UPDATED July 3, 2023
Devan Ahart joined the Wayne State University baseball coaching staff in the fall of 2021 as an assistant coach. He has supervised outfield programming, assisted with base running, hitting and overall program operations in his two seasons at WSU.
Ahart helped lead the Warriors to a program record 42 wins (42-13) in 2023 as well as 24 GLIAC victories (24-6), which tied the school record. WSU captured both the GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships for the first time since 2010 before making a second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. WSU stole 64 bases in 55 games, while batting .299 and averaging over seven runs per game.
In his first season with the program, Ahart helped guide the Warriors to a 37-19 record during the 2022 campaign, including an appearance in the regional final. WSU stole 60 bases in 56 games, while batting .295 and averaging nearly eight runs per contest. The Wayne State outfielders totaled 17 assists during the year under his tutelage.
Ahart is a graduate of the University of Akron, where he was a two-time letterwinner before being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
He brought six years of professional playing experience with him. Ahart hit nearly .300 for his career, which included stops with the Great Lake Loons, Ogden Raptors, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, AZL Dodgers, Tulsa Drillers, Cleburne Railroaders and the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. He was named an All-Star within the American Association in 2018 and 2019.
In 2014 for the Zips, he hit .311 with eight doubles, two triples and three home runs, while driving in 32 runs in 56 games. Ahart was 27-for-33 in stolen base attempts, while posting a .395 on-base percentage and a .404 slugging percentage. As a sophomore in 2013, he started 51 games in center field and hit .295, which was the second-best average on the roster. In addition, he owned the second most at-bats and stolen bases (12) in the lineup, while leading the offense with 27 runs scored and 15 doubles.
Ahart played in all 55 games as a redshirt freshman, starting 54 times in the outfield. He hit .251 and his 223 at-bats led the team. Ahart tallied 56 hits, which tied for the team lead, and led the squad with 31 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. He had 23 RBI and finished with six doubles and three triples.
He grew up in Detroit and prepped at Orchard Lake St. Mary's, where he was a two-time all-state selection. Ahart was also named to the All-Catholic and All-League teams three times, while being a three-time All-District and All-Region honoree. He is the son of Omar Ahart and Cannalita Morris and was born on Oct. 21, 1992.
He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration with the Mike Ilitch School of Business.
