Mike Fitschen joined the Lander baseball coaching staff in September 2025 and serves as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator while working with the team's catchers and baserunners.
In his first season back at his alma mater, Fitschen helped guide the Bearcats to a 36-21 record, the program's second consecutive Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship and its first back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. Lander finished 20-10 in Peach Belt Conference play, marking the program's third straight 20-win conference season, and hosted the opening weekend of the PBC Tournament for the third consecutive year.
The Bearcats established an NCAA all-division single-season record with 174 hit by pitches while ranking among the nation's top offensive teams. Lander also produced four All-Peach Belt Conference selections, the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player in Zach Cowart and an NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week honoree.
Fitschen returned to Greenwood after spending four seasons at Mars Hill, where he coordinated the offense and recruiting efforts for the Lions. During his tenure, he coached five All-South Atlantic Conference selections, including Zach Weaver, who became the program's all-time home run leader with 49 career home runs.
In addition to overseeing the offense, Fitschen worked with the infielders, outfielders and catchers while helping Mars Hill establish a program record for fielding percentage in 2022. He also coached two South Atlantic Conference All-Defensive Team selections.
A member of Lander's 2016 NCAA Southeast Region championship team, Fitschen appeared in 180 games over his five-year career, making 165 starts primarily at catcher and designated hitter while also seeing time at first base. The Margate, Florida, native collected 187 career hits, scored 101 runs, drove in 98 and finished with a .982 career fielding percentage.
