Grand Canyon has found its next baseball coach.
The program announced the hiring of Gregg Wallis on Friday, taking over for Andy Stankiewics, who left for the USC job last Sunday.
“Grand Canyon University is home,” Wallis said in a press release. “I can’t thank president Brian Mueller and (VP of athletics) Jamie Boggs enough for the opportunity to be the head baseball coach. Coach (Andy) Stankiewicz left the program in a really strong place, and I’m excited about the challenge of continuing to push GCU Baseball forward.”
Wallis had spent the past nine years as a GCU assistant coach before leaving after the conclusion of the 2022 season to be an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ohio State.
“After an extensive national search, we are excited to welcome Gregg Wallis back to the GCU family,” GCU VP of athletics Jamie Boggs said in a release. “In addition to being known as one of the premier recruiters in the country, Gregg impressed us with his vision and strategic plan to take our already nationally competitive program to the next level.
“He has been to Omaha with two different programs, is a relentless worker, an outstanding community and relationship builder, and has tremendous passion for GCU. We are excited for the future of GCU Baseball with Coach Wallis at the helm.”
Before joining the Lopes in 2014, Wallis coached at his alma mater UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and Tennessee.
“Gregg Wallis is the right man for the job,” Stankiewicz said in a release. “I am so excited to hear that he will be leading GCU Baseball.
“First and foremost, he is a relationship builder. He cares about his players and will teach them baseball, but more importantly he will show them how to be a team. GCU Baseball is in great hands.”
Wallis has already began filling out his staff, too, hiring Nathan Bannister as a pitching coach.
Bannister joins GCU after serving as a pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners and Modesto Nuts.
“I’m thrilled to join GCU,” Bannister said in a release. “The program has been on the rise and it’s time to take the next step. I’m excited to join coach Wallis on his staff to develop players and compete for championships. Lopes up.”