| Kevin Tomasiewicz becomes the
sixth head coach in UW-Oshkosh history. UW-Oshkosh athletics photo |
Kevin Tomasiewicz, who followed an impressive collegiate and professional pitching career with coaching experience at two Midwestern colleges, was named the head baseball coach at UW-Oshkosh on Friday (Sept. 6).
Tomasiewicz comes from North Park, where he served as associate head coach the past two years. With Tomasiewicz handling the pitching staff, the Vikings qualified for the 2012 NCAA Division III Championship with a 32-14 record. North Park University won College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season and tournament titles to earn its first postseason berth in 22 years.
"I'm excited to welcome Kevin to our athletics program," said UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Darryl Sims. "Kevin will be a great leader and mentor for the young men who take part in their journey as a UW-Oshkosh student-athlete. He has great credentials, and I'm confident that he will continue the outstanding tradition of success within the UW-Oshkosh baseball program well into the future."
In May UW-Oshkosh announced that Titan's head coach Tom Lechnir's contact would not be renewed, ending Lechnir’s runa as the Titan's hed cocah. Lechnir compiled a 728-292-1 record and led the Titans to the 1994 national championship during his tenure at UW-Oshkosh. Lechnir was 23-14 in 2013.
Under Tomasiewicz, pitchers Steve Kuligowski and Nick Soldano achieved impressive seasons in 2012. Soldano was named an All-American and the CCIW Pitcher of the Year after posting a 9-2 record with 99 strikeouts. Kuligowski collected all-region honors after going 11-2 with a 2.76 earned run average.
In 2013, North Park University finished with a 21-21 record. Tomasiewicz helped pitchers Wesley Mleziva and Nick Vidas earn All-CCIW second team honors.
"Kevin is well-equipped to lead a program with the tradition and expectations that come with this opportunity at UW-Oshkosh," said North Park University head coach Luke Johnson. "The Titans are getting an outstanding baseball coach whose level of professionalism, feel for the job, vision and competence far exceed his age. His commitment to excellence will be immediately evident to his players, colleagues and the Oshkosh community. Above all, he'll be able to instill a confidence level that will permeate all aspects of his players' lives."
Tomasiewicz was an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State University from 2010-11. The squad went 29-18 in 2010, with the pitching staff posting a 2.06 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Tomasiewicz mentored Adam Schrader, who was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 2010 MLB Draft.
A pitcher at UW-Whitewater from 2002-05, Tomasiewicz is the WIAC's career leader with 35 victories. He received All-America awards in 2003 and 2005, while being named the Most Valuable Player at the 2005 NCAA Division III World Series. Tomasiewicz led the Warhawks to a national title in 2005 and a fourth-place finish in 2003.
"I have experienced the amount of commitment and work by players and coaches that it takes to become a champion in this conference," Tomasiewicz said. "This is a great conference to play in, and I think that UW-Oshkosh can be a destination for student-athletes to continue their academic and athletic careers."
Tomasiewicz went 16-0 during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. His 2005 campaign featured league records with 15 wins and 108 innings. Tomasiewicz finished his career with a 35-5 record, 3.19 ERA and 232 strikeouts over 253.1 innings. In 2012, he was named to the WIAC All-Centennial Team.
The New York Mets chose Tomasiewicz in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. He pitched four years in the minor leagues, totaling a 17-8 record and 4.04 ERA. Tomasiewicz compiled 19 saves and a 2.60 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns (Md.) during 2006. In 2008, he reached the AA level for his highest advancement in the system.
"Some of the lessons that I learned while playing in the Mets' system did not come on the field," Tomasiewicz said. "I learned how to interact with individuals from different parts of the world. I also learned the value of community engagement with my work through the Boys & Girls Club.
"No doubt, part of coaching is the X's and O's of the game. But most of being a coach is helping your athletes become quality individuals. I look forward to teaching my men the value of developing relationships with teammates, professors, university staff and the community."
Tomasiewicz, a native of Sleepy Hollow, Ill., earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from UW-Whitewater in 2005 and his master's of business administration from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2011. He is the sixth head coach in UW-Oshkosh history, including just the third since 1971.
"Coach Tomasiewicz is very organized and hardworking," said UW-Oshkosh outfielder Robbie Kleman, a member of the Search and Screen Committee. "His plan to develop the program will make us successful both in the classroom and on the field."
UW-Oshkosh is one of the top baseball programs in NCAA Division III history. The Titans own a WIAC-leading 29 titles and 24 NCAA Division III postseason appearances. The school captured a pair of national titles (1985, 1994) and boasts a 104-51 record in the NCAA Division III Championship. UW-Oshkosh has had 51 players sign professional contracts and set a NCAA Division III record with five players taken in the 1999 MLB Draft.