Murray State Director of Athletics, Allen Ward, announced the hiring of Dan Skirka as the ninth head coach of the Racer Baseball program. Skirka is coming off four successful seasons at Walters State Community College, where he was recruiting coordinator with a program that played in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) World Series championship game in 2018 and finished with a record of 60-8.
With Skirka on staff, the Walters State Senators enjoyed tremendous success in four seasons with an amazing record of 208-48 for a winning percentage of .812. In 2018, Walters produced an offense that was top-10 nationally in 13 categories which pushed the team to first in three different national polls. In 2017, the Senators were 44-12 and placed second nationally and produced a pitching staff that ranked among the top-3 in several categories in NJCAA. The 2016 team produced a record of 47-16 and the NJCAA Pitcher of the Year and 2015 saw Walters go 57-12 and place third nationally with seven NJCAA All-America selections including the NJCAA Player of the Year.
Skirka recruited infielders Hunter Wolfe and Austin Henry who are headed to play at Texas Christian in the fall, while pitcher Hayden Lehman and catcher Luke Berryhill are each signed at South Carolina. A total of five Walters players are headed to Power-5 Conference schools in 2018 including: third baseman Duncan Pence (Tennessee) and pitcher Peyton Alford (Virginia Tech).
At a level of baseball where the goal is to produce players that can advance to play NCAA D-I or professionally, Skirka was a big part of sending 36 players to NCAA D-I schools and saw another eight drafted by Major League Baseball teams.
Skirka returns to Murray State where he served as assistant coach from 2009-14 under Coach Rob McDonald. Skirka was recruiting coordinator and produced eight All-Ohio Valley Conference selections including 2014 OVC Pitcher of the Year Brock Downey. Skirka also worked with 2010 OVC Player of the Year and Murray State 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Wes Cunningham and 2009 OVC Pitcher of the Year Daniel Calhoun.
Skirka’s first collegiate assistant coaching position was at Grand Rapids Community College in 2007-08 where his team advanced to the NJCAA World Series. He spent the 2008-09 season at Ouachita Baptist working under former Murray State player Chris Moddelmog.
(Courtesy MSU Athletics)