2025 MoonDogs Coaching Staff
Danny Kneeland – Manager 
COACH EMAIL: dkneeland8@gmail.com
CURRENTLY: Associate Head Coach at Bethany Lutheran College
HOMETOWN: Windom, MN
HIGH SCHOOL: Windom Area HS
COLLEGE: Bethany Lutheran
Kneeland, 29, took over as the manager of the MoonDogs before the second half of the 2022 season. Entering his fourth season as MoonDog Manager, as well as his third full season at the helm, MoonDog Manager Danny Kneeland looks to continue the success he found with Mankato after piloting the club to a 134-105 record, 16 All-Stars (9 in one-year NWL record), 16 players on professional contracts, and 11 players hearing their name’s called on draft day.
Currently an Associate Head Coach at Bethany Lutheran College, where he played for four seasons in 2013 to 2017, Kneeland just wrapped up his sixth year on staff for the Vikings.
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 100 career games over four 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 five winning seasons, 37 all-conference players, and two conference championships.
Benji Ries (Assistant Coach)–
The Mankato MoonDogs are excited to announce the addition of Benji Ries to the coaching staff for the 2026 season, marking his first year with the organization.
Ries is currently serving as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Central Missouri, where he continues to develop as a coach at the collegiate level. He brings valuable experience in player development, preparation, and daily operations that will translate well to the MoonDogs’ clubhouse.
Prior to his time at Central Missouri, Ries spent three seasons coaching with Elite Baseball Training in Chicago, one of the premier travel baseball organizations in the country, working closely with high-level athletes and contributing to long-term player development.
As a player, Ries competed at Le Moyne College, where he was the starting catcher for three seasons. He helped lead the program to a Super Regional appearance in 2023 and played a key role in the program’s transition from Division III to Division I baseball. During his senior season, Ries led the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, showcasing both leadership and offensive production.
A native of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Ries brings a strong blend of playing experience, coaching background, and developmental insight to Mankato. The MoonDogs are thrilled to welcome Coach Ries and look forward to the energy and knowledge he will bring to the team during the 2026 season.
Shea Walker (Pitching Coach)–
The Mankato MoonDogs are excited to announce the addition of Shea Walker as the team’s Pitching Coach for the upcoming season, marking his first year with the organization.
Walker currently serves as the Pitching Coach at Bethany Lutheran College, where he is responsible for developing pitchers, managing staff preparation, and overseeing in-game pitching strategy. He brings a strong blend of collegiate coaching experience and recent competitive playing background to the MoonDogs’ staff.
In 2025, Walker also served as the Pitching Coach for the Queen City Corndogs of the South Carolina Baseball League (SCBL), gaining valuable summer collegiate experience while working closely with pitchers in a fast-paced, development-focused environment.
As a player, Walker pitched collegiately at UNC Asheville from 2024–2025 after beginning his career at Dodge City Community College from 2022–2023. During his time at DCCC, he was an All-Conference performer as a sophomore and ranks top 10 in career strikeouts in the program’s history, highlighting both durability and competitive consistency on the mound.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Walker brings energy, knowledge, and a pitcher-first development approach to Mankato. The MoonDogs are thrilled to welcome Coach Walker and look forward to the impact he will have on the pitching staff in the upcoming season.
Samuel Tetrault (Assistant Coach)–
The Mankato MoonDogs are excited to announce that Sam Tetrault will return to the coaching staff for the 2026 season, marking his second year with the organization.
Tetrault played a key role in the MoonDogs’ success during the 2025 campaign, helping guide the team to a 38–32 record, a Second Half Championship, and the Great Plains West Division Series Championship. His responsibilities included assisting with hitters, coordinating the run game, and opponent scouting, providing critical preparation and in-game strategy throughout the season.
Currently, Tetrault is in his second year on the coaching staff at Mount Marty University, where he helped lead the Lancers to the GPAC Tournament Championship in 2025. A native of Fullerton, California, he brings a diverse and accomplished coaching background at multiple competitive levels.
Tetrault previously served as an undergraduate assistant at the University of Arizona from 2018–2021 under head coach Jay Johnson, gaining experience in a premier Division I program. He also coached the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and spent two seasons at Iowa Western, where he helped the Reivers reach the JUCO World Series in 2024.
The MoonDogs are thrilled to welcome back Coach Tetrault and look forward to the continued impact his experience, preparation, and player development will bring to Mankato in 2026.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brooks Walton (Analytics/Player Development-
The Mankato MoonDogs are excited to announce the addition of Brooks Walton, who will oversee Analytics and Player Development for the upcoming season.
Walton brings a unique blend of professional playing experience, analytical insight, and coaching background to the MoonDogs’ staff. His role will focus on utilizing data-driven evaluation while supporting individual player growth both on and off the field.
As a player, Walton pitched collegiately at UAB from 2022–2023, where he was twice named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week during his senior season. He continued his playing career professionally with the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League from 2023–2024, gaining experience at the professional level and further expanding his understanding of player development systems.
Walton also brings valuable coaching experience, having worked with the University of Florida Softball program from 2023 to present, as well as serving in coaching roles with the Ottawa Titans during his time in professional baseball. His diverse background across collegiate, professional, and analytical environments adds a modern development approach to the MoonDogs organization.
A native of Gainesville, Florida, Walton adds depth and innovation to the MoonDogs’ staff. The organization is excited to welcome Coach Walton and looks forward to the impact his analytics-driven approach and player development focus will have during the upcoming season.