2024 MoonDogs Coaching Staff
Danny Kneeland – Manager 
COACH EMAIL: dkneeland8@gmail.com
CURRENTLY: Assistant Coach at Bethany Lutheran College
HOMETOWN: Windom, MN
HIGH SCHOOL: Windom Area HS
COLLEGE: Bethany Lutheran
Entering his third season as MoonDog Manager, as well as his second full season at the helm, MoonDog Manager Danny Kneeland looks to continue the success he found with Mankato after piloting the club to a 59-43 record over the last 2 seasons.
Kneeland, 29, took over as the manager of the MoonDogs before the second half of the 2022 season, taking over for Matt Wolenzin, who departed to take a collegiate coaching position after the first half of the season.
Currently an Assistant Coach at Bethany Lutheran College, where he played for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, Kneeland just wrapped up his sixth year on staff for the Vikings. He was also on the staff with Wollenzin his first two years at BLC.
During his time as a player at BLC, Kneeland would finish top-ten in program history with 497 putouts (second place), 17 caught stealings (3rd place), and 23 stolen bases (8th place). Playing in 69 career games over two seasons, Kneeland slashed .258/.352/.266 with 21 career RBI and 58 career hits. Across his time with the program, Kneeland proved to be a versatile player, appearing at catcher, second base, third base, and right field.
Kneeland graduated from Bethany Lutheran following his playing Kneeland playing at BLC career in 2017 with a degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. During his time at BLC, he has helped the team to four winning seasons and two appearances in the Division III tournament.
Ben Maes (Assistant Coach)– Ben Maes is entering his first season with the Mankato MoonDogs for the 23-24 season. Ben is from Bethany Lutheran College and played baseball for two years for the squad, then transitioned into part of the coaching staff. He has been coaching at Bethany Lutheran for 2 years and counting!
Conor Merton (Pitching Coach)– Conor Merton is in his second year with the MoonDogs! Conor was an intern last year for the MoonDogs as the trackman. He was also on a temp deal with the MoonDogs for the end of the season last year. Conor is from Bethany Lutheran College and spent 3 years on the squad as a left-handed pitcher! This past season at Bethany Lutheran College, he spent as an assistant pitching coach.
Brendan Hord (Catcher Coach)– Brendon Hord is entering his first season on the Mankato MoonDogs coaching staff as a Catcher Coach. Previously, Brendan has played two years on the MoonDogs squad and appeared in the All-Star Game, and Home Run Derby, in 2023. Brendan is currently a grad student at the University of Evansville, where he plays on the baseball team as a catcher.
