MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers head baseball coach Daron Schoenrock has announced his plan for retire following the 2022 season after what will be 18 seasons on the top step of the Tigers’ dugout.
Schoenrock’s first season as Memphis head coach was in 2005, and he recently concluded his 36th season overall as a collegiate coach.
“It has been an absolute thrill to lead this Memphis Tigers baseball program for the past 17 years,” said Schoenrock. “The relationships with over 190 players, 32 different staff members, and their commitment to excellence in representing the University of Memphis in a first class way on and off the field are things I will forever be grateful for. Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger!”
“We are tremendously appreciative of ‘Rock’s’ time as Tiger Baseball head coach,” Memphis Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Laird Veatch said. “Rock is a perfect example of the impact a coach can make on student-athletes. Not only has he prepared his teams for success on the field, but he has demonstrated a true commitment to being part of the community and helping touch the lives of those around us. We wish him all the best in retirement after one more season as Tigers skipper.”
“Over his 18-year career at Memphis, Rock has made a profound influence on the lives of our baseball student-athletes,” Memphis Associate AD for Development and Baseball Sport Administrator Blair DeBord said. “We look forward to honoring him later this season to pay homage to his accomplishments, and are excited about the opportunity to close out his career with a successful season.”
Schoenrock guided the Tigers to 437 wins and an NCAA Regional appearance, and he was the 2013 Conference USA Coach of the Year. Memphis has had eight 30-win seasons with Schoenrock at the helm, which included five-straight from 2011-15.
He tutored two C-USA Players of the Year (Chad Zurcher, 2011; Jacob Wilson, 2012), a C-USA Pitcher of the Year (Erik Schoenrock, 2013) and 34 all-conference players during his tenure. Schoenrock also helped four Tigers earn All-America recognition, while Hunter Goodman pick up multiple Freshman All-America honors in 2019.
A total of 34 Tigers have made it to professional baseball after Schoenrock’s tutelage, with Goodman most recently selected by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. Former Schoenrock Tigers Sam Moll reached the Major Leagues with Oakland in 2017, and Wilson played in The Show with Oakland and Houston in 2021.
Schoenrock was hired as Memphis head coach on June 29, 2004 and immediately helped ingrain the program as part of the Memphis community. A mirror of its coach, Schoenrock’s squads have been involved in multiple community service efforts, such as visiting children at the Ronald McDonald House, Target House or St. Jude every year since his hiring.
The Tigers added Streets Ministries to their goodwill efforts, preparing meals and interacting with the inner-city youth in visits to the community outreach organization. The Tigers visited Southaven’s Field of Dreams, where they held a special meet-and-greet session and donated gifts to support the league that serves special-needs children in the Mid-South. Schoenrock’s Tigers have also become involved with the “Step Up for Down Syndrome” Walk.
Schoenrock came to Memphis after several successful years as an assistant coach. Before he took the post as the Tigers’ skipper, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach on the Mississippi State staff, where his primary responsibilities included coaching Bulldog pitchers and overseeing MSU’s recruiting efforts. Schoenrock also coordinated the activities of the Bulldogs’ foster-parent program.
Prior to joining Mississippi State, Schoenrock was the pitching coach at Georgia (2000-01) and Kentucky (1998-99) and spent 1990-97 as an assistant coach at Birmingham Southern. He was the Chicago White Sox’ Short-Season A affiliate’s pitching coach in the summer of 1995.
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