The Oregon Ducks baseball program has been on the rise since Mark Wasikowski took over in 2020. However, Oregon’s recruiting success has finally reached a turning point, as programs with greater NIL resources have poached the Ducks’ top talents this offseason, and a program-record seven Ducks have been selected in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Oregon has always built its team around recruiting. While that style may change for the 2027 season, leaning more on transfers, the Ducks have made a hire to hopefully swing momentum on the recruiting trail back in their favor.
On Thursday, the Ducks announced the hire of Ryan Fineman as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the baseball program. Fineman has spent the past two seasons with Troy, helping to build and guide the Trojans to the College World Series this past season.
A great addition to the Duck family.
Welcome to Eugene @Ryanfineman. #GoDuckspic.twitter.com/caLCnUrhyG
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) July 16, 2026
Fineman has also worked with catchers at his previous coaching stops at Troy and Old Dominion. He also served as the director of player personnel for Alabama in 2023. He has a keen eye for talent, and he could help the Ducks draw some talent on the recruiting trail from the southern states.
“Ryan is a high-character baseball guy that has great connections throughout the entire amateur baseball landscape,” Wasikowski said in a press release. “He has excelled as a recruiting coordinator at a tremendous level, evidenced by last year’s College World Series run at Troy University. Additional Division I experiences cutting his teeth in the SEC at the University of Alabama and also Old Dominion have been extremely valuable. His experience goes deeper than the Division I level. His time at Chipola Junior College in Florida while assisting legendary head coach Jeff Johnson will also help with recruiting efforts on a national JC level.”
Although most of his coaching and recruiting experience is from the South, Fineman has experience in the Big Ten as a player. He was a four-year starter at Indiana as a catcher, finishing his collegiate career with three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Big Ten regular-season title in 2019. He played one season in the Gulf Coast League after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Fineman is a well-rounded recruiter who can help the Ducks build a roster based on recruiting talent in the future, as the Ducks have in recent seasons. Jack Marder, who served as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach with the Ducks for the past seven seasons, left the program this offseason for a role at Texas.
The Ducks have some intriguing talent at catcher in the program for Fineman to work with during the season. Brayden Jaksa is expected to take over behind the dish after becoming a Freshman All-American last season. Cole Chamberlain was added from the transfer portal, and Jacob Madrid, who was drafted by the New York Mets in the MLB draft, and Trenton Herzog could enter the mix as freshmen next season.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon baseball makes critical hire to coaching staff
