Thank you Coach Hessler

Everett, WA - Head coach Keith Hessler announced to the Trojan baseball team on Friday that he would be stepping down from the program.  After five total seasons with the Trojans, two as the pitching coach, and three as the head coach, Hessler will begin a new chapter in his life. 

He joined the Trojans in 2020 and for two seasons as the pitching coach led one of the most dominate staffs in the NWAC.  The EvCC pitchers ranked #2 in the NWAC in ERA at 2.32, and the combined 428 strikeouts in 2021 is the most all time in a single season at EvCC.  Starting pitcher Kenji Miller's 1.69 ERA ranked 3^rd among pitchers that threw 80 or more innings and closer Devin Macwatters was as good as they came, making 14 appearances, recording 8 saves (the most all time in a single season at EvCC), and a lights out .046 ERA, giving up just one earned run all season.   

Hessler remained a constant after high level opportunities came to then head coaches Jojo Howie and Parker Guinn.  Keith was named the head coach in the summer of 2022 and reloaded the program qualifying for the NWAC playoffs in his first season and finishing inside the NWAC Top 12.  Hessler then took the Trojans to back-to-back North Region Championships in 2024 and 2025 reaching the Final 6 in 2024 and the top 8 in 2025. 

"Keth came to the program during a very challenging time in athletics, at the height of the COVID pandemic.  Then, through two coaching changes he held the program strong, and transitioned seamlessly from his assistant coaching position to the head coach role, said Athletic Director Garet Studer.  Anytime there is a transition with head coaches, it leaves a program vulnerable, but I think it speaks to Keith's leadership that for the past five years the baseball program did not waiver and remained both highly competitive, and moved many players on to the next level who succeeded academically and athletically."

In five total seasons with Everett, Hessler helped lead the Trojans to four North Region Titles, and qualified for the post season in each of those years with the exception of the 2021 abbreviated COVID year.  As the head coach, Keith won 96 games with a .632 winning percentage.  He coached 6 All Americans, 12 All NWAC players, 1 All NWAC Gold Glover, 29 All Region recipients, 8 All Region Gold Glovers, and one North Region position player of the year, Micah Coleman. 

The pitchers especially excelled under Hessler's tenure several of which appeared on the EvCC All time record lists.  Basil Hendrix, Ethan Hubbell, and Wyatt Queen all rank inside the top four all time for the lowest ERA with over 50 innings pitched.  Queen has the lowest all time at EvCC at 0.94 and went on to pitch at Oregon State University, helping the team advance to the College World Series in Ohama.  Seven relief pitchers under Keith's guidance cracked the top 10 all time list for lowest ERA, and four Trojan pitchers made the top 10 in individual season strikeouts. Keith was also named the north region coach of the year in each of the last two seasons. 

"I am grateful for my time at Everett CC and appreciate Garet for trusting me to lead this program the last 3 seasons, said Hessler. I am appreciative to all of the players and coaches who have been a part of this program and proud of the work they put in to continue to raise the standard here. I look forward to following the continued success of the Everett baseball program."

"The search for the next head coach of Trojan baseball will begin immediately, said Studer.  We will explore options, both internally and externally, to find the best candidate to keep this program moving forward and continue the tradition of success and excellence."