Bio

Twitter: @CoachMikeLaird

Mike Laird is in his 43rd season as Head Baseball Coach.

Laird's current record at William Penn is 1145-670-3 (.631) while his overall head baseball coaching record is 1233-728-3 (.629), including an 88-58 mark at the high school level. He currently ranks fourth in the NAIA among active coaches in wins and 10th in winning percentage (amongst coaches in the top 25 in wins). All-time, Laird is 12th in the NAIA in wins.

During his tenure, Statesmen baseball has been nationally recognized as a perennial powerhouse, ranking fourth in the NCAA in winning percentage in the 1990s. His teams have won 11 conference titles, competed in nine NCAA postseason tournaments, and appeared in six NAIA postseason tournaments.

Under his direction, the Statesmen have captured national statistical titles in double plays, pitching, earned run average, slugging percentage, triples, best pitching records, and fewest runs allowed per game and season. Before WPU moved back to the NAIA in 2002, he was the winningest coach in Iowa Conference history.

A Class of 2012 inductee to William Penn's Athletics Hall of Fame, he guided William Penn to the NAIA World Series in 2004. The team set a school record for wins with 48 that spring.

As a player and coach, Laird has participated in 21 national postseason tournaments. His teams have recorded several wins over NCAA Division I teams, including Central Michigan (2), Western Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa (2), and Texas-Pan American.

Laird has coached 144 all-conference players, 22 All-Americans, and nine conference Pitchers or Players of the Year. More than 50 former players have been drafted and/or signed to professional contracts and four players have made it to the majors. He has been named conference coach of the year 10 times and has been recognized by the IHSBCA and ABCA. He was also an NAIA Coach of the Year finalist in 2004 and in the spring of 2010, he was honored as the MCC's Coach of Character. For his efforts in 2018-2019, he was also chosen as WPU's Coach of the Year.

A unanimous inductee to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021, he was also the 2021 recipient of William Penn's Ed Thomas Award.

In the fall of 1999, Laird went overseas with his hands-on approach when he was invited to coach the Japanese national championship team, Shogaku Gakuen, in Okinawa.

Laird received his bachelor's degree from William Penn and his master's in Education Administration from Northeast Missouri State University. Laird has served in several capacities at William Penn, including Director of the Learning Center, admissions representative, advancement officer, instructor, assistant men's basketball coach, and Athletics Director from 1992-2001 and 2003-2007.

Laird has also been very active in community activities, including youth baseball, volunteer work, and serving on local boards. Long-time supporters of William Penn, his family was the 2014 recipient of the Alumni Hall of Fame's Torch Family Award. He is currently a member of the NAIA's Baseball Rules and World Series Committees.

Laird resides in Oskaloosa with his wife, Victoria. They five children: Ian, Sierra, Kara, Leah, and Aaron.

Laird's Career at William Penn

2024 24-27 (14-18 HEART)
2023 29-22 (15-17 HEART)
2022 25-21 (14-18 HEART)
2021 33-18 (19-12 HEART)
2020 20-10 (4-4 HEART)
2019 33-12 (18-6 HEART) (Heart Champs)
2018 15-30 (8-22 HEART
2017 19-28 (8-22 HEART)
2016 24-23 (14-18 HEART)
2015 24-24 (12-12 MCC)
2014 25-19 (11-12 MCC)
2013 23-18 (12-8 MCC) (MCC Champs)
2012 20-26 (13-11 MCC)
2011 22-23 (6-18 MCC)
2010 25-19 (14-10 MCC)
2009 36-17 (17-6 MCC) (MCC Champs, NAIA Opening Round)
2008 26-15 (20-3 MCC) (Region VII)
2007 25-23 (9-17 MCC)
2006 32-16 (18-7 MCC) (MCC Champs, Region VII Finals)
2005 45-15 (20-8 MCC) (MCC Champs, Region VII Finals)
2004 48-15 (22-6 MCC) (MCC, Region, & Super Reg. Champs, NAIA (6th))
2003 38-15 (16-6 MCC) (Region VII)
2002 40-14 (12-11 MCC)
2001 19-21 (10-12 IIAC)
2000 22-18-1 (8-10 IIAC)
1999 30-17-1 (10-10-1 IIAC)
1998 23-16 (9-10 IIAC)
1997 21-13 (9-6 IIAC)
1996 29-8 (13-5 IIAC)
1995 30-15 (9-7 IIAC) (Playoffs)
1994 30-9 (12-4 IIAC)
1993 27-4 (11-3 IIAC)
1992 34-4 (13-1 IIAC) (IIAC Champs, Playoffs)
1991 27-9 (14-2 IIAC) (Playoffs)
1990 28-5 (18-2 IIAC) (IIAC Champs, Playoffs)
1989 27-8-1 (14-3 IIAC) (IIAC Champs, Playoffs)
1988 31-8 (15-4 IIAC) (IIAC Champs, Playoffs)
1987 39-8 (16-4 IIAC) (Playoffs)
1986 33-10 (15-5 IIAC) (IIAC Champs, Playoffs)
1985 13-20 (6-17 IIAC)
1984 20-13 (8-6 IIAC)
1983 11-14 (3-6 IIAC)
1145-670-3 (535-397-1 CONF) (.631)