Michael Barnes is in his second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team.

Barnes joined the Warriors’ coaching staff following a standout playing career at Ripon College. In four seasons (2016-2019) with the Red Hawks, Barnes posted a .337 career batting average with 166 hits, 91 runs, 85 RBI, and 10 home runs while ranking in the top 10 in career at-bats (493) and hits.

The 2019 Midwest Conference North Player of the Year was also named Second Team All-Region by the ABCA and D3baseball.com. He also earned all-conference and all-academic honors three times from the MWC. Barnes graduated from Ripon with bachelor’s degrees in business management and economics in 2019.

Barnes prepped at Hamilton High School in Sussex where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football, and track & field. He was twice named All-State, First Team All-Conference, All-Area, and team captain in baseball. Barnes was also selected to play in the WBCA All-Star Game his senior year.

The Menomonee Falls native has served as a coach for the Badger Baseball Academy and the Hamilton High School junior varsity program. He is enrolled in the college’s Master of Arts - Transition to Teaching program.