Steve Johnson enters his first year as head coach at Fort Hays State University in 2011.

Johnson came to FHSU from Butler (Kan.) Community College, where he was the head coach for seven years. While at Butler, Johnson compiled a record of 235-155. He led the program to at least 30 wins in his last six seasons and an NJCAA World Series appearance in 2006. The Grizzlies were co-champions of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division three times in Johnson's tenure, including the 2010 season. He was twice named the Jayhawk Western Division Coach of the Year (2005 and 2007) and was the NJCAA Central District and ABCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2006.

In seven years at Butler, Johnson coached five all-region selections and 34 all-conference selections. Four of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Six former players went on to play professional baseball. He also had six players earn NJCAA Academic All-American honors.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Butler Community College, Johnson spent eight years as an assistant with three different successful programs. His last two years (2002 and 2003) as an assistant were at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he was the pitching coach and chief recruiter. He helped the Indians to the 2002 Southland Conference Championship. He was assistant coach at Barton (Kan.) Community College for four years (1998-2001), helping the Cougars average 30 wins per season in his time with the program. Johnson started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Fort Hays State for two years (1996 and 1997). He helped the Tigers to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship and finish runner-up in the school's first ever NCAA Division II West Regional appearance. In his eight years as an assistant, he coached 10 pitchers that went on to play professional baseball, with two making it to the Major League level. Combining the three institutions together, Johnson had a record of 262-190 as an assistant coach.

Johnson played collegiate baseball for three years. He played two years at Barton (Kan.) Community College from 1989 to 1990, earning All-KJCCC and All-Region 6 honors. He went on to play one year at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he was named MVP of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. That year, UAB made their only NCAA regional appearance in school history. In 1992, Johnson signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and played five seasons in professional baseball.

In 2000, Johnson was inducted into the El Dorado (Kan.) Baseball Hall of Fame for his performance with the El Dorado Broncos summer collegiate team during the 1990 and 1991 campaigns.

A native of Salisbury, Mo., Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Management at Fort Hays State University in 1997. He is married to the former Gina Spilker of Clay Center, Kan. They have two sons, Caleb and Cooper.

Eric Gilliland is in his first season as an assistant coach for the Fort Hays State baseball team. Gilliland will serve as bullpen coach and assist with outfielders in 2010.

The Concordia, Kan., native was a two-time All-MIAA selection as a pitcher at Fort Hays State in 2008 and 2009. He was named the MIAA Player of the Week twice in his career at FHSU. Gilliland was also a top performer in the classroom as a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team selection, Fort Hays State’s male Ken B. Jones Award nominee in 2009, and a recipient of the HHP Department Faculty/Alumni Award.

In the summer of 2009, Gilliland played in Independent Baseball with the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti, Mich.

Ben Tinius is in his first season as an assistant coach for the Fort Hays State baseball team. Tinius will serve as a hitting coach and work with infielders in 2010.

Tinius, former FHSU third baseman, was one of the best hitters in the program’s history. The Longmont, Colo., native was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year in 2003, with 19 home runs and 77 RBI. He also garnered All-American honors that season.

Over the past five years, Tinius played with several teams in Independent Baseball. In Texas, he spent time with the Amarillo Dillas, Coastal Bend Aviators, and Laredo Broncos. He also enjoyed stints with the Lincoln Salt Dogs in Nebraska and Atlantic City Greys.

Bobby Lewton is in his first season as an assistant coach for the Fort Hays State baseball team.

Lewton was one of the top pitchers in Fort Hays State history, as he earned All-American honors in 2006. He was also named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2006, finishing the year with a record of 12-3. He posted an ERA of 2.03 in 110.2 innings of work with 62 strikeouts, six complete games, and three shutouts. His 12 wins in 2006 set the single-season record at FHSU. The Dallas, Texas, native also owns the career school record for fewest walks per innings pitched (.15/inning).