Niethammer, a native of Evansville, Indiana, began playing baseball at an early age. Niethammer was a versatile athlete at Evansville North High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. After high school Niethammer played two years of junior college baseball at Olney Central College. In both years, Niethammer garnered all-conference honors and was selected to the all-tournament team in his first year. To round out his junior college accomplishments, Niethammer was selected to the Region XXIV All-Star team that was played at the prestigious Wrigley Field.
After graduating Olney Central College in 1988 with an A.S degree, Niethammer joined NCAA-I program, Appalachian State University on a baseball scholarship. At ASU Niethammer was selected to the All-Southern Conference team in 1989 and the All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1990. Records fell to Niethammer while at ASU in the single-season and career-fielding percentage categories as well as home runs in a single inning (two). Niethammer also tied the school record for home runs in a game (three). Niethammer graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from ASU.
After graduating, Niethammer moved into the coaching ranks. He started his coaching career at Lake Wales High School as an assistant baseball coach in 1991 while still pursuing his playing career. He was involved in spring training with the Texas Rangers, and was part of the Houston Astros developmental squad. The following year Niethammer continued as assistant coach at Lake Wales High School and became the head coach with American Legion Baseball. Niethammer’s next stop in the coaching ranks was assistant coach of Frostproof High School in 1993. In the summer of 1993 Niethammer was hired as the head baseball coach at then Webber College and had the opportunity to start the first ever baseball program in Webber’s history.
In 2009, coach Niethammer graduated from Webber International University with his Master’s Degree (MBA) in Sport Management.
Entering his 23rd season as the Warrior head baseball coach, Niethammer’s overall career record at WIU stands at 618-575-1 which puts him 18th on the NAIA list of active winningest active coaches. The Warriors have compiled a 281-151 record against non-conference NAIA teams in 22 seasons and a 397-271 overall record outside The Sun Conference.
The Warriors have had twelve 30-plus win seasons under Niethammer, recently made their 10th postseason appearance and their fourth straight in 2014 before missing out in 2015. The Warriors best tournament run came in 1996 with a runner-up finish in the Florida Sun Conference Tournament. The Warriors posted their best finish in the regional format in 2004 with third place, earning them a third seed at the Region XIV Tournament. The Warriors best overall record was in 2003 with a 37-19 mark.
The Warriors were crowned USCAA National Champions in 2005 after posting an unblemished 6-0 record en route to the first baseball National Championship in the school's history.
Under Coach Niethammer the hardballers have also excelled in the classroom. The Warriors have had 24 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes. His teams have collected the prestigious honor of NAIA Baseball Scholar Team four times in (2004, '05, '06, and '07).
Niethammer has had 20 years continuous membership in the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association), and is serving on the NAIA-BCA executive committee over the next four years (2013-2016). Niethammer is currently serving as the Vice President of the NAIA-BCA. Niethammer also serves as The Sun Conference baseball chair, as well as The Sun Conference treasurer.
Coach Niethammer currently resides in Babson Park. Fla. with his two daughters Tori (14) and Brenna (17). Coach Niethammer attends High Point Church in Lake Wales, Fla.
Niethammer at WIU
1994      17-31  8th FSC - Inaugural season                Â
1995Â Â Â Â Â Â 22-31 Â 7th FSC
1996Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-28 Â 6th FSC
1997Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-25 Â 5th FSC
1998Â Â Â Â Â Â 22-26 Â 8th FSC
1999Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-25 Â 7th FSC
2000Â Â Â Â Â Â 23-30 Â 8th FSC
2001Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-28 Â 9th FSC
2002Â Â Â Â Â Â 28-27 Â 7th FSC
2003Â Â Â Â Â Â 37-19* Â 7th FSC - School record for wins
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â 34-24 Â 4th FSC
2005Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-30 Â 8th FSC
2006Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-24 Â 4th FSC
2007Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-21 Â 5th FSC
2008Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-23 Â 6th FSC
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â 25-31 Â 6th TSC
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-29 Â 8th TSC
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-26 Â 5th TSC
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â 25-26 Â 4th TSC
2013 Â Â Â 35-22 Â 4th TSC
2014 Â Â Â 30-28 Â 5th TSC
2015 Â Â Â 32-22 Â T-6th TSC
