the NSIC Tournament. The 26 wins were the second most in program history. The Golden Eagles would be one of the final NSIC teams standing in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles would fall to eventual NSIC champion Minnesota State, but defeat the Huskies of St. Cloud State to stay alive. The three wins in the postseason are the most in program history. Gust led the Golden Eagles to a 68.4% winning percentage, the best in program history.
The Golden Eagles would see themselves ranked as high as 18th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Poll during the regular season. Coach Gust would help position players Mason Ruhlman, Brock Reller, Will Zimmerman and pitcher Jake Dykhoff earn all-NSIC honors. Reller would also be named to the D2CCA All-Central Region team for his historic season. 2021 was a special season on the diamond for Minnesota Crookston.
The 2022 team finished the season with an 18-27 mark. The Golden Eagles were led by their pitching, especially Jake Dykhoff, who became the program's all-time strikeout leader.
2023 was a fantastic year for the Golden Eagles as Gust coached the team to a 38-20 record on the season. The Golden Eagles also won two games in the NSIC Tournament, defeating Minot State and Wayne State College. The Golden Eagles were one of the four teams remaining in the tournament before being defeated by Augustana University. Gust coached the team to a 65.5% winning percentage, which is the second best in program history.
Coach Gust had a major impact on the 2023 roster, in addition to the incredible record, the Golden Eagles had five separate players get different honors. This included All-Region, Player of the Year, All-American, and a few other honors. Jake Hjelle, Josh Dykhoff, Josh Dykhoff, Alex Koep and Mike Hallquist were the five players receiving separate honors.
In 2024, Gust led the Golden Eagles to their best conference mark in program history with 28 wins, and they notched their first back-to-back 30-win seasons. Gust helped coach Jake Hjelle and Teddy Giefer to All-NSIC First Team nods. In addition, Caden Headlee, Jake Osowski, Brody Sorenson, and Josh Dykhoff earned All-NSIC Second Team nods. Headlee and Sawyer Satrom were named to the All-NSIC Defensive Team.
A native of Sherack, Minn. and a graduate of East Grand Forks H.S., Gust is no stranger to the region having coached at the University of North Dakota and Sacred Heart H.S., prior to helping to turn around the program at Northland Community and Technical College. Gust then spent six seasons as the head coach at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D.
Gust accumulated over 150 wins in his six seasons. His time at Dakota Wesleyan was highlighted by his first two seasons at the helm in which he posted records of 35-18 and 32-21. His 2009 squad was crowned Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament Champions and earned a chance to play in the NAIA National Tournament. Four of his six squads at Dakota Wesleyan placed in the top four in the GPAC.
In 2014, Gust led Dakota Wesleyan to a 27-24 mark. The Tigers battled several NSIC teams on the season, falling just short in three games against Minot State University and Northern State University. His 2014 team was highlighted by All-GPAC First Team pitcher Kyle Larson, a Red Lake Falls, Minn., native. Gust has found much success with players from Northwest Minnesota, including Larson and 2013 GPAC Player of the Year Michael Lukasson from East Grand Forks, Minn and 2012 GPAC Pitcher of the Year Ethan Opsahl from Twin Valley, Minn.
Gust's teams also found success off the field, as his 2014 team maintained a 3.03 Grade Point Average (GPA) during the 2013-14 academic year.
In six seasons at Dakota Wesleyan, Gust coached 47 All-GPAC selections, three GPAC Gold Glove winners, one GPAC Pitcher of the Year, one GPAC Player of the Year, two All-Americans and 11 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Prior to arriving at Dakota Wesleyan, Gust spent four seasons as the head coach at Northland Community and Technical College. Gust left the school as one of the most successful coaches in program history. His Pioneers' teams went 92-75 over four seasons, and Gust earned Minnesota Community College Conference North Division Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2005. NCTC qualified for the MCCC State Tournament all four seasons.
In his final season at NCTC, Gust led the Pioneers to a school record 27 wins and a second-place finish at the State Tournament. His squad also advanced to the NJCAA Region 13 Tournament in 2008, where they finished third. Gust also spent his summers coaching the East Grand Forks American Legion baseball team and amassed 466 total victories.
Prior to taking over Northland Community and Technical College, Gust spent a season as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater, the University of North Dakota. Before making the transition to college baseball, Gust served as the head coach at Sacred Heart H.S. in East Grand Forks, N.D. He was named Coach of the Year three times during his time at Sacred Heart, while amassing 132 wins.
In 2010, Gust spent the summer as an assistant coach for the Mankato Moondogs, who are a part of the Northwoods League – one of the top collegiate leagues in North America. He helped coach seven players who went on to sign pro contracts.
In 2012, Gust was chosen as a head coach for the U.S. Baseball Championships North vs. South All-Star Game in Virginia. The game, which featured high school baseball players ages 17 and under from around the United States, was nationally televised.
Gust graduated from UND in 1993 with a degree in physical education and coaching. In 2010, he graduated with a master's degree and education policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan. He is married to Anita and has two sons, Trenton, and Tommy John and a daughter Jaeden. Tommy is playing baseball for Northland Community and Technical College.
| Season |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
| 2023 |
38 |
20 |
72.2% |
| 2022 |
18 |
27 |
40.0% |
| 2021 |
26 |
12 |
68.4% |
| 2020 |
8 |
5 |
61.5% |
| 2019 |
28 |
21 |
57.1% |
| 2018 |
24 |
27 |
47.0% |
| 2017 |
24 |
28 |
46.2% |
| 2016 |
25 |
21 |
54.3% |
| 2015 |
14 |
36 |
28.0% |
| 2014 |
27 |
24 |
52.9% |
| 2013 |
24 |
26 |
48.0% |
| 2012 |
24 |
32 |
42.9% |
| 2011 |
12 |
36 |
25.0% |
| 2010 |
32 |
21 |
60.4% |
| 2009 |
30 |
15 |
66.6% |
| Total |
328 |
339 |
49.1% |
*2009-2014 - Head Coach at Dakota Wesleyan
