photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Wesley Cupps celebrates on third base with assistant coach Nolan Deitrich during the Firebirds' state tournament game against Washburn Rural on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence.

Nolan Deitrich has been asked often over the summer by the Free State baseball team if he was going to be the one taking over the program.

“I got to see almost everybody four times a week, and then our freshman group I got to see them almost every day this whole summer,” Dietrich said. “I was kind of getting those questions with their curiosity of what was going to happen. I just told them to be patient with the process.”

The process played out on Monday as Deitrich’s hiring was approved during a school board meeting. When it became official that the longtime assistant coach would now lead the team, the players were quick to show their excitement.

“They were very excited in their own way,” Dietrich said. “They gave me a pat on the back and some knuckles and handshakes. They’re very excited, and they know what we’re about and what our standards are and my personality, so I think it was a good reaction from them.”

Owen Lester, a rising senior and third baseman for the Firebirds said he was excited to see Deitrich lead the program.

“It is pretty sad that coach (Mike) Hill retired, but I think Coach D is going to do a great job,” Lester said. “He’s worked with coach Hill for 15 years, and he’s going to continue on doing the same work, and he’s going to do a great job.”

Deitrich grew up with the thought of being a coach ingrained in him from his dad, who was a longtime coach. After college, Deitrich coached at Ottawa University before becoming an assistant coach at Free State under Hill.

Between Deitrich’s upbringing, his playing days and his collegiate and high school coaching experience, Deitrich is ready to lead the program that he’s helped build for the last 15 years.

“Everything that Coach Hill does with his assistants is about becoming leaders and developing leadership, and always like, ‘If you want to be a head coach, think about this,'” Deitrich said. “For all of us, and especially me, he’s always been prepping us to be head coaches.”

Deitrich has prepared for a head coaching role, and it makes it even easier to transition into that role with a program he’s familiar with. Deitrich has coached the Firebirds for 15 seasons, so he knows the players, the community and the standard for success at Free State.

“They understand my perspective and where I’m coming from, and then I understand where they’re coming from,” Deitrich said. “So now it’s just taking that and figuring out how to problem solve and work through our challenges from there.”

Deitrich said he wants the Firebirds to continue to develop a toughness in pursuit of excellence. The Firebirds have built a habit of doing that and have stayed perennial playoff contenders under Hill. Continuing to maintain that standard, while also fostering growth among the team as leaders, will be stressed under Deitrich.

Having so much experience with the team already makes the transition into this new era of Free State baseball much easier. The Firebirds who are returning from the 2026 season have a lot of hunger for the 2027 season after finishing as the 6A runners-up. Going into the season with a sense of routine despite the coaching change will help Free State in its ultimate pursuit of another state championship. For that, Deitrich is excited as well.

“We have several position players returning, and they all had really good summers,” Deitrich said. “That was good to see, not only staying healthy, but playing well and keeping that drive and passion for wanting to get better and figure out what we need to do to make another team that is really successful.”