Ryan Tuntland is in his first year as director of player development for the West Virginia baseball team and is in his second season working with the WVU baseball staff.
A Mountaineer in 2013, Tuntland returned to WVU in 2016 as a student assistant coach after getting drafted by and playing two seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization. Tuntland brings a wealth of knowledge to his newly-created position, both from his time with the Giants and as a player and student coach at WVU.
As the director of player development, Tuntland works with players on and off the field on their development in academics, nutrition, strength and conditioning, sleep, daily routines and mental focus.
In 2016 as a student assistant coach for the Mountaineers, Tuntland assisted with hitting and the infielders. While also finishing his degree, he helped lead WVU to its best record and offensive performance since joining the Big 12.
Last summer, Tuntland also served as an assistant coach for the Woodland Strykers in the Texas Collegiate League.
After transferring to WVU as a junior in 2013, Tuntland started and played in 56 games at third base. He was second on the team with a .325 batting average and third with 65 hits and 36 RBI. He garnered All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team honors and was drafted in the 29th round by the San Francisco Giants.
In the Giants organization, Tuntland began his career in rookie ball with the Arizona League Giants. He quickly was promoted to Single A and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, where he had 31 hits, 19 RBI and 26 walks in 36 games. In 2014, Tuntland was assigned to the Augusta GreenJackets, where he played 65 games. He recorded 40 hits, 17 RBI and had 59 total bases.
A Des Plaines, Illinois, native, Tuntland graduated West Virginia University in 2016 with a bachelor of arts degree in multidisciplinary studies.
