OKLAHOMA CITY – Coming off its first NAIA World Series run in program history, the MACU Baseball team added a coach with postseason pedigree to its staff as Tyle Hankins has been named the program's new Assistant Coach, primarily serving as the Hitting Coach.
Hankins is a familiar face to the Evangels, coming to MACU after serving as the Head Coach at Sooner Athletic Conference rival Science & Arts for the last five seasons, amassing a record of 163-97 (.627), which includes winning 35 or more games in four of his years as the team's skipper.
Overall, Hankins led the Drovers to the 2025 SAC Tournament title while also guiding USAO to four NAIA Opening Round appearances.
"I'm very excited and thankful for the opportunity to join Coach Brett Stanton and his staff here at MACU," said Hankins. "I can't wait to meet all of the players and get to work in continuing to build the success of the MACU Baseball program."
Before becoming the head coach of the Drovers, Hankins served as the Assistant Coach for three seasons under now USAO Athletic Director Mike Ross, where the Drovers captured the SAC regular season and tournament titles during the 2019 and 2021 campaigns as well as advancing to the NAIA World Series in 2019, just narrowly missing making it to the Championship game.
Hankins has also served as an Assistant Coach for three NCAA Division II programs prior to going to USAO, including Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and East Central (Okla.).
In all five seasons as the head coach of the Drovers, USAO has ranked in the top four of the conference in batting average, including leading the Sooner in 2024 in average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage as well as posting the league's best on-base percentage this past 2026 campaign.
"Tyle is an established leader with a proven track record of success," stated Stanton. "He will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be a huge benefit to our players."
Under Stanton, the Evangels have put together an unprecedented level of success since taking over the team prior to the start of the 2021 season, amassing a 220-110 (.667) overall record over the last six years, winning 40 or more games in each of the last three campaigns.
MACU won its first NAIA Opening Round against last year's National Champion LSU Shreveport this past season, qualifying for the NAIA Tournament in each off the last three years following capturing the team's first NCCAA World Series Championship in 2023. During this time frame, the Evangels won the 2024 SAC regular season title and two of the last three tournament titles with Hankins from USAO winning the 2025 tourney.
The Evangels closed out the 2026 season with a program record in wins, going 43-15 overall while finishing seventh in the NAIA World Series and ending the year with the program's highest ever ranking at No. 8.
