Dan Skirka - Baseball Coach - Murray State University Athletics

Dan Skirka

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
msu.baseball@murraystate.edu
Phone:
(270) 809-4892

At MSU

Dan Skirka will be in his seventh season as head coach of Murray State Baseball in the 2024-25 school year.
Led Murray State to the second-most wins in program history with 37 in 2024
Led Cade Vernon and Drew Vogel to being selected by the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft
In the Racers' first season in the Missouri Valley Conference, Skirka guided the team to its third-straight 30-win season for the second time in program history.
Skirka has amassed 128 wins since taking over as the head coach.
Returned to MSU in 2019 after serving as an assistant for the Racers from 2009-14 under former coach Rob McDonald.

2023 Season

Notched the third-consecutive 30-win season in program history in Murray State's first year in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Led the MVC in triples (18).
Second in the league in runs (400), RBIs (370), and walks drawn (281).
Allowed the lowest amount of home runs (42).

2022 Season

The season was MSU's final in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Racers were third in the league in home runs (41) and stolen bases (40).
Jake Slunder led the league in triples (7).

2021 Season

The Racers were 33-28 with a program-record 18 OVC wins and an appearance in the OVC Championship game.
MSU was 18-12 and placed second in the OVC regular season.
MSU's Jordan Cozart (2B), Brock Anderson (OF), Bryson Bloomer (3B), Jake Slunder (OF) and Sam Gardner (RHP) were named All-OVC.
Jack Wenninger (RHP) was named to the OVC All-Freshman Team.
Anderson and Cozart led the OVC with 19 home runs each. Cozart was first in RBI (59) and Anderson was second (58).
Jake Slunder led the OVC with 25-of-27 stolen bases.
The Racers defeated Morehead State, but lost the second game of the event to Austin Peay. MSU came back to beat Austin Peay in 11 innings to advance to the finals vs Southeast Missouri.
MSU needing to beat the Redhawks twice to win the tournament title won the first game 10-1, but lost by the same score in the second and deciding game.
Jordan Cozart (2B), Connor Holden (RHP) and Jacob Pennington (RHP) were each named to the OVC All-Tournament Team.

Coaching Career

Had four successful seasons at Walters State Community College (Morristown, Tennessee) where he was recruiting coordinator.
Helped Walters to 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 eight Walters players are headed to Power-5 Conference schools in 2018 including third baseman Duncan Pence (Tennessee) and pitcher Peyton Alford (Virginia Tech).
Skirka was a big part of sending 42 players to NCAA D-I schools and saw another eight drafted by Major League Baseball teams.
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.
Worked with 2010 OVC Player of the Year and Murray State 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Wes Cunningham
Spent the 2008-09 season at Ouachita Baptist working under former Murray State player Chris Moddelmog.
First collegiate assistant coaching position was at Grand Rapids Community College in 2007-08 where his team advanced to the NJCAA World Series.

Playing Career

Earned Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region First-Team honors during his senior season at Grand Valley State.
Hit .400 with 14 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 43 RBIs.
First-Team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, as well as second-team all-region honors from Daktronics.
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007.
As a junior, Skirka hit .322 with six doubles, 28 RBIs and 56 runs scored. He was named to the North Central Region All-Tournament Team, after helping lead the Lakers to a runner-up finish.
Began his collegiate career at Kellogg Community College, where he was named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2005.
In 2005, Skirka served as a team captain and helped the Bruins to a 30-game winning streak on the way to a conference championship.

Building the Game of Baseball

Skirka has worked at the Prospect Development League in Bradenton, Florida, at IMG Academy.
In a collaborative effort between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball, the PDL paves the way for the best young amateur players in the United States to develop and be more easily identified.
The league, held at the IMG Academy, also features a part in MLB All-Star Week, high school aged competition and Team USA 18U Trials.

Personal

Graduated magna cum laude from Grand Valley State in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in group social studies
Earned his master’s in human development and leadership from Murray State in 2010.
Dan and his wife, Kelsey, have one son, Keegan