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Michael Kellar Headshot

Michael Kellar

Michael Kellar was named the program's 13th head coach Saturday, June 1, 2024, following six years as the program's pitching coach. The 2026 season will be his second at the helm of the Titans.

In his inaugural season, Kellar logged a 28-15 (16-4) record and led Illinois Wesleyan to its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season championship since 2013.

Since leading the Green and White, Kellar has coached one All-American (Justin Gadomski, third team 2025) and Jake Pullman to third team all-region honors. He was named 2025 CCIW Coach of the Year.

During his time on Dennis Martel’s staff, Kellar coached 21 All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honorees and six all-region selections. He was critical in the development of Quinn Gudaitis, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2022. 

Prior to coming to Illinois Wesleyan, Kellar spent four seasons as assistant coach and pitching coach at Division I Illinois State University and prior to that he was at Siena, where he was an assistant coach for three seasons, including the last two as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Kellar starred at Niagara from 2008-09, and was a team captain and All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection as a senior, when he posted a 6-1 record against MAAC competition and a team-leading 3.56 ERA in league play. Kellar signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League in 2010, but suffered a career-ending shoulder injury in spring training that year.

Kellar played for two years at Lake Land College, where he was an academic all-conference selection, prior to his time at Niagara. He was an all-state selection and four-time all-conference honoree as a member of the Ridgeview High School baseball team, in Colfax, Illinois.

Kellar earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Niagara in 2009 and completed work on a master’s degree in sports management at Illinois in 2012.

Kellar is married to the former Lindsey Rosecrans, the former Illinois Wesleyan women's lacrosse coach, and the current Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Wellness. They are the parents of Graceyn, Hadley, and Kennedy.