STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Jeremy Jirschele has been named the head baseball coach at UW-Stevens Point, Director of Athletics Daron Montgomery announced Wednesday, July 1.
"This was an important decision for UWSP athletics as we transition (effective today) into a new reporting line to Student Affairs," said Montgomery. "We appreciate the support from Vice Chancellor Al Thompson in helping get Coach Jirschele on board so swiftly, as this is a key time in the baseball recruiting cycle."
Jirschele has been the assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point for the past four seasons, helping the Pointers to a 133-53 record in that span.
"Jeremy has been an important part of the Pointers baseball coaching family for the past few years—and we're excited to keep him in purple and gold," said Montgomery. "He has passion, energy, a high baseball IQ and he connects well with our student-athletes."
Jirschele becomes the 14th head coach in program history, replacing Pat Bloom who was named the head coach at Washington University in St. Louis in June.
"I'm honored and excited to be the next head baseball coach at UW-Stevens Point," said Jirschele. "UWSP is a great institution with a strong history and a place I feel I can work with quality people and continue the tradition of Pointers baseball. This is a place where, year-in and year-out, we can compete for a national championship."
In his four seasons as an assistant at UW-Stevens Point, Jirschele helped the Pointers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a fourth-place finish in 2013. UW-Stevens Point also won two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament titles in his time as an assistant (2013, 2015) and finished as the NCAA West Regional runner-up in 2014.
Jirschele was a four-year letterwinner at UW-Oshkosh and was twice named the WIAC Position Player of the Year (2004, 2005) and was a two-time First Team American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-American. He also earned First Team All-WIAC accolades twice and hit over .430 in his final two seasons.
Jirschele holds the WIAC record for career doubles (53) and is second in career hits (253). He was also one of 16 players to be named to D3baseball.com's NCAA Division III All-Decade Team for the 2000s and was one of just two Wisconsin players to make the list.
Jirschele was drafted in the 30th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Kansas City Royals and played professionally for three seasons.
Part of a baseball family, Jirschele's father, Mike, is currently the third base and infield coach of the 2014 American League Champion Kansas City Royals. Mike had previously managed his AAA teams to Pacific Coast League titles in 2011 and 2013 and the AAA National Championship in 2013.
Jeremy's brother, Justin, was a three-year letterwinner for the Pointers and signed as a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox after the 2012 season and played professional for three-plus years. He is currently a coach in the White Sox minor league system.
Jirschele was previously a coach at Wausau West High School for three seasons, two as a co-head coach, helping lead the team to two state tournament berths.
Jeremy and his wife, Jennie, reside in Wausau with their four children, Keagen (9), Taelyn (7) and Paetyn (5) and Taetym (1).