[Longview, Wa] – The Cowlitz Black Bears are thrilled to announce that Linfield University Head Coach, Dan Spencer, is set to be the 7th manager in team history. The Wildcat head coach brings with him a wealth of baseball knowledge through 34+ years of coaching experience including stops at Oregon State, Texas Tech, New Mexico, and Washington State. A Pacific Northwest native, Coach Spencer grew up in Vancouver, Washington and graduated from Portland State University in 1990. He began his coaching career shortly after graduating from PSU as he joined the Tacoma Community College Titans coaching staff as an assistant in 1991.
Coach Spencer quickly climbed the coaching ranks becoming the manager for the Green River Community College squad from 1992-1996. After his time at Green River, he would move on to the Division 1 level as a member of the Oregon State coaching staff between the years of 1997-2007. During the Oregon State’s 2006 and 2007 national championship seasons, Coach Spencer served as the Beavers Associate Head Coach. The Cowlitz Black Bears are excited to bring in someone of Coach Spencer’s pedigree to take the helm for the 15th season.
After his time at Oregon State, Coach Spencer would go on to manage the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2009-2012. During his tenure, he won 115 games, the most by a Texas Tech coach their first four seasons. No stranger to the big moment, Coach Spencer’s teams defeated 32 nationally ranked opponents during his time with the Red Raiders, also the most ever of any Texas Tech head coach in their four seasons.
Following the 2012 season, Coach Spencer made stops at University of New Mexico and Washington State before becoming the sixth head coach for the Linfield University Wildcats. When he was hired in 2019, Coach Spencer became the first non-Linfield graduate to lead the program since 1949, further highlighting his exceptional credentials and adaptability.
“I want to thank Tony and the entire Cowlitz Black Bears organization for the opportunity to be a part of their operation. I also want to thank Scott Brosius, the athletic director at Linfield University, for the permission to pursue the position. Coaching collegiate players in the summer has always been something I have had an interest in and I feel fortunate to be granted the opportunity. Longview is a baseball town and I look forward to being part of a product people can rally around,” said Spencer.
The Cowlitz Black Bears are thrilled to have Coach Spencer at the helm for the 2025 season. With his extensive experience and deep ties to the Pacific Northwest, Spencer’s leadership promises to make the upcoming 15th season the most memorable yet.