Kelowna Falcons hire Hayden Pewitt as new head coach

Photo: Contributed

Hayden Pewitt seen on the left with the Expedition league Trophy

The Kelowna Falcons got their man.  

Hayden Pewitt has been tapped as the Falcons new head coach for the upcoming 2020 West Coast League season. Pewitt replaces Ryan Wright who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays minor league coaching staff.

“I’m excited,” says Coach Pewitt. “We’re going to pitch it, but also try to bang it a little bit as well and we’re going to have some fun on the offensive side. I’m excited, it won’t be long now, we’ll be up there in just over five months and we want to get this thing rolling.”

Hayden brings a wealth of baseball knowledge to the Falcons program. He has accepted an assistant position at Chattanooga State Community College after spending one year at Tusculum University in Tennessee. He has spent the last two summers in the Expedition League as the head coach of the Badlands Big Sticks. In 2019 his club won the EL title and Hayden was named the Coach of the Year award after a 48-20 summer record.

“He’s a great fit for our program,” says General Manager Mark Nonis. “He comes highly recommended from Coach Wright who wanted to come back, but obviously couldn’t pass up an opportunity with the Blue Jays. Hayden with his summer ball experience made him the ideal candidate because he knows the team needs to win right out of the gate. It’s an exciting time for our club, celebrating our 20th anniversary season.”

After a well-traveled collegiate career, including stops at Motlow State Community College (Tennessee) and Midland University (Nebraska), Hayden, a former catcher, began his coaching career spending two years returning to Motlow State. While competing in one of the country's toughest junior college conferences, Hayden helped in the development of the Bucks catchers and pitchers. He spent a year at Spokane Falls Community College in the same capacity where they earned a third-place finish in the NWACC Conference.

Hayden is originally from Maryville, Tennessee and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017.

The Falcons open their 20th anniversary season on June 5th when they host the Walla Walla Sweets