Bio

Coach Payne enters his first season as Head Coach and his 6th season with the Yellowjackets Baseball Program.

During the past 5 seasons, the team has improved on and off the field with the improvement in the win/loss column while having a 3+ team GPA the past 3 seasons. Coach Payne has coached 10 All-Conference Selections, 2 Conference Gold Gloves, 31 Heart Conference Scholar Athletes and 28 NAIA Scholar Athletes at Graceland.

Prior to Graceland, Payne was the Player Development Director at the Sioux Empire Baseball Association (SEBA). He aided in developing players and, has had over 30 players go on to play at the collegiate level. Payne also coached the Sioux Falls Post 15 West Jr. Legion teams to back-to-back SD State Tournament Births in 2018 & 2019. Coach Payne also has experience coaching travel and high school baseball in Las Vegas, NV.

Payne’s playing career extend post-collegiately for three seasons. He signed his first professional contract in March 2011 with the Lake County Fielders of the North American League. In his last two seasons, he played for the Lincoln Saltdogs (2012 & 2013) in the American Association. Coach Payne played eight different positions during his professional career, and his most memorable moment was recording the tying and winning run while also being the winning pitcher of record on June 4, 2012, against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

During his collegiate career, Coach Payne was a multi-sport athlete at Northwestern College, Iowa. As a baseball player, Payne helped the Red Raiders advance to the Super Regionals (2007), Regional Tournament (2008), and NAIA Opening Round Tournament (2010). He was named twice to 1st Team All-GPAC (2009 & 2010) and 2nd Team All-GPAC (2009).

Brad and his wife, Krista, currently reside in Osceola, Iowa, with their daughter Charlotte. Krista is a teacher in the Clarke Community School District. In his free time, Brad enjoys time with his family, golfing, grilling, and fires in their backyard.

Coaching Experience

• Head Coach - Graceland University (May 2024-Present)
• Assistant Coach – Graceland (Nov. 2019 – May 2024)
• Head Coach – Sioux Falls Post 15 Jr. Legion West (May 2018 – Aug. 2019)
• Player Development Director – Sioux Empire Baseball Association (Nov 2016-2019)
• Assistant Coach – Del Sol High School, Las Vegas, NV (Feb – Apr. 2013)
• 12U, 14U, & 18U Coach – Las Vegas School of Baseball (Aug 2011- Apr 2013)
• Lake Mead Christian Academy Head Coach (Las Vegas, NV): 2012

Playing Experience

• Lincoln Saltdogs (American Association): 2012-2013
• Lake County Fielders (North American League): 2011
• Northwestern College (Iowa) - 2006-2011
• Baseball: 2007-2010
• Football: 2006-2010
• Track: 2011

Awards & Honors

• Coached
• Named 2010 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American
• Named 1st Team All-GPAC: 2009 (SS) & 2010 (UTL)
• Named 2nd Team All-GPAC: 2008 (3B)
• Top 5 in 9 single season or career records at Northwestern

Updated: 6/18/24