Air Force Baseball Strengthens Staff with Three Additions
9/16/2026 9:16:00 AM | Baseball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - Air Force baseball has announced several promotions and additions to its coaching staff ahead of the 2027 season as the Falcons continue to build on the foundation of the program and usher in a new era under head coach Drew LaComb.
KYLE WINKLER – PITCHING COACH & RECRUITING COORDINATOR
Kyle Winkler, a familiar name for Air Force baseball, will continue his role as pitching coach and take on expanded responsibilities as the Falcons' recruiting coordinator.
On the promotion to recruiting coordinator, head coach Drew LaComb expressed, "Coach Winkler has been instrumental to our success of bringing in high level baseball players. His ability to recruit and evaluate talent has been a tremendous asset to our program. He has played a huge role in bringing in the best mid major recruiting class in the country in our 2026 class and we expect him to continue to do so in this role."
BRAXTON IPSON – ASSISTANT COACH
Braxton Ipson joins the Falcons' coaching staff following five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Utah Tech. During his tenure with the Trailblazers, Ipson oversaw infield defense and served as the third base coach while contributing to all facets of the program, including team offense, hitting, baserunning, academics and fundraising.
In 2026, Ipson helped lead Utah Tech to a 35-win season, marking the most victories in the program's NCAA Division I era.
Prior to his time at Utah Tech, Ipson served as an assistant coach at his prep alma mater, Dixie High School, following a four-year playing career at Dixie State, now Utah Tech.
Ipson earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Dixie State in 2020 before completing his master's degree in sports management from Louisiana State University in 2024.
LaComb expressed, ""Coach Ipson brings valuable experience of recruiting and developing players at a high level to our coaching staff. He led one of the best offenses in the country last year and also recruited and developed a very talented position player group at his previous institution. We are excited to add him to our staff as he is a great fit to our offensive system and to also see him help develop our position player group to another level specifically our infielders."
HUNTER WOLFE – ASSISTANT COACH
Wolfe joins the Air Force staff following two seasons at Murray State, where he helped the Racers to 77 wins and the most successful stretch in program history, including a program-record 44-win season and the program's first College World Series appearance in 2025.
During his tenure, Wolfe helped lead one of the Missouri Valley Conference's top offenses, while developing nine All-MVC selections and 2025 All-American Jonathan Hogart. He also helped Will Vierling earn an 11th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2025 MLB Draft, with Hogart later signing with the Phillies organization.
A former professional player, Wolfe began his collegiate career at Walters State Community College before playing at TCU, where he hit .316 with a .934 OPS over 110 games and helped the Horned Frogs win a Big 12 Championship and earn a national seed in the NCAA Tournament. He later played professionally for the Cleburne Railroaders, earning the organization's 2022 Rookie of the Year honors.
On Wolfe's arrival, LaComb mentioned, ""Coach Wolfe brings an incredible pedigree to our staff of understanding what it takes to win as both as a player and as a coach. He has Omaha experience and has been a part of many successful programs. His ability to help develop hitters and outfielders will be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."
SHAUN REED – DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERFORMANCE
Shaun Reed has served as the Director of Baseball Operations and Player Development for the past three seasons and will transition into the newly created role of Director of Player Performance.
"Coach Reed has been the backbone and glue of our program and I am happy to promote him to our new position of Director of Player Performance," said LaComb. "In this new position, Coach Reed will serve as a liaison between our Human Performance Lab and our baseball program. He will develop our players with their mental performance skills, while also focusing on goal setting and peak performance. He also will assist our pitching staff and our baseball operations."
CLAY CONN – DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS & ANALYTICS
Clay Conn joins the Falcons' coaching staff following one season as a graduate assistant at Regis University, where he worked primarily with the infield and baserunning. During the 2026 season, Conn helped guide two infielders to Gold Glove honors, while his first baseman earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region recognition.
Conn began his collegiate playing career at the University of Illinois Chicago before transferring to Regis, where he utilized his remaining two years of eligibility. During his playing career, he earned NCBWA All-Region Second Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team and All-RMAC First Team honors. He was also named a CSC Academic All-American Third Team selection, CSC Academic All-District honoree and RMAC All-Academic Team selection. Conn also established the Regis single-season record for stolen bases.
On Conn's move from Regis, LaComb said, ""Coach Conn will be our new Director of Baseball Operations and will be bringing an analytics focus and background to our staff. He will be running player development reports, assisting with scouting reports, and will be assisting with coaching our position players. He brings a versatile skillset to our coaching staff and we are very fortunate to have him on our staff."
KYLE WINKLER – PITCHING COACH & RECRUITING COORDINATOR
Kyle Winkler, a familiar name for Air Force baseball, will continue his role as pitching coach and take on expanded responsibilities as the Falcons' recruiting coordinator.
On the promotion to recruiting coordinator, head coach Drew LaComb expressed, "Coach Winkler has been instrumental to our success of bringing in high level baseball players. His ability to recruit and evaluate talent has been a tremendous asset to our program. He has played a huge role in bringing in the best mid major recruiting class in the country in our 2026 class and we expect him to continue to do so in this role."
BRAXTON IPSON – ASSISTANT COACH
Braxton Ipson joins the Falcons' coaching staff following five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Utah Tech. During his tenure with the Trailblazers, Ipson oversaw infield defense and served as the third base coach while contributing to all facets of the program, including team offense, hitting, baserunning, academics and fundraising.
In 2026, Ipson helped lead Utah Tech to a 35-win season, marking the most victories in the program's NCAA Division I era.
Prior to his time at Utah Tech, Ipson served as an assistant coach at his prep alma mater, Dixie High School, following a four-year playing career at Dixie State, now Utah Tech.
Ipson earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Dixie State in 2020 before completing his master's degree in sports management from Louisiana State University in 2024.
LaComb expressed, ""Coach Ipson brings valuable experience of recruiting and developing players at a high level to our coaching staff. He led one of the best offenses in the country last year and also recruited and developed a very talented position player group at his previous institution. We are excited to add him to our staff as he is a great fit to our offensive system and to also see him help develop our position player group to another level specifically our infielders."
HUNTER WOLFE – ASSISTANT COACH
Wolfe joins the Air Force staff following two seasons at Murray State, where he helped the Racers to 77 wins and the most successful stretch in program history, including a program-record 44-win season and the program's first College World Series appearance in 2025.
During his tenure, Wolfe helped lead one of the Missouri Valley Conference's top offenses, while developing nine All-MVC selections and 2025 All-American Jonathan Hogart. He also helped Will Vierling earn an 11th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2025 MLB Draft, with Hogart later signing with the Phillies organization.
A former professional player, Wolfe began his collegiate career at Walters State Community College before playing at TCU, where he hit .316 with a .934 OPS over 110 games and helped the Horned Frogs win a Big 12 Championship and earn a national seed in the NCAA Tournament. He later played professionally for the Cleburne Railroaders, earning the organization's 2022 Rookie of the Year honors.
On Wolfe's arrival, LaComb mentioned, ""Coach Wolfe brings an incredible pedigree to our staff of understanding what it takes to win as both as a player and as a coach. He has Omaha experience and has been a part of many successful programs. His ability to help develop hitters and outfielders will be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."
SHAUN REED – DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERFORMANCE
Shaun Reed has served as the Director of Baseball Operations and Player Development for the past three seasons and will transition into the newly created role of Director of Player Performance.
"Coach Reed has been the backbone and glue of our program and I am happy to promote him to our new position of Director of Player Performance," said LaComb. "In this new position, Coach Reed will serve as a liaison between our Human Performance Lab and our baseball program. He will develop our players with their mental performance skills, while also focusing on goal setting and peak performance. He also will assist our pitching staff and our baseball operations."
CLAY CONN – DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS & ANALYTICS
Clay Conn joins the Falcons' coaching staff following one season as a graduate assistant at Regis University, where he worked primarily with the infield and baserunning. During the 2026 season, Conn helped guide two infielders to Gold Glove honors, while his first baseman earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region recognition.
Conn began his collegiate playing career at the University of Illinois Chicago before transferring to Regis, where he utilized his remaining two years of eligibility. During his playing career, he earned NCBWA All-Region Second Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team and All-RMAC First Team honors. He was also named a CSC Academic All-American Third Team selection, CSC Academic All-District honoree and RMAC All-Academic Team selection. Conn also established the Regis single-season record for stolen bases.
On Conn's move from Regis, LaComb said, ""Coach Conn will be our new Director of Baseball Operations and will be bringing an analytics focus and background to our staff. He will be running player development reports, assisting with scouting reports, and will be assisting with coaching our position players. He brings a versatile skillset to our coaching staff and we are very fortunate to have him on our staff."
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