Coach Mikey Nantze joined the Rhodes College baseball staff as the Pitching Coach in the fall of 2023. In just two seasons, Nantze has made a significant impact on the program. Under his guidance, the pitching staff helped lead the Lynx to back-to-back appearances in the SAA Conference Championship weekend, culminating in the 2025 SAA Tournament Championship title.
The 2025 season was particularly notable, with the pitching staff producing two First Team All-Conference selections and one All-Region honoree. In 2024, his staff also earned recognition with one All-Conference selection and one All-Region selection, demonstrating consistent development and performance on the mound.
Prior to his time at Rhodes, Nantze served as an Assistant Coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi. During his tenure, the program achieved a second-place finish in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) and boasted the longest winning streak in the nation at the time—14 consecutive games.
Before Belhaven, Nantze spent six years at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he held multiple roles including Hitting Coach, Catching Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and Baserunning Instructor. During his time with the Bearcats, the team made three appearances in the Northwest Conference Championship and one in the NCAA Regional Championship. Notably, in 2021, Willamette led the nation in home runs (68) en route to a second-place finish in the Northwest Conference Tournament.
His work with catchers at Willamette produced three First Team All-Region selections and four All-Conference honorees, including three First Team selections. Offensively, his guidance helped yield one All-American, a Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, and numerous First and Second Team All-Conference selections.
As a player, Nantze began his collegiate career at Sierra College (2012–2013) in Rocklin, California, before earning a Division I scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Martin (2014–2015). He graduated from UT Martin with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Nantze is married to Karly Nantze. They have one child, Hollis, who can often be seen cheering on the Lynx alongside Karly at Rhodes games.
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