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Head Coach - Duane Monlux (8th Season)

The 2008 season will mark the 8th season for head coach Duane Monlux, 34. Monlux began his coaching career at Dickinson State in the fall of 2001. His overall coaching record at Dickinson State is 175-134-2 (.566). Monlux has seen an incredible turnaround in his seven years as Dickinson State’s head coach. After inheriting a team that went 6-30 the year before his arrival, Monlux’s first team in 2002 doubled their win total from the previous season and have been on a steady rise ever since. The Blue Hawks claimed back-to-back DAC regular season titles during the 2007 and 2006 seasons. The team also claimed DAC conference tournament titles during the 2008, 2007, and 2006 seasons. For his efforts, Monlux was named the ABCA NAIA Region III and DAC Coach of the Year for 2007 and 2006. The 2007 squad set a DSU single season record for winning percent (.756), wins with 34, and finished the season with a 34-11 mark. The Hawks’ winning percentage of .756 during the 2007 season was the 12th best winning percent in the NAIA (out of 215 baseball schools).

Monlux has led the Blue Hawks to their only five NAIA Region III tournament berths in school history (2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, and 2003). The Hawks were one of only two teams (out of 19 total teams) in Region III to advance to the regional tournament the past three seasons. The 2007 squad became the third team in school history to win at least 30 games when the team finished 34-11. The 2007 and 2003 team both finished 2nd at the NAIA Region III tournament. The Blue Hawks were ranked as high as #18 in the NAIA during the 2007 season and as high as #20 during the 2008 season.

Monlux has coached numerous players in his first seven seasons that have been honored with post-season accolades. Six of his players have been named NAIA All-Americans, 10 named to the NAIA All-Region III baseball team, 14 1st team All DAC selections, and 22 2nd team All DAC selections. In addition, Monlux has coached two DAC MVP’s, one DAC Pitcher of the Year, three NAIA All-American Scholar Athletes, and 23 DAC Scholar Athletes. He has had two players sign pro contracts.

Monlux is very active in the baseball community. He is a member of the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association), the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association), and is also a member of the Dickinson Baseball Board. Monlux has put on youth baseball clinics in Dickinson the past five years. In addition, Monlux was the Chair of the DAC coaches from 2006-08 and is also the NAIA national baseball rater for the DAC.

Monlux has put a major emphasis on recruiting while at Dickinson State. He believes building a tradition here at DSU starts with getting great recruits. “It’s important to build a tradition by bringing in quality student athletes that know the game and play the game at a high level,” says Monlux.

A Gillette, Wyoming native, Monlux graduated from Dickinson State University in the spring of 1999 with a bachelor of science degree in composite science and physical education. After graduation he attended Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska where he earned his master's degree in secondary education.

Before he went to graduate school, Monlux was Dickinson High School's head baseball coach from 1998 to 1999. Monlux watched his 1998 Dickinson High team struggle through a 2-22 year in the school’s inaugural baseball season. However, the next year the team made a remarkable turnaround as they finished 23-12, winning the West Region tournament and advancing to the semi-final game at the state tournament. Monlux was an assistant coach for the Dickinson Eagles American Legion baseball team for two summers before his stint as head coach for Dickinson High.

Monlux participated in football, baseball, and basketball while attending Dickinson State. He received the H.J. Wienbergen Dickinson State Male Athlete-of-the-Year award for the 1997-98 school year. He was twice named to the NDCAC All-Conference baseball team. In addition, he was a three-time 1st team All-Conference football player and a two-time NAIA football All-American. In 1995, he led the nation in kickoff return average (33.7 yards per return). He ranks second in Dickinson State football history for touchdowns scored in a career (43) and points scored in a career (262). Monlux played professional football in the National Indoor Football League for four seasons as a wide receiver. He played two seasons for the Wyoming Cavalry and two seasons for the Bismarck Roughriders. He was named the NIFL Wide Receiver of the Year in 2001.

Along with his baseball coaching duties, Monlux is also an assistant football coach and an assistant professor in the HPER department. He resides in Dickinson with his wife, Roxi, son Easton (1), and dog Crash.

Duane Monlux’s Coaching Record at Dickinson State
2008        24-26-1(.490)          DAC Record 9-8-1; DAC Tourney Champions; 4th place DAC Regular Season; 5th place Region III Tourney
2007        34-11 (.756)            DAC Record 13-1; DAC Regular Season and Conference Tourney Champions; NAIA Region III Runner-Up
                                                2007 NAIA Region III and DAC Coach of the Year
2006        33-21 (.611)            DAC Record 13-5; DAC Regular Season and Conference Tourney Champions; 5th place Region III Tourney
                                                2006 NAIA Region III and DAC Coach of the Year
2005        22-20 (.523)            DAC Record 11-13; 6th place DAC Regular Season; 3rd place DAC Tourney
2004        31-19 (.620)            DAC Record 17-11; 2nd place DAC Regular Season; 3rd place Region III Tourney
2003        18-23-1 (.439)         DAC Record 12-10; 5th place DAC Regular Season; NAIA Region III Runner-Up
2002        12-14 (.461)            DAC Record 10-12; 4th place DAC Regular Season; 4th place DAC Tourney
Total       175-134-2 (.566)    DAC Record 85-60-1 (.586)

Assistant Coach – Adam Hurlbert (2nd Season)
Adam begins his second season on the Blue Hawk staff after an excellent two-year career as DSU’s starting shortstop. Hurlbert was a two-time 1st team All DAC selection and an All-Region and an All-American selection as a junior. He had a career batting average of .354 with 26 stolen bases. He finished with a fielding percent of .931, committing just 28 errors in 99 games. Adam joined the Hawks after a two-year stint at Porterville College in California.

Adam is finishing his degree in business management. He will be working with the infielders and hitters this season.

Assistant Coach – Scott Tulloch (1st Season)
Scott enters his first season with the Blue Hawks as a coach after a stellar two-year career for DSU. Tulloch was the MVP of the DAC and the Gold Glove winning catcher during the 2008 season. In addition, he was also named to the NAIA Region III team. He led the Hawks in hitting with a .388 average with 13 doubles, eight homers, and 46 RBI. He only committed two errors on the season and ended with a .992 fielding percent.

Scott is a business major. He will be working with catchers this season.

Assistant Coach – Tyler Opitz (1st Season)
Tyler is beginning his first season on the staff with the Blue Hawks. He pitched for two seasons with DSU after a two-year stint at Yakima Valley College in Washington. Tyler was a two-time DAC Scholar Athlete and was also named an NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete in 2008. Opitz was 1-0 on the mound in 2008 with 19 K’s in 29.0 innings of work. He appeared in 11 games, starting two of them.

Opitz is a biology/Spanish major with a minor in chemistry. He will be working with the pitchers.

Assistant Coach – Blair Foster (1st Season)
Blair enters his first year on the DSU staff. Foster was used as a courtesy runner for DSU the past two seasons. He will be working with the outfielders this coming spring. He attended Williston State College for two seasons before coming to DSU.

Blair is an elementary education major with a physical education minor.