From IWU to the New York Yankees: Online Marketing Student Makes Coaching History

At just 20 years old, Chase Gerbrick made sports history by becoming the youngest coach in professional baseball. This spring, the trailblazer will reach another major milestone: graduating with a marketing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) online program.

Gerbrick’s story is one of vision, perseverance, and faith. His coaching journey officially began at 19, but his passion for player development came much earlier. As a high school student, he was already working with athletes, giving nearly 20 lessons a week, and building what would become a powerful online brand. That brand — Gerbrick Performance — started as an Instagram account to share training tips with local players. It’s now grown into a community of over 50,000 followers and is home to one of the top-ranked baseball podcasts of 2023-2024.

Just one semester into his marketing degree at IWU, Gerbrick received a life-changing offer: a job with the New York Yankees. By age 20, he was in the Dominican Republic, developing talent for as part of the Yankees' Minor League program — making him the youngest professional baseball coach in history.

Driven by a dream to become one of the greatest coaches in the sport’s history, Gerbrick isn’t just building a career — he’s redefining what’s possible for young coaches in baseball.

Collegiate Playing Career & the Road to IWU

Before launching his coaching career full-time, Gerbrick was a top baseball prospect himself. Freshman year of high school, he was already a prospect to college coaches. He initially committed to Lipscomb University, a Division I (DI) program, as a switch-hitting shortstop.  However, his playing career was repeatedly disrupted by arm injuries. After starting two games as a college freshman at Lipscomb, he entered the transfer portal, considering multiple DI offers. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding college decisions and his arm, so Gerbrick was unsure how to proceed. With the pressure on, he only had two weeks left in the transfer portal.

His uncertain circumstances changed when his brother Carter and sister-in-law Makena (both IWU alumni) visited him and encouraged him to connect with IWU Baseball’s head coach, Ian Macdonald. What began as a casual conversation led to an unexpected invitation — not to for Gerbrick to play, but to be IWU’s infield coach.

Making History at Indiana Wesleyan University

At 19, Gerbrick became the youngest coach in collegiate baseball history. Under his leadership, IWU’s infield quickly gained national recognition, even earning the title of Infield University among programs across the country.

During his time at IWU, he also had opportunities to work with both major and minor league players. After just one semester, a professional door opened — an offer for Gerbrick to coach a New York Yankees Minor League team — becoming the youngest coach in professional baseball history at age 20. One year later, at just 21, he made history again as the youngest Minor League Baseball manager ever.

Indiana Wesleyan University’s Lasting Impact

Gerbrick’s journey is a powerful testament to God’s presence in his life. His brother and sister-in-law had always believed that IWU would play a role in his story. Looking back, he’s grateful for their encouragement and credits his time at IWU helped him grow spiritually, academically and professionally.

To him, what sets IWU apart is the people. He admires those who live out their faith through action, not just words.

He recognizes the Lord, his family, and the mentors who challenged him as the biggest influences on his journey. And despite all his achievements, Gerbrick says his relationship with Jesus Christ is his greatest accomplishment.

He remains deeply thankful to his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, and former IWU head coach Ian Macdonald and the rest of the baseball staff.

Closing Thoughts – A Legacy of Leadership

While Gerbrick has taken bold steps to create his own path, his core value remains the same: to stay authentic and help others reach their full potential. To him, true leadership means holding both yourself and others to a high standard, while always inspiring those around you.

Indiana Wesleyan University gave him a strong foundation — one rooted in faith, excellence, and purpose. As he continues to rise through the ranks of professional baseball, Gerbrick proudly carries the IWU legacy and his calling to impact lives through the game he loves.