Dan Tan’s Path to the Diamondblacks
As the New Zealand Diamondblacks prepare for their clash with the Melbourne Aces, Dan Tan takes the helm as Head Coach for this series – stepping up from his Assistant Coach role while regular Diamondblacks Head Coach Scott Campbell is unavailable. For Tan, the focus is always the same: the players, the process, and a genuine love of the game that has guided him since the very beginning.
The origins of Tan’s coaching career can be traced back to something simple and enduring: a deep love for baseball. It’s the thread that runs through his entire story. Even while he was still playing, that passion naturally pulled him toward the dugout, toward analysing the game, and ultimately toward a desire to help others understand it the way he does.
That foundation of passion shapes every team he leads. When describing the culture he hopes to build, Tan doesn’t talk about systems, tactics, or analytics first, he talks about people. He wants unselfish athletes, teammates who bring value whether they’re playing every inning or filling the last spot on the bench. For him, team culture is built not through slogans but through the daily behaviours of players who buy into something bigger than themselves.
Tan’s coaching journey mirrors the gradual, determined climb of someone who never stops learning. He began at the club level—Howick Pakuranga, Bayside Westhaven, North Shore City, Central City—balancing his own playing career with early leadership roles. From there, he moved into regional baseball, guiding five different cycles of ABA Senior League (16U) teams, and eventually earned opportunities at national level across a range of WBSC age groups.
These experiences, stacked over years, gave him rare insight into the entire New Zealand pathway: youth to senior, club to national, player to coach.
Then came an opportunity that would change him yet again: a year coaching in Alberta, Canada. The move was sparked by long-standing connections within baseball. Former pitching coach Ray Brown reached out, while his old University of Calgary teammate Ryan Gregg—now the Riverhawks’ GM—helped open the door.
In Canada, Tan held three roles at once: development coach with the Edmonton Riverhawks, assistant baseball director at The Dome Red Deer, and 18U AAA head coach for Red Deer Minor Baseball. It was a demanding year, but transformative.
Tan’s relationship with Canada began long before he coached there. As a university player at Calgary, he quickly learned how far he had to go. “Playing at the University of Calgary was an eye-opening experience,” he recalls. “I learnt from the first week how far behind I was, on the field, in the weight room, and mentally.”
That feeling of playing catch-up stayed with him, but not in a negative way. Instead, it became the backbone of his coaching philosophy. He’s determined to ensure the athletes he works with arrive at college ready, prepared, and confident, never scrambling to bridge a gap they didn’t know existed.
One of his most important mentors was long-time coach John Fellet, whose influence Tan still mentions first when asked about role models. Fellet taught him to see players as people first, and ballplayers second, a principle Tan carries into every roster he manages.
The year in Alberta offered insights into what a mature baseball ecosystem looks like. Compared to New Zealand, Canada’s infrastructure, coaching depth, and sheer baseball familiarity are miles ahead—simply because the sport has been ingrained for generations.
“There are ballparks everywhere,” Tan says. “Dugouts, bullpens, cages, and importantly, home run fences.” These everyday resources, taken for granted elsewhere, spark creativity and opportunity, and they make a massive difference in player development.
At the Riverhawks, he witnessed excellence beyond the field. The front office created a fan-first environment that consistently filled seats, season after season. He also worked alongside a young, energetic coaching staff that understood how to support and empower emerging athletes. Among them was fellow Kiwi Jamie Wilson, now the pitching coach and a vital advocate for New Zealand players looking to break into the West Coast League.
Tan has been part of countless memorable games, but two achievements stand above the rest.
The first is winning the 2017 Club Nationals with NSC—a landmark moment built on resilience, belief, and a group of players who bought into something special.
The second is the 2019 ASPAC Senior League Qualifiers, where his team threw complete game shutouts in both the semi-final and final. That group holds a place in Tan’s heart not just because of the results, but because five of those players will once again join him—this time as Diamondblacks—against the Aces.
But ask him to pick a favourite team, and he doesn’t choose a championship side or a star-studded roster. Instead, he speaks proudly about individuals—players who worked their way through the system and now coach youth teams themselves. Seeing his former athletes give back to the game is, for him, an unmatched source of pride.
With the Melbourne Aces series approaching, Tan’s excitement is clear. He’s building a roster that reflects the very traits he values: resilience, competitiveness, and love for the game. “I’m excited to bring together a group of grinders,” he says. “We have a good mix of young up-and-coming guys and some veteran presence. I expect us to surprise some people with the talent we have in our system.”
Against a world-class Aces lineup, Tan isn’t backing down. He sees an opportunity, not a mismatch, to prove what New Zealand baseball can do.
Even with years of experience, Tan sees himself as a lifelong learner. His approach evolves constantly, shaped by every team, every failure, every success. “The longer I’m involved, the more I lean toward building a love for the game first, long-term athletic development next, and then learning how to compete,” he explains. Winning, in his mind, is simply a by-product of getting these foundations right.
To aspiring coaches, Tan’s guidance is simple but profound: adopt a development mindset. “Try something, review, get feedback, try again,” he says. “Volunteer to assist a coach you trust and learn from them. Be a lifelong learner.” It’s advice forged through experience, humility, and a genuine desire to leave the game stronger than he found it.
As the Diamondblacks head into their series against the Aces, Tan’s leadership stands as a reminder of how far New Zealand baseball has come—and how far it can still go. With a coach driven by passion, humility, and a commitment to development, the team is in great hands as they take on their next challenge.
Article by: Marina Lough (Baseball New Zealand).