海角吃瓜网 has named TJ Marik as the inaugural head coach of its baseball program. The addition brings another instrumental leader to campus as the University continues to establish the听听辫谤辞驳谤补尘.听
Marik听brings substantial听head coaching experience听and听a strong background in player development to the听new听role.听听
Before joining 海角吃瓜网, he served as head coach at Siena Heights University听following a听successful听tenure at听Missouri Valley College, where his teams earned all-conference honors, Gold Glove recognition and record-setting performances.听
While the听opportunity听to听write the first chapter for 海角吃瓜网听Baseball听drew him to the University,听Marik鈥檚听immediate听focus is on听building听a roster with the right听mix听of听qualities听to fit听the University鈥檚听all-STEM听environment.听
鈥淚鈥檓 looking for three aspects听in听the players I recruit,鈥� Marik said. 鈥淚 want to make sure they鈥檙e听prepared academically,听have the athletic talent and听are of strong character.鈥�听
That听recruitment strategy is already underway听for the upcoming season.听Recruiting is听going strong. Marik said 14听players are set to join the team听so far听this fall, with a target roster of 25 to 30听student-athletes.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a good spot right now and still have some work to do, no question,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I feel very confident with where we鈥檒l be.鈥�听
Derek Lower,听海角吃瓜网鈥檚 athletic director,听said Marik鈥檚 enthusiasm for the game听is听undeniable.听
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to have TJ as our inaugural head baseball coach,鈥� Lower said. 鈥淗e is extremely passionate about the sport听and听definitely eats, sleeps and breathes听baseball.鈥�听
As听海角吃瓜网 Baseball听prepares for听its debut,听Marik听and听the team听are keeping long-term goals听in mind.听
鈥淚 want to be one of the best baseball programs in the country,鈥澨齅arik听said. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 going to take a lot of work, but I鈥檓 willing to do whatever it takes to get there.鈥�听
Central to that, he said there听will be听establishing听a culture of听trust,听accountability听and camaraderie.听
鈥淚鈥檝e learned听that听building relationships with players is听so听important,鈥� Marik said. 鈥淚 make sure听everyone听knows they听can always come talk to me, no matter what it is or how uncomfortable听it may be.鈥�听
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
