Record: 142-219
12th Season
Houghton University hired Brian Reitnour in the fall of 2010 to re-establish the Highlander baseball program after the sport’s 25-year absence from campus.
A native of nearby Fillmore, NY, Reitnour is no stranger to Houghton, or Highlander athletics. Nor is he a stranger to rebuilding.
Over the past 11 seasons the Highlanders have established themselves as a contender within the Empire 8, continually climbing the ladder in the standings. In the past four full seasons they have produced 18 All-Conference players, four NCAA All-Region selections, and five NCCAA All-Region honorees. In 2021 the Highlanders finished second in the regular season conference standings, as Reitnour and his assistants earned Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.
Prior to his return to Houghton, Reitnour earned a bachelor’s in English literature from Messiah College, before heading to North Carolina, where he taught middle school history and reinstated another dormant baseball program at First Assembly Christian School. In three short seasons, the program improved from a sub-.500 club to a 2A State Runner-up.
After leaving North Carolina, Reitnour spent the next seven years as an assistant coach in the collegiate ranks at Messiah College (2003-04), Geneva College (2005-06) and Allegheny College (2007-09). During his tenure at these institutions he helped guide his alma mater to two regular season conference championships and their first NCAA Regional berth, two NCCAA national tournament appearances at Geneva, and a conference playoff appearance at Allegheny. He has coached ten players who have signed professional contracts, including one Major Leaguer. His 2004 pitching staff at Messiah also established numerous school records and finished 10th in the NCAA DIII in ERA.
“While I am proud of the on-field accomplishments of our athletes, the focus of our program will always be about bigger things; most notably, the idea of building men who are built for God and for others,” Reitnour stated. “The men in our program are consistently asked to sacrifice individual accomplishments for the betterment of the whole; to give all of themselves for their teammates, families and community. Houghton is a truly unique place that intentionally fosters such growth athletically, academically, spiritually. I believe that this inevitably creates an environment that makes better baseball players, but more importantly, develops better fathers, husbands, and community members. There is no place else I would rather live, work, and teach.”
Reitnour earned a master of arts in higher education from Geneva College in 2006. He served six years as the Coordinator of Career Services at Houghton before transitioning his secondary responsibilities to the Sports Information office in 2015, where he currently serves as Assistant Director.
When he is not coaching, he enjoys reading, gardening, farming, splitting wood and spending time with his family. He currently resides between Hume and Centerville with his wife, Joellyn, their two daughters, Abigail and Eleanor, and their two cats and dog in an old farm house, which they are currently restoring.
