NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State baseball head coach Steve Holm announced the addition of David Pearson to the Redbird Staff ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Pearson adds a wealth of experience to the Illinois State baseball staff after previously serving as a scout and coach. Pearson previously worked as a Midwest Area Scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, scouting prospects from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota before joining the Redbird coaching staff.
Before moving to a scouting role, Pearson was an assistant coach with the University of Iowa baseball program. In this role, Pearson spent one season serving as the Hawkeyes' hitting coach. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, Pearson helped guide Iowa to 36 wins, the ninth most in program history.
Prior to joining the Hawkeye coaching staff, Pearson worked for two years as an assistant coach at North Dakota State from 2019 to 2021 in his second stint with the Bison. He also served as the Head Coach at Des Moines College for three years.
During the 2021 season, the Bison secured 42 wins, the most in program history, on their way to a Summit League Tournament title and an NCAA Regional bid. In the NCAA Regional game, North Dakota State prevailed with a 6-1 victory over Nevada to secure its first tournament since moving to Division I.
Pearson returned to North Dakota State after previously spending 10 years with the Bison from 2007-16, serving his last two years as an associate head coach. In his first tenure in Fargo, Pearson helped the Bison to their first-ever Summit League Tournament title and first NCAA Regional berth in 2014. Pearson also assisted North Dakota State to three Summit League Tournament title game appearances and five Summit League tournament berths.
Pearson began his collegiate coaching career serving as a graduate assistant at North Dakota in 2004, helping the Fighting Hawks to a school record 37 wins and a regular season conference title. After his stint in Grand Forks, Pearson spent two years at Mayville State as an assistant coach, including helping his alma mater to a conference tournament title in 2007.
Pearson, a graduate of Mayville State in 2003, helped the Comets to two Region 3 championships and a NAIA World Series Appearance in 2002. Prior to transferring to Mayville State, Pearson spent two years at Minot State-Bottineau, where he was a two-time all-conference infielder and won the Mon-Dak title. In 2015, he was inducted into the Dakota College at Bottineau Hall of Fame.
Coach Steve Holm on Pearson joining staff…
"David's resume speaks for itself, and our program feels very fortunate to be able to add him to our team. I have already received plenty of messages regarding how good a hire David is! He will be in charge of our hitters and our infielders, and I am sure his positive impact on our program will not stop there."
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