Gophers promote pitching coach Ty McDevitt to head coach, replacing John Anderson

Gophers pitching coach and alum Ty McDevitt agreed to a three-year deal to become the program’s next head baseball coach, the team announced Wednesday.

McDevitt replaces longtime Gophers coach and legend John Anderson, who retired this spring after amassing 1,390 wins in 43 seasons. McDevitt, 31, an Apple Valley native, served as Anderson’s pitching coach and player development coordinator since 2019 and was a volunteer assistant in 2017 and 2018.

Anderson, who won the Big Ten title in 2018, recommended McDevitt to be his replacement after announcing in December he would retire following this season.

“He is prepared and the right man for where the program and where college athletics are now,” Anderson told the Star Tribune on Wednesday.

Last Saturday, the Gophers defeated Northwestern 4-2 in Evanston in Anderson’s final game. They finished 25-23 (11-13 in the Big Ten) to miss qualifying for the eight-team conference tournament by one game.

The Gophers went 44-15 and advanced to the NCAA tournament super regionals in 2018 but finished under .500 four of the next six seasons.

Under McDevitt’s tutelage this season, starter Connor Wietgrefe became the first Gophers pitcher to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors since 2019. Wietgrefe tied for first in the Big Ten with eight wins and his 2.77 ERA ranked second in the league. McDevitt’s best pitcher at the U was Max Meyer from Woodbury. Meyer was drafted with the third overall pick by the Miami Marlins in the 2020 MLB draft.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of head baseball coach at the University of Minnesota,” McDevitt said in a statement. “This program is steeped in rich history and tradition, built on the hard work, dedication, and passion of countless players, coaches, and supporters who have come before me.

“As I step into this role, I am committed to upholding the values and excellence that define Gopher Baseball. Together, we will strive to build upon this storied legacy, fostering a culture of integrity, resilience, and success both on and off the field.”

In January 2023, McDevitt took a leave of absence to recover from Lyme disease, a tick-born illness that caused him to battle primarily neurological symptoms for more than two years.

Prior to joining the U staff, McDevitt pitched for the Gophers from 2012-16, including on the Gophers’ 2016 Big Ten title team.

“His impressive contributions to this program as a player and coach have had a significant impact on Gopher baseball both on and off the field,” Anderson said last year. “Ty has always held a passionate, competitive spirit.”

* Three Gophers baseball players earned All-Big Ten honors on Tuesday. In addition to Wietgrefe on the first team, outfielder Josh Fitzgerald was named to the second team and shortstop Jack Spanier was named to the all-freshman team.