Will Oberg is in his fourth year with the Illinois Springfield baseball program, where he serves as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator while leading the team’s offensive development. He was promoted to associate head coach beginning with the 2026-27 season.
Since joining the Prairie Stars coaching staff, Oberg has played a key role in the team’s offensive development and recruiting. During that span, UIS has ranked among the top offensive teams in the GLVC and nationally, while Oberg has overseen hitting development and offensive game planning.
In 2026, UIS returned to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional for the first time since Oberg’s playing career, hosting the regional round in Springfield. The appearance marked a major milestone for the program and reflected its continued competitive growth in Division II baseball.Â
UIS ranked among the GLVC’s top offenses in 2026, leading the conference in home runs while also ranking near the top of the league in batting average, hits, runs scored and extra-base hits. The Prairie Stars recorded one of the top offensive seasons in program history, ranking third all-time in RBIs, home runs and walks, and fourth in batting average and total hits.
In 2025, UIS led the GLVC in home runs and doubles and ranked near the top in batting average, runs scored, and RBIs. Nationally, the Prairie Stars finished 7th in total home runs and 8th in home runs per game, while ranking 13th in slugging percentage, tied for 17th in doubles per game, and among the top 35 in batting average, total runs, and runs per game. UIS also led the conference in fielding percentage for the second straight year, reflecting the program’s balanced, fundamentally sound approach built through strong player development.
Beyond his impact at UIS, Oberg spent the summer of 2024 as manager of the Rockford Rivets in the Northwoods League, where he guided the team to a franchise record for wins and helped them emerge as one of the league’s top teams. He first joined the Rivets in 2023 as hitting coach and led the club to a record-breaking offensive season, further establishing his reputation for developing high-level hitters and managing successful teams.
Oberg’s connection to UIS began as a student-athlete in 2022–23, when he started 22 games and delivered a standout performance against Bemidji State, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. His experience as both a player and coach at UIS gives him a deep understanding of the program’s culture and the ability to build strong relationships with student-athletes.
A native of Wayzata, Minnesota, Oberg began his collegiate career at Heartland Community College and Eastern Michigan University before transferring to Illinois Springfield. His diverse background in collegiate and summer league baseball has prepared him to excel as a recruiter, teacher, and mentor committed to advancing the Prairie Stars’ tradition of success.
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