Karl Kling

Coach Karl Kling has been coaching the game of baseball for the past 3 decades and has been proud to coach at many different levels: youth, high school and college.

Of particular note for Coach Kling, nine of his former players have or currently coach at the college level: Nick Hoogerhyde (Associate Head Coach – Cleary University), Ted Falkner (Head Coach – South Carolina-Beaufort), Zach Johnston (Head Coach – Concordia University), Ryan McCosky (Assistant Coach – Davenport University), Matt Hunt (Assistant Coach – Concordia University), Randy Moore (Assistant Coach – Mott Community College) Jesse Fishbaum (Graduate Assistant Coach – Tusculum College), Nic Olson (Assistant Coach – Cleary University), and Colton Fountain (Assitant Coach – Cleary University).

Coach Kling was recently the head coach at Cleary University from 2014 through the 2021 season. He was hired in the summer of 2013 to serve as Cleary’s first baseball coach, guiding the Cougars to a 17-27 record in their first season in 2015. The Cougars finished third at the USCAA Small College World Series twice in 2017 and 2018 before moving to the NAIA and the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in 2019.

Prior to Cleary, Coach Kling was the pitching coach at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II school that participates in the GLIAC, in 2013.

By taking the Saginaw Valley position, Coach Kling returned to collegiate coaching after a two-year stint as the head coach at Fowlerville High School for the two seasons, guiding the Gladiators to their first District title in five years in 2012.

Prior to taking over the Fowlerville program, Coach Kling served as the head coach at Concordia University, leaving as the all-time leader in wins with 152 (until Johnston broke his record in 2019) in seven seasons as the head coach at the conclusion of the 2010. During his time, players on Coach Kling’s teams broke nearly every school record as a team and as individuals. Additionally, players on the team set new records for academic achievement as more athletes were named All-Conference Academic and All-America Academic then at any other point in the history of the program. Coach Kling had a half-dozen players sign professional contracts during his tenure.

During his time at Concordia, Coach Kling also served as the Director of the Midwest Baseball Academy in 2005 and 2006 as well as Director for the US Baseball Academy in 2009 and 2010. Coach Kling has been invited to serve as a guest coach at baseball camps for Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University. Coach Kling has also been a coach and instructor with Triple Crown Baseball and has worked their camps at Central Michigan University’s Theunissen Stadium and Cooley Stadium (the home of the Lansing Lugnuts), as well as their national showcases in Omaha, Nebraska and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Coach Kling was the chair of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference baseball committee for two seasons as well as serving on the ratings oversight committee in 2010.

Prior to being the head coach at Concordia, Coach Kling spent two years as an assistant coach focusing on developing the Cardinal outfield and catching corps.

Before his collegiate coaching career, Coach Kling spent several years in the high school ranks. During the 2000 and 2001 seasons, Coach Kling was the pitching and catching coach at South Lyon High School. From 1996 through 1999, Coach Kling spent four seasons at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep serving in a multitude of roles. Initially, Coach Kling was the head coach at the Marist Academy, the PNDP middle school, which participated in the Catholic Youth Organization, as well as an assistant to the varsity team for the Irish. In both years at the helm, the Marist Academy won the Northern Division. Coach Kling then assumed the head coach position for the JV program at Notre Dame, as well as serving as an assistant coach for the football team.

Prior to joining the Notre Dame Prep family, Coach Kling spent four seasons coaching in the Madison Heights Little League Baseball organization. Coach Kling also spent two seasons coaching youth football and basketball in Madison Heights.

Coach Kling resides in Howell with his wife Debra, and their three sons: Hayden, Dawson, and Ethan.

The Kling family is also a charter member of Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Howell.