Northwestern University Athletics
Greenspan Adds Rost, Keizer to Baseball Staff
9/26/2023 4:40:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Head baseball coach Ben Greenspan bolstered his staff with the additions of assistant coaches Tyler Rost and Ben Keizer, he announced Wednesday.
Tyler Rost, Hitting Coach
Rost arrives in Evanston after a three-year tenure at Duke, where he served as the director of player development. During his time in Durham, Rost helped the Blue Devils to an ACC Tournament Championship and two NCAA Tournament berths, including a Super Regional in 2023. Prior to that, Rost's career included stops as an assistant at North Carolina Central, Winston Salem State and Greenville University.
During his playing days, Rost spent two seasons in the Pecos League, where he led the Alpine Cowboys to a League Championship in 2012. The outfielder finished with a .286 average, a .465 OBP and 19 stolen bases in 86 games across both seasons. He spent his collegiate years at Cedarville University and finished his career with NCCAA All-American and American Mideast Conference First Team honors to show for it.
Greenspan on Rost:
"Tyler's work at Duke was profound. Under his direction their program established new school standards in many hitting categories last year. He will be a tireless worker with an excellent appreciation for the challenges and opportunities presented to student athletes at a premiere academic institution. His ability to relate to student-athletes, peers, administrators, and alums will enable him to recruit very effectively and serve as a terrific ambassador for Northwestern Baseball. We welcome Tyler and his family to Evanston."
Rost on Northwestern:
"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity that Ben Greenspan has given me to be a part of the Northwestern coaching staff. His leadership and vision for the program, combined with elite academics and premier facilities, make Northwestern Baseball extremely special. I am excited to work alongside a talented coaching staff dedicated to building a championship culture that develops and prepares young men to be high-level baseball players, husbands, fathers, and community members."
Ben Keizer, Pitching Coach
Keizer joins Greenspan's staff after two years with the Chicago Cubs, where he worked in the business office as a partnership development specialist. Prior to that role, his baseball resume included a year of professional play after a decorated collegiate career at Michigan.
After graduating from Michigan in 2020, Keizer signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Yankees. He made appearances for both the FCL Yankees (ROK) and the Tampa Tarpons (A) during the 2021 season, going 5-3 with 25 strikeouts in 28.0 innings across both levels.
During his collegiate career, Keizer pitched four seasons and helped Michigan to the Championship Series of the 2019 Men's College World Series. The left-handed pitcher made 52 appearances, including five in the 2019 postseason, and earned a 5-2 record on a 5.03 ERA in Ann Arbor. Keizer was instrumental during the Wolverines' 2019 run to Omaha, pitching a one-hit, six-out save against UCLA in the final game of the Los Angeles Super Regional. He was also named team captain in 2019 and 2020 and was a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Greenspan on Keizer:
"Ben brings a unique and valued background to our program. His playing experience in the Big Ten and the College World Series as well as his most recent tenure with the Cubs make him a welcome addition to our staff. Most importantly, however, is Ben's commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience at Northwestern University. He will be an astute evaluator of pitching talent, a positive and effective teacher and a relentless worker. We welcome Ben to the Wildcat Family."
Keizer on Northwestern:
"I am beyond excited to join Coach Greenspan and this tremendous staff. Northwestern is a premier institution with all of the resources needed to compete at the highest level. I believe in Coach Greenspan's vision for the program, relentless pursuit of excellence, and commitment to the complete development of these deserving student-athletes. Can't wait to get started!"
Rost and Keizer will work alongside assistant coach Brian Anderson, who joined the Wildcats last March and will continue to work with hitters and position players. Ben Greenspan was named head baseball coach in August and will begin his first season at the helm of Northwestern baseball this spring.
***
What They're Saying About Rost
Chris Pollard, Head Baseball Coach at Duke University
Northwestern baseball made a slam dunk hire when they chose Tyler Rost as their hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Tyler combines great baseball instincts, a deep understanding of technology and analytics, and tremendous people skills. He has an elite attention to detail and a passion for player development. We will miss the Rost family in Durham, but I am thrilled for Tyler, Kendra, and the boys.
Josh Jordan, Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at LSU
It is without hesitation that I say Coach Rost is one of the best young coaches in the country in regard to the day-to-day development of players. While working with him at Duke, I was able to see first-hand the impact he can have on a player. I'm excited for him to have the opportunity to make the same impact at Northwestern with the recruiting efforts and the winning that will take place on the field with this new coaching staff.
What They're Saying About Keizer
Chris Fetter, Detroit Tigers Pitching Coach
I am thrilled for Ben to be named the pitching coach at Northwestern. The program and the players will feel Ben's passion, energy and care on a daily basis. No one will outwork Ben and he won't accept anything less than returning Northwestern to the upper echelon of Big Ten baseball. With his experience reaching Omaha as a player as well as playing professionally in the Yankees organization, he knows what it takes to reach the highest levels of the game. The Northwestern pitchers will undoubtedly benefit from having Ben as their coach.
Erik Bakich, Head Baseball Coach at Clemson
Congratulations to Ben Keizer, Coach Greenspan and the Northwestern Baseball Program! Ben Keizer was a transformational leader for Michigan Baseball and one of the main reasons Michigan played for a national championship in 2019. His leadership style is centered around serving others, and he is the perfect combination of humble teammate and fierce competitor. There is no doubt that Ben's positive energy, relentless work ethic, and high standards will be contagious, especially to the pitching staff he is leading. This is a perfect match for Coach Greenspan, the foundational culture he is instilling and the vision for Northwestern Baseball to become a championship program.
Tyler Rost, Hitting Coach
Rost arrives in Evanston after a three-year tenure at Duke, where he served as the director of player development. During his time in Durham, Rost helped the Blue Devils to an ACC Tournament Championship and two NCAA Tournament berths, including a Super Regional in 2023. Prior to that, Rost's career included stops as an assistant at North Carolina Central, Winston Salem State and Greenville University.
During his playing days, Rost spent two seasons in the Pecos League, where he led the Alpine Cowboys to a League Championship in 2012. The outfielder finished with a .286 average, a .465 OBP and 19 stolen bases in 86 games across both seasons. He spent his collegiate years at Cedarville University and finished his career with NCCAA All-American and American Mideast Conference First Team honors to show for it.
Greenspan on Rost:
"Tyler's work at Duke was profound. Under his direction their program established new school standards in many hitting categories last year. He will be a tireless worker with an excellent appreciation for the challenges and opportunities presented to student athletes at a premiere academic institution. His ability to relate to student-athletes, peers, administrators, and alums will enable him to recruit very effectively and serve as a terrific ambassador for Northwestern Baseball. We welcome Tyler and his family to Evanston."
Rost on Northwestern:
"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity that Ben Greenspan has given me to be a part of the Northwestern coaching staff. His leadership and vision for the program, combined with elite academics and premier facilities, make Northwestern Baseball extremely special. I am excited to work alongside a talented coaching staff dedicated to building a championship culture that develops and prepares young men to be high-level baseball players, husbands, fathers, and community members."
Ben Keizer, Pitching Coach
Keizer joins Greenspan's staff after two years with the Chicago Cubs, where he worked in the business office as a partnership development specialist. Prior to that role, his baseball resume included a year of professional play after a decorated collegiate career at Michigan.
After graduating from Michigan in 2020, Keizer signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Yankees. He made appearances for both the FCL Yankees (ROK) and the Tampa Tarpons (A) during the 2021 season, going 5-3 with 25 strikeouts in 28.0 innings across both levels.
During his collegiate career, Keizer pitched four seasons and helped Michigan to the Championship Series of the 2019 Men's College World Series. The left-handed pitcher made 52 appearances, including five in the 2019 postseason, and earned a 5-2 record on a 5.03 ERA in Ann Arbor. Keizer was instrumental during the Wolverines' 2019 run to Omaha, pitching a one-hit, six-out save against UCLA in the final game of the Los Angeles Super Regional. He was also named team captain in 2019 and 2020 and was a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Greenspan on Keizer:
"Ben brings a unique and valued background to our program. His playing experience in the Big Ten and the College World Series as well as his most recent tenure with the Cubs make him a welcome addition to our staff. Most importantly, however, is Ben's commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience at Northwestern University. He will be an astute evaluator of pitching talent, a positive and effective teacher and a relentless worker. We welcome Ben to the Wildcat Family."
Keizer on Northwestern:
"I am beyond excited to join Coach Greenspan and this tremendous staff. Northwestern is a premier institution with all of the resources needed to compete at the highest level. I believe in Coach Greenspan's vision for the program, relentless pursuit of excellence, and commitment to the complete development of these deserving student-athletes. Can't wait to get started!"
Rost and Keizer will work alongside assistant coach Brian Anderson, who joined the Wildcats last March and will continue to work with hitters and position players. Ben Greenspan was named head baseball coach in August and will begin his first season at the helm of Northwestern baseball this spring.
***
What They're Saying About Rost
Chris Pollard, Head Baseball Coach at Duke University
Northwestern baseball made a slam dunk hire when they chose Tyler Rost as their hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Tyler combines great baseball instincts, a deep understanding of technology and analytics, and tremendous people skills. He has an elite attention to detail and a passion for player development. We will miss the Rost family in Durham, but I am thrilled for Tyler, Kendra, and the boys.
Josh Jordan, Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at LSU
It is without hesitation that I say Coach Rost is one of the best young coaches in the country in regard to the day-to-day development of players. While working with him at Duke, I was able to see first-hand the impact he can have on a player. I'm excited for him to have the opportunity to make the same impact at Northwestern with the recruiting efforts and the winning that will take place on the field with this new coaching staff.
What They're Saying About Keizer
Chris Fetter, Detroit Tigers Pitching Coach
I am thrilled for Ben to be named the pitching coach at Northwestern. The program and the players will feel Ben's passion, energy and care on a daily basis. No one will outwork Ben and he won't accept anything less than returning Northwestern to the upper echelon of Big Ten baseball. With his experience reaching Omaha as a player as well as playing professionally in the Yankees organization, he knows what it takes to reach the highest levels of the game. The Northwestern pitchers will undoubtedly benefit from having Ben as their coach.
Erik Bakich, Head Baseball Coach at Clemson
Congratulations to Ben Keizer, Coach Greenspan and the Northwestern Baseball Program! Ben Keizer was a transformational leader for Michigan Baseball and one of the main reasons Michigan played for a national championship in 2019. His leadership style is centered around serving others, and he is the perfect combination of humble teammate and fierce competitor. There is no doubt that Ben's positive energy, relentless work ethic, and high standards will be contagious, especially to the pitching staff he is leading. This is a perfect match for Coach Greenspan, the foundational culture he is instilling and the vision for Northwestern Baseball to become a championship program.
Baseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-6 Victory over Rutgers (5/15/26)
Friday, May 15
Baseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
Baseball - 'Cats Take Series with 9-6 Victory over Hoosiers (5/3/26)
Sunday, May 03
Baseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-4 Victory over Indiana (5/2/26)
Saturday, May 02
