KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan University and head baseball coach Billy Gernon have announced the addition of Josh Rebandt to the program's staff as an assistant coach.
 
"Josh has had tremendous success as both a player and a coach," coach Gernon said. "He has done an amazing job over the last six seasons as the skipper of the Traverse City Pit Spitters in the highly competitive Northwoods League. He is one of the best at recruiting, developing and retaining players in one of the best collegiate summer leagues in the country. His knowledge and relationships will certainly help boost recruiting efforts. He has experience on both sides of the baseball that will play an integral role in player development."
 
Over the course of his coaching career, 33 of Rebandt's former players have been selected in the MLB Draft, while 60 have moved on to play professional baseball. He is currently wrapping up his sixth year as the field manager for the Traverse City Pit Spitters of the Northwoods League. In 2019, he was named the Northwoods League Field Manager of the Year and led the Pit Spitters to multiple league records, including an 18-game winning streak, and the Northwoods League Championship. After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, Rebandt took Traverse City to the league title again in 2021. The 2023 squad went 44-32, won the Great Lakes East Division and advanced to the Northwoods League semifinals.
 
Before his time in Traverse City in the Northwoods League, Rebandt was the field manager for the Battle Creek Bombers in 2018 and the pitching coach for the Lakeshore Chinooks in 2016. He spent the 2012-15 summers on staff as the pitching coach and then field manager for the Niagara Power of the New York Collegiate League.
 
"I'm genuinely excited and very grateful for Billy giving me an opportunity to join his staff here at Western Michigan," Rebandt said. "I always tell people that I want to be surrounded by winners and this is a perfect fit because of the tradition he has created here, along with coming off of an NCAA Regional appearance and MAC Championship this past spring. I am fired up to get to work with the players and hopefully make an impact on and off the field during such an exciting time in their lives as we chase another championship for Bronco nation!"
 
Rebandt also boasts a wealth of experience from the collegiate ranks. From 2016-19, he served as the pitching coach for Davenport University in Grand Rapids. His 2017 pitching staff ranked sixth in the NAIA in team ERA and set a school record with 493 strikeouts. During his time with the Panthers, he had 10 players earn First Team All-Conference selections and two which were named All-Americans.
 
He also spent three seasons as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Olivet Nazarene, where he helped the team to a 2016 CCAC championship and appearance in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament.
 
Rebandt began his coaching career as the head coach at his alma mater, Clearwater Christian College. He took the 2013 team to a fourth-place finish in the NCCAA DII College World Series, had five players selected First Team All-Region and had one player earn Second Team All-American.
 
As a player, Rebandt spent one season (2008) at Adrian College, which saw the Bulldogs go all the way to the NCAA Division III College World Series. He spent his final three seasons as a captain at Clearwater Christian, where he helped the Cougars to a runner-up finish at the 2011 NCCAA DII College World Series.
 
Rebandt received a bachelor's degree from Clearwater Christian College in 2011 and a master's degree from Olivet Nazarene University in 2016.