New Crop of Coaches at ACC for 26-27

There will be four new head coaches and a familiar face adding a new role in ACC athletics for the 2026-27 academic year.

Ryan Gillings is the new head baseball coach for the Lumberjacks. Gillings was on the staff the last two seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a Division 1 program that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference where he was director of operations and catching coach.

For the past two summers, Gillings has coached with the Traverse City Pit Spitters of the collegiate wood bat Northwoods League where he currently serves as hitting coach and third base coach. The Northwoods League is one of the premier college summer ball leagues in the country.

Gillings played four years at Aquinas College where he had a stellar career, batting .351 his senior year. He was an all-state player in high school at Muskegon Catholic Central and is in the school’s athletics hall of fame. Gillings has a bachelors’ degree in business administration and sports management from Aquinas and a masters’ degree in business administration from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“We had over 30 applicants from all over the country for the baseball head coaching position, which is a tribute to what coach Rob Enslen accomplished in his four years here, restarting our baseball program,” Athletic Director Allen Telgenhof said. “We were sad to lose him to a Division 1 baseball coaching job (at Valparaiso) but that’s what we want for all of our coaches and student-athletes, the chance to reach their full potential.”

 “We’re excited to have Ryan here to continue the upward trajectory of ACC baseball,” athletic director Allen Telgenhof said. “He has Michigan ties, comes from a strong playing background and has gained valuable experience working with college athletes at the highest levels.”

Caleb Burger will coach the ACC men’s soccer team this fall. Burger played high school soccer at Alpena High School and at Finlandia University. He also ran cross country at ACC before attending Finlandia.

Burger has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Finlandia and is a graduate of the Kirtland Community College police academy. He is employed by the City of Alpena as a police officer.

“Caleb comes from a coaching family and he’s had the opportunity to help his dad coach at the high school level,” Telgenhof said. “His knowledge of the game and ability to relate to the players will make him a successful coach here.”

After serving the program as lead assistant for the last two seasons, Mike Tulgestke will move up and serve as head coach for the ACC softball program this year.

Tulgestke founded the Presque Isle Panthers travel softball program in 2008 and under his coaching and leadership, the Panthers have grown into one of the elite softball organizations in Northern Michigan.

After graduating from Rogers City High School, Tulgestke attended ACC and earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.

“Mike has a background in coaching that you don’t get in many first-time college head coaches,” Telgenhof said. “He will be able to step right in, having recruited most of the athletes we have here and having worked with many of them in the past.”

Matt Wilbert will be the ACC men’s cross country coach this fall. Wilbert graduated from ACC where he was a runner for the Lumberjacks under long-time coach Mark Jacobs and earned MCCAA and NJCAA All-Academic honors before returning to campus as serving as a volunteer assistant coach.

Aaron Guitar will be the women’s cross country coach, adding another position to his duties at ACC. Guitar also serves as athletic office coordinator and esports coach, where last year he led the Lumberjacks’ Rocket League team to the NECC Division 8 national championship.

Guitar also attended ACC earning two associates’ degrees. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree through the ACC University Center.

“I’m excited about the energy that Matt and Aaron will bring to our cross country programs,” Telgenhof said. “They are both ACC alums and know what our cross country program means to our college and our community. I have no doubt they will continue to recruit and train student-athletes who excel on the course and in the classroom.”

The other five sports at ACC will return their coaches from last season – Aaron Guitar in esports, Courtney Holmes in volleyball, Bobby Allen in men’s basketball, Karl Momrik in women’s basketball and Glenn Campbell in women’s soccer.