By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
As a former Mater Dei High School baseball plater and assistant coach with the program for the past two seasons, Adam Wildeman “knows what the standard is” for the Mater Dei baseball program.
Mater Dei High School announced the hire of Wildeman as the head coach of the Mater Dei baseball team in an Aug. 12 press release. Wildeman was an assistant coach for the Wildcats for the past two seasons, including during last season’s state runner-up finish under coach Adam Schiff.
In the press release, Wildeman said this is “a dream job” for him and he is honored to have the opportunity to work with the players and families in the Mater Dei baseball program.
“(At) Mater Dei, the community’s special,” Wildeman said during media availability Aug. 14. “I think heading into this job, I know what the expectations are. I know what the standard is, and I’m excited to try to meet those standards every day.”
Mater Dei will look to build on last season’s run to the state championship game and state runner-up finish. Wildeman said last year’s postseason run was special. He said they had great leadership from the senior class and it was a special group of players, along with Coach Schiff’s impact in his lone season at the helm of the program.
Wildeman said the ultimate goal is to “hit the ground running” this season and put in the work it takes to get back to the state championship game.
“I think it’s easy to get caught up in, well, let’s get back to Victory Field,” Wildeman said. “But at the same time, I think you have to start at day one and you have to realize what work it took to get back there.”
Wildeman said in his two seasons as an assistant coach under the leadership of Schiff and 2023 coach Steve Ricketts, he learned from two really good coaches.
“I think they both had huge advantages that have influenced my coaching career,” Wildeman said. “The perks of this job is I get to pick and choose the positive things that they taught me … I get to blend those two with my own coaching styles as well.”
Prior to serving the past two years as an assistant coach with the Mater Dei baseball program, the 2018 Mater Dei graduate played on the University of Southern Indiana baseball team for five years. Wildeman’s coaching résumé also includes a stint as the head coach for the Evansville Razorbacks from 2022-2025. Additionally, he served as an instructor with Complete Game Baseball Academy.
“Adam’s connection to Mater Dei as a player, student and coach makes him the ideal choice to lead our baseball program,” Mater Dei Athletic Director Sam Fleming said in the Aug. 12 press release. “His deep knowledge of the game and steady leadership have already made a positive impact, and we’re confident he’ll continue to build on the proud tradition of success that defines Mater Dei athletics.”
Wildeman said his first step in taking over as head coach of the program is to get to know all of the new players, especially the players in the freshman class. When the window opens this fall to practice, the plan is to get to work, he said.
Wildeman stressed one of his big advantages will be relating to the players at Mater Dei.
“It wasn’t too long ago where I was in the same shoes as them,” Wildeman said. “And I kind of understand what it takes to put the work in and to end up being successful.”