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TCU Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle has found his replacement for the departing Randy Mazey, hiring former Cal State Fullerton Assistant Coach Kirk Saarloos in a similar role with the Frogs. Kirk brings two years of full time coaching experience with the Titans along with a seven year Major League career as a pitcher with the Astros, Athletics and Reds.
Coach Saarloos interviewed in Fort Worth on Wednesday June the 13th before accepting the position today.
In two years with the Titans, Saarloos has built an impressive reputation as both a strong recruiter as well as a solid pitching coach. Kirk also played his college ball with Cal State Fullerton, where he still holds a record for being the most used pitcher with 127 appearances over four years.
Over his seven years in professional baseball, Kirk amassed a 29-30 record with a 5.02 ERA. His best season, 2005 with the Oakland Athletics organization, saw him earn 10 wins while carrying a 4.17 ERA through 27 starts. Kirk made just over $2 million through his major league career.
Tony Vitello will remain as an assistant coach, handling the hitters while coordinating the Frogs recruiting efforts. Volunteer assistant coach Chuck Jeroloman will return in his current role in 2013.
The right-hander was the most used pitcher in the history of the Titan baseball program, racking up a school record 127 appearances from 1998-2001. He was strictly a reliever for his first three season, compiling a 18-10 record with 18 saves out of the pen, but then earned first-team All-American status and was named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year after going 15-2 with 4 saves as a senior starter.
Also that year, Saarloos became the third Titan hurler to toss a no-hitter when he blanked Pacific in a 28-0 rout on Apr. 8, 2001.
Over four collegiate seasons, Saarloos compiled a 33-12 record with a 2.96 ERA, and ranks 6th all-time at Cal State Fullerton in career innings pitched, 2nd in wins, 5th in saves and 3rd in strikeouts.
Saarloos made two trips to the College World Series (1999 and 2001) with the Titans where he logged a save and gave up just 2 runs over 15.1 innings in four appearances.
After being selected as the 83rd pick overall (3rd round) by the Houston Astros in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, the righty went on to become the 2002 minor league pitcher of the year and was called up to the big club on June 18, 2002.
Saarloos is a product of Valley Christian High School in Cerritos, Calif.
He earned his bachelor's degreee in public relations from Cal State Fullerton in the Spring of 2011.
Saarloos and his wife, Kristen, have a four-year-old son, Brady, and a two-year-old daughter, Emery.