ESTHERVILLE — Former Humboldt standout Chris Witzke has been named the new head baseball coach at Iowa Lakes.

Witzke previously served as an assistant for the Lakers.

“It’s a great honor to be named head coach at Iowa Lakes,” Witzke said. “I can’t thank our athletic director, Troy Larson, President Scott Stokes and the rest of our administration for this opportunity enough.

“After getting started here as the assistant last year, I can’t wait to get our student-athletes back on campus and get to work.”

Witzke was a standout multi-sport athlete for the Wildcats, helping the baseball team reach the state tournament. After graduation, he attended Des Moines Area before landing at Harding University, where he set a school-record with a hit in 28 consecutive games.

Last year, he was an assistant coach for Iowa Lakes, helping seven players move on to four-year schools, including two to the Div. I ranks. The school had its first Gold Glove winner in Jose Colon.

“My focus here as head coach is to build a winning program with players that represent the college in the best way possible,” Witzke said, “not just on the field but in all aspects of what it means to be a Laker.”

Larson noted his ability to help build an “extensive roster from Iowa and surrounding states for the 2023-24 baseball season” as a key to his promotion.

“As an Iowa native who played at both the community college and four-year college level, coached during the summer in the wooden bat league and as the Iowa Lakes assistant coach last year, Wizke is a unique candidate who will do a great job in the head baseball coach position,” Larson said.