Tanner Vavra begins his first year as an assistant coach for the Blue Devils with the 2017-18 season.

Vavra brings a wealth of experience, plus name recognition, to the Blue Devil program. 

A Menomonie native, Vavra has played professionally with the St. Paul Saints and the Sioux Falls Explorers. A two-year All-Horizon League selection while playing at Valparaiso University, Vavra was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. 

Vavra was an all-region and third team junior college All-America at Madison College (formerly Madison Area Technical College). Vavra earned all-state baseball honors at Menomonie High School and was a two-time All-Big Rivers selection. Vavra was also a letter winner in both football and hockey.

Coming from a baseball family, Vavra's father, Joe, had a Hall of Fame career at UW-Stout from 1980-82 and coached the Blue Devils during the 2001 season. The elder Vavra is currently the quality control coach with the Detroit Tigers.