Kansas Baseball Names Szefc Assistant Coach

Sept. 15, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas head baseball coach Ritch Price announced Monday that the Jayhawks have hired former Louisiana-Lafayette assistant coach, John Szefc, as an assistant coach. Szefc (pronounced CHEF) will serve as the team’s third base coach, hitting instructor and will also coordinate recruiting efforts for the team.

“Coach Szefc is regarded across the country as one of the top young coaches in our game,” Price said. “He has a proven track record in developing hitters to be successful at the Division I as well as the professional levels.”

Szefc comes to KU from Louisiana-Lafayette, where he served as the head assistant coach for six seasons. From the time he arrived at ULL, his hitters made steady progress. He also helped the Ragin’ Cajuns recruit several top flight classes, which led to a Sun Belt Conference championship in 2005.

Prior to his arrival at ULL, Szefc served as the head baseball coach at Marist College for seven seasons, posting a 212-137-1 record as a Metro Atlantic Conference member.

He also managed the New York Generals of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League during the summers of 1995 and 1996, guiding the club to a 47-28.

“Coach Szefc brings tremendous experience to our program,” Price said. “He has been both a highly successful head coach and associate head coach at quality Division I programs. His addition to our staff will help us reach our goal of becoming a Top 25 baseball program.”

ULL had six hitters drafted into professional baseball over the past three seasons and Szefc recruited the 2005 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Jonathan Lucroy, who was also named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team. Szefc’s 2007 recruiting class was named the best in the Lower Midwest Region by Baseball America.

“His knowledge of the state of Texas as well as his proven track record and expertise in recruiting will be a valuable asset to our program,” Price said. “We are thrilled to have Coach Szefc and his family joining our program.”

Szefc, a 1989 graduate of Drexel University, played his first two years of college baseball at the University of Connecticut, before transferring in 1987. During his second season with the Dragons, he was tabbed an All-East Coast Conference outfielder.

Szefc also holds a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Temple University. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children, Anna and John Michael.