Baseball
Napoleon, Dusty
Dusty Napoleon
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Dusty Napoleon began his assistant coaching career with the Wildcats in 2016. He runs the team's offense, works the Wildcats' catchers and assists in the program's recruiting efforts.
The assistant coach oversaw the growth of Alex Erro and Jack Dunn who batted .322 and .340 respectively in the 2019 season. Both Erro and Dunn were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Napoleon coached Northwestern's offense to a strong 2017 campaign, as the Wildcats appeared in their first Big Ten Tournament since 2010 and their first Big Ten Tournament championship game since 1984.
Napoleon helped oversee the meteoric rise of Joe Hoscheit, who was the 2017 Big Ten statistical champion, after batting .468 in 24 conference games with 44 hits, 10 doubles and 29 RBI. His average in conference play was the highest by any Big Ten player in the last 18 seasons.
Napoleon also mentored senior Matt Hopfner to another strong year behind the dish and incorporated talented first years Alex Erro and Leo Kaplan to the lineup in 2017. Hopfner hit .301 for the season, Kaplan batted .287 and Erro mashed .275 from the leadoff spot.
Napoleon joined the 'Cats after serving as an assistant coach (2014-15) at Concordia University in River Forest, Ill. There, he worked with the hitters and catchers as he helped the Cougars win 33 games overall, including a triumph over the defending Division III national champions, UW-Whitewater in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The team won 24 of its final 28 games over the final six weeks.
Prior to arriving at CUC, Napoleon worked as an assistant at Western Illinois University. He has also spent time on the bench at North Park University and Iowa, his alma mater.
Napoleon was a three-year starter for the University of Iowa from 2005-07. In 2007, he led the team in on-base percentage, walks and RBI's. His 32 walks in conference play that spring set a Big Ten record that stands to this day.
Following the 2007 campaign, Napoleon was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 19thround of the Major League Baseball Draft. He ascended through all four levels of Minor League Baseball as he played with the Sacramento River Kings of the Pacific Coast League. In 2009, Napoleon won the Oakland Athletics Community Service Award.
Napoleon and his wife, Mary, reside in Winnetka with their son, Knox and their daughter Mays.
The assistant coach oversaw the growth of Alex Erro and Jack Dunn who batted .322 and .340 respectively in the 2019 season. Both Erro and Dunn were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Napoleon coached Northwestern's offense to a strong 2017 campaign, as the Wildcats appeared in their first Big Ten Tournament since 2010 and their first Big Ten Tournament championship game since 1984.
Napoleon helped oversee the meteoric rise of Joe Hoscheit, who was the 2017 Big Ten statistical champion, after batting .468 in 24 conference games with 44 hits, 10 doubles and 29 RBI. His average in conference play was the highest by any Big Ten player in the last 18 seasons.
Napoleon also mentored senior Matt Hopfner to another strong year behind the dish and incorporated talented first years Alex Erro and Leo Kaplan to the lineup in 2017. Hopfner hit .301 for the season, Kaplan batted .287 and Erro mashed .275 from the leadoff spot.
Napoleon joined the 'Cats after serving as an assistant coach (2014-15) at Concordia University in River Forest, Ill. There, he worked with the hitters and catchers as he helped the Cougars win 33 games overall, including a triumph over the defending Division III national champions, UW-Whitewater in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The team won 24 of its final 28 games over the final six weeks.
Prior to arriving at CUC, Napoleon worked as an assistant at Western Illinois University. He has also spent time on the bench at North Park University and Iowa, his alma mater.
Napoleon was a three-year starter for the University of Iowa from 2005-07. In 2007, he led the team in on-base percentage, walks and RBI's. His 32 walks in conference play that spring set a Big Ten record that stands to this day.
Following the 2007 campaign, Napoleon was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 19thround of the Major League Baseball Draft. He ascended through all four levels of Minor League Baseball as he played with the Sacramento River Kings of the Pacific Coast League. In 2009, Napoleon won the Oakland Athletics Community Service Award.
Napoleon and his wife, Mary, reside in Winnetka with their son, Knox and their daughter Mays.
Baseball - 'Cats Take Down No. 14 UCLA, 9-4 (5/15/25)
Friday, May 16
Baseball - Wildcats Top Beacons, 12-4 (5/13/25)
Wednesday, May 14
Baseball - Northwestern Run-Rules Ohio State to Secure Series (5/11/25)
Sunday, May 11
Baseball - Wildcats Run-Rule Buckeyes at Wrigley Field (5/9/25)
Saturday, May 10
