Sometimes, unexpected events become life’s defining moments. For Colby Maun ’22, a painful injury and a timely reconnection changed the course of his academic and professional journey.

Raised in Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania, Maun grew up in an entrepreneurial family, learning the value of hard work by helping run the family business. At the same time, he developed a lifelong love for baseball, playing on a team from the age of five.

That passion led him to Frederick Community College, where he studied exercise and sports science and pitched for the college baseball team. His goal was to become a sports psychologist until an arm injury changed everything.

During his sophomore year at Frederick, Maun suffered an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury in his throwing arm, requiring what is commonly known as “Tommy John” surgery. His seven-month recovery under the care of renowned orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey R. Dugas, M.D.—a Birmingham, Alabama-based specialist whose own baseball injuries inspired his career in sports medicine—marked a turning point and set Maun on a new path. Maun became fascinated by the medical side of sports science and began reimagining his career.

During his recovery, he transferred to Wilson College, where he could live at home, play for a nationally contending baseball team, and pursue a new academic path. He declared a major in exercise and sports science  with minors in psychology, sport management, and small business entrepreneurship.

As part of his program, Maun completed an internship at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he worked with athletes ranging from youth to professionals. “It was incredible,” he said. “I was able to build relationships with athletes beyond the game and really understand what it takes to support them both on and off the field.”

After graduating from Wilson in August 2022, Maun accepted a performance coaching position at a college in Illinois. While grateful for the opportunity, he missed the private sector and the chance to work more directly with baseball players. That’s when a familiar name reached out: Dustin Pease, founder of Pease Baseball Professionals and a former pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization.

Maun first met Pease during his freshman year at FCC and stayed connected through college for mentoring. Their reconnection came at just the right time. “There are going to be life experiences and people who impact your journey,” he said. For Maun, that person was Pease.

One text from Pease changed everything. He offered Maun a position at Pease Baseball Professionals in Frederick, Maryland. Maun accepted, relocated, and became the Director of Player Performance and Development at Pease, running the performance sector with autonomy like his own business under the Pease brand. He now works closely with athletes to improve performance, prevent injury, and build confidence. At the same time, he is completing a certification in massage therapy, which he’ll finish in June 2026—another step toward his goal of supporting athletes through every stage of their development. His long-term goal is to become an independent massage therapist, contracted by a professional baseball organization during spring training while offering services year-round from his Maryland office.

Looking back, Maun credits his success to the unwavering support of his family, the lessons learned during his seven-month recovery, and all that Wilson provided for him. He said, “I took advantage of the services and the  opportunities that Wilson offered while having a phenomenal adviser, and they prepared me well for the future.”

Now, as he completes his massage therapy degree and builds his career, he continues to give back to the place that helped shape him. He joined the Wilson men’s baseball coaching staff in 2024 as a pitching coach and will transition into a recruiting and advisory role next year.

“My passion is to give back to the school that gave me my start and help it continue to succeed,” he said.

His journey is a reminder that even life’s curveballs can be good pitches to swing at.