Manchester University

Head baseball coach Rick Espeset completed his 29th year at the helm of the Manchester baseball program in 2024. Espeset stands as Manchester University’s all-time leader in wins with 686.

Espeset has coached 16 All-Americans, 6 Conference MVPs, 5 Conference Freshman of the Year, 52 All-Region honorees, and 186 all-conference honorees.  Nine Spartans have signed professional contracts. The seven-time Heartland Collegiate Athletic Coach of the Year, Espeset’s teams have won 30 or more games six times, and have posted win totals of 20 or more on 22 occasions.  Coach Espeset has led the Spartans to six Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships and seven HCAC Tournament titles during his time with the Black & Gold.  Under Espeset’s guidance, the Spartans have advanced to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament seven times.  The 2004 and 2013 teams advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series, with both squads finishing ranked No. 7 in the nation.

Prior to becoming the head coach of the Spartans, Espeset spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons as an assistant coach for the Black & Gold under Jay Martin. Prior to arriving at Manchester, Espeset spent one season as the assistant baseball coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Additionally, Coach Espeset has served as the Director of Athletics at Manchester University since 2007. During his tenure as Director of Athletics, Espeset has continued to grow the annual athletics fundraiser, the Friends of Manchester Golf Outing. All proceeds and contributions support Spartan student athletes by creating strong programs while enhancing the student athlete experience through equipment and facility improvements. In 2021, Manchester Athletics launched an inaugural Spartan Week of Giving to lead into the annual Friends of Manchester Golf Outing. The Spartan Week of Giving raised over $55,600 from 305 individual donors in 2021. In 2022, the Spartan Week of Giving raised over $58,600 fom 325 individual donors. In 2023, the Spartan Week of Giving raised over $55,000 fom 317 individual donors. Add total for SWOG

Recent and notable facility improvements include the new multipurpose Spartan Stadium, which includes an artificial turf field for both football and soccer, an eight-lane track with accompanying jump and throwing pits, and a state-of-the-art digital Nevco videoboard. Other facility enhancements include new mesh netting and new padded backstops at the baseball and softball fields, a new Nevco LED scoreboard at the MU Softball Field, and new paint, conference banners, and carpet in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena and the PERC.

Espeset is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). In 2009, Espeset served as the Chair of the Division III Baseball Championship Committee.

Espeset graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. in 1992.  He earned a master’s degree from Western Illinois in 1993.

Rick and his wife, Andrea, reside in North Manchester. They have a son, Ethan (21), and two daughters, McKelvey (19) and Finley (15).

* Last Updated - July 17, 2025