Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has named Mike Stawski as the school's new Head Baseball Coach. Stawski will officially start at UMHB on Monday, July 1.
"When my wife and I got to UMHB, we saw a beautiful campus and outstanding facilities and were just floored by everything the University has to offer," Stawski said. "It feels like a wonderful place to develop student-athletes in a Christian environment."
Stawski joins UMHB after turning Concordia University Chicago into a national championship contender in four seasons as the Cougars head coach. Stawski guided Concordia to a 42-10 record this season, and the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals after spending eight weeks ranked #1 in American Baseball Coaches Association's (ABCA) Top 25 Poll. The team won 24 consecutive games during the regular season.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to hire a coach with the experience and success that Mike Stawski brings to our program," Mann said. "He has quickly turned around and developed two other programs into national powers. We are looking forward to what he can do for UMHB baseball and expect big things to come for this program."
Stawski guided Concordia to back-to-back 40-win seasons and led the Cougars to a 150-51 record in his four seasons as head coach. The team also made its first two NCAA Division III World Series appearances under his direction. The Cougars won a conference regular season title or advanced to an NCAA Regional in each of his four seasons as head coach. Stawski was a three-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year and a two-time ABCA/Diamond Midwest Regional Coach of the Year during his tenure at CUC.
Stawski is a 2006 graduate of St. Joseph's College in Indiana with a degree in Business Administration. He was a four-year letter winner as a pitcher and was an All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in three of his four seasons. Stawski earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Webster University in 2011. Stawski and his wife, Melissa, have three children, Michael, Charlie and Danni.
Stawski replaces Ben Shipp as head coach of the Cru baseball program. Shipp announced his retirement, effective in January, after a 34-year career with the UMHB Athletic Department.
"I am very appreciative to Dr. Randy O'Rear and Randy Mann for taking a chance on us. I think the best baseball days are ahead for UMHB, and my family and I are so excited to have this opportunity and can't wait to get there."
