Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University Interim Head Coach Brandon Kusler announced today the addition of Niko Pezonella to the baseball staff. Pezonella joins the Wolves in a full-time capacity after serving as a graduate assistant in 2025.
 
"We are very excited to add Coach Pezonella to the coaching staff," noted Kusler. "Having played and coached in the program, his experience and familiarity with Wolves baseball will help us tremendously moving forward. Niko brings a vast knowledge of the game to our program, and we look forward to him making a positive impact on our student-athletes."
 
"I am excited to be back and working with a program that has meant so much to me over the past seven years," explained Pezonella. "I would like to thank Coach Kusler and Nate Davis for allowing me the opportunity to continue my coaching journey here in Aberdeen. Go Wolves!"
 
Pezonella opened his coaching career with the Aberdeen Smittys program, serving as the head coach for the junior legion team. He then joined his alma mater as a graduate assistant for the Wolves in 2024-25. In 2025, the Wolves went 15-32 overall and 11-29 in the Northern Sun. Finally, Pezonella served as the head coach for the 14U Aberdeen Smittys in the summer of 2025.
 
In addition, he served as the business operations graduate assistant for Northern State Athletics during the 2023-24 academic year. He played 127 games for the Wolves from 2018-23.
 
Pezonella earned his bachelor's degree in human performance and fitness in 2023 and master's degree in Sport Leadership in 2025 from Northern State University.