Ehlers Tabbed to Lead Reinhardt Baseball into Next Era

Ehlers Tabbed to Lead Reinhardt Baseball into Next Era
May 22, 2026
Waleska, GA - Reinhardt University Athletics has hired Rob Ehlers as the new head coach of the Eagles baseball program. He arrives in Waleska after leading Shawnee State University (Ky.) and brings a background that spans over fifteen years of collegiate coaching experience, player development, recruiting, and graduating players.

At Shawnee State, Ehlers guided the program to consecutive winning seasons, including a 26-21 record in 2024 and a 29-16 mark in 2025. His teams earned multiple conference honors, collected River States Conference weekly awards, and reached the postseason Opening Round. His record also includes a later 34-win 2026 season and an NAIA Opening Round appearance, adding to a track record of steady results and postseason competition.

Before Shawnee State, Ehlers held several roles at Central Methodist University, serving as associate head coach and earlier as an assistant coach. He also worked at Southern Polytechnic State University as an assistant and bench coach. Across those stops, he handled responsibilities that included recruiting coordinator, infield coach, director of operations, and academic coordinator, giving him experience in both on-field instruction and the day-to-day management of a college baseball program.

Executive Director of Athletics, Jonathan Burton, had this to say about the new hire,  " I am excited and relieved to announce this hire for our baseball program. Rob will be a great fit at Reinhardt as his beliefs, vision, and experience align perfectly with what we need and the direction we want to go. His ability to be connected throughout the country will help us continue to identify talent on a national level. Not only did he do a tremendous job at Shawnee State, but he was also a big part of the success at Central Methodist during his time as an assistant. We are fortunate to find a coach that has the experience Rob has, and I know it will translate to the development of our players, coaches, and program. I look forward to helping him in any way that we can to ensure our baseball program is playing deep into the month of May."

His resume reflects sustained success in player development and team performance. Teams he worked with at Central Methodist posted a combined 305-113 record from 2016 through 2023, highlighted by a 49-8 season and an NAIA National Runner-Up finish in 2021. Ehlers was recognized as the 2021 NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year, and the 2024 River States Conference Coach of the Year also appears among his honors. The players developed under his watch have included 65 All-Conference selections, multiple conference players and pitchers of the year, and eleven NAIA All-Americans across his coaching roles.

Reinhardt is adding a coach whose background also includes academic and administrative leadership. His programs reached team GPAs of 3.0 in 2016 and 3.14 in 2019, while also producing multiple scholar-athlete recognitions. Ehlers holds a Master of Education from Central Methodist University and a bachelor's degree in education from Mount Mercy University. As he takes over the Eagles, expectations center on building a competitive roster, continuing strong player development, and shaping a program that succeeds both on the field and in the classroom.

Reinhardt University welcomes Coach Rob Ehlers and his wife, Leta, to Waleska.