Dan Skirka
{{Short description|American college baseball coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Dan Skirka
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Murray State
| current_conference = Missouri Valley
| current_record = 206–151
| contract =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|5|20}}{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/murraystate/docs/13_guide/39 |title=2013 Murray State Baseball Guide |publisher=Murray State University |work=www.issuu.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
| birth_place = Coldwater, Michigan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| player_years1 = 2004–2005
| player_team1 = Kellogg Community College
| player_years2 = 2006–2007
| player_team2 = Grand Valley State
| player_positions = Shortstop
| coach_years1 = 2008
| coach_team1 = Grand Rapids Community College (asst.)
| coach_years2 = 2009
| coach_team2 = Ouachita Baptist (asst.)
| coach_years3 = 2010–2014
| coach_team3 = Murray State (asst.)
| coach_years4 = 2015–2018
| coach_team4 = Walters State Community College (asst.)
| coach_years5 = 2019–present
| coach_team5 = Murray State
| overall_record = 206–151
| tournament_record = MVC: 6–4
OVC: 4–4
NCAA: 5–4
| championships =
- MVC (2025)
- MVC tournament (2025)
| awards =
- Missouri Valley Coach of the Year (2025)
- First Team All-GLIAC (2007)
| coaching_records =
}}
Daniel Skirka is an American college baseball coach and former shortstop. Skirka is the head coach of the Murray State Racers baseball team.
Playing career
Skirka attended Union City High School in Union City, Michigan. Skirka played for the school's varsity baseball team three years, while also playing basketball for four years. Skirka then enrolled at the Kellogg Community College, to play college baseball for the Kellogg Bruins baseball team.
As a freshman at Kellogg Community College in 2004, Skirka had a .273 batting average with 8 RBIs.{{cite web |url=http://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2003-04/div2/teams/KelloggCommunityCollege/players/DanSkirka.html |title=Dan Skirka 2003-04 |publisher=National Junior College Athletic Association |work=www.njcaa.org |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
As a sophomore in 2005, Skirka batted .358 with 2 home runs, and 35 RBIs.{{cite web |url=http://njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2004-05/div2/teams/KelloggCommunityCollege/players/DanSkirka.html |title=Dan Skirka 2004-05 |publisher=National Junior College Athletic Association |work=www.njcaa.org |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
In the 2006 season as a junior, Skirka accepted a scholarship offer to Grand Valley State University.{{cite web |url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/060805aam.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705004428/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/060805aam.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |title=Lakers ink Seven Baseball Recruits |date=June 8, 2005 |publisher=CSTV Networks, Inc. |work=www.cstv.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}} Skirka won the starting shortstop job for the Lakers. He hit scored 56 runs, while hitting .322 with a .432 on-base percentage (OBP) and 28 RBIs.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/grva/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/07bb-PlayerProfiles.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705003808/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/grva/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/07bb-PlayerProfiles.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |title=Dan Skirka #8 |publisher=Grand Valley State University |work=www.grfx.cstv.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
Skirka had his best season as a senior in 2007, hitting a career high in doubles (14), triples (5), home runs (7), RBIs (43), batting average (.400) and slugging (.631). He was named First Team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,{{cite web |url=http://gliac.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2006-07/news/bb_allcon_07.pdf?dec= |title=2007 GLIAC Baseball All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards |publisher=Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |work=www.gliac.prestosports.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}} Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region honors and a CoSIDA Academica All-Region selection.{{cite web |url=http://gvsulakers.com/news/2007/5/21/052107aaa_192.aspx?path=baseball |title=Several Lakers Earn All-Region Honors |date=May 21, 2007 |publisher=Grand Valley State University |work=www.gvsulakers.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018 |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705004020/http://gvsulakers.com/news/2007/5/21/052107aaa_192.aspx?path=baseball |url-status=dead }}
Coaching career
In 2008, Skirka began his coaching career as an assistant at Grand Rapids Community College. In 2009, Skirka was named an assistant for the Ouachita Baptist University.{{cite web |url=https://www.obusignal.com/obu-baseball-to-hold-skills-camp/ |title=OBU baseball to hold skills camp |publisher=The OBU Signal |work=www.obusignal.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}} In 2010, Skirka moved on to Murray State University as an assistant coach. Skirka spent two seasons as the first base coach, before moving to third base coach and working with outfielders and hitters. In 2015, Skirka became the recruiting coordinator for the Walters State Community College baseball team.{{cite web |url=https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/TN/Walters-State-Recruiting-Coordinator-Dan-Skirka-Talks-Juco-Baseball-1896524073 |title=Walters State Recruiting Coordinator Dan Skirka Talks JUCO Baseball |author=Chris Fuller |date=January 7, 2015 |publisher=Prep Baseball Report |work=www.prebaseballreport.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
On July 2, 2018, Skirka returned to Murray State as the head coach of the baseball program.{{cite web |url=http://www.paducahsun.com/sports/general/skirka-introduced-as-msu-baseball-coach/article_9cdabf22-adca-5ed4-8128-f8b8410af570.html |title=Skirka introduced as MSU baseball coach |author=Edward Marlowe |date=July 2, 2018 |publisher=BLOX Content Management System |work=www.paducahsun.com |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}
In 2025, Skirka led Murray State to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, securing the Racers' first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2003 and their fourth in school history.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2025 |title=Racers Complete Dream Season - Win MVC Tournament Championship |url=https://goracers.com/news/2025/5/24/untitled-story |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=Murray State Baseball}} Murray State proceeded to upset regional host Ole Miss to win their first-ever regional championship, which was followed by a Super Regional victory over Duke to punch the Racers' first-ever ticket to the College World Series.{{Cite web |last=Casselberry |first=Ian |date=June 9, 2025 |title=College World Series: Murray State clinches final spot in Omaha with 5-4 win over Duke |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/college-world-series-murray-state-clinches-final-spot-in-omaha-with-5-4-win-over-duke-020511052.html |website=Yahoo Sports}} Skirka's squad also set a school record for victories (44).
Head coaching record
{{CBB yearly record start
| type = coach
| conference =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Murray State Racers
| conference= Ohio Valley Conference
| startyear = 2019
| endyear = 2022
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2019
| name = Murray State
| overall = 24–30
| conference = 16–14
| confstanding = T–5th
| postseason = Ohio Valley Tournament
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2020
| name = Murray State
| overall = 10–7
| conference = 2–1
| confstanding =
| postseason = Season canceled due to COVID-19
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2021
| name = Murray State
| overall = 33–25
| conference = 18–12
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = Ohio Valley Tournament
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2022
| name = Murray State
| overall = 30–25
| conference = 11–13
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason = Ohio Valley Tournament
}}
{{CBB yearly record subtotal
| name = Murray State
| overall =
| confrecord = 47–40 (OVC)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Murray State Racers
| conference= Missouri Valley Conference
| startyear = 2023
| endyear =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2023
| name = Murray State
| overall = 31–28
| conference = 14–13
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = MVC Tournament
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2024
| name = Murray State
| overall = 37–20
| conference = 17–10
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = MVC Tournament
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2025
| name = Murray State
| overall = 44–17
| conference = 17–8
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason = College World Series
}}
{{CBB yearly record subtotal
| name = Murray State
| overall = 206–151
| confrecord = 48–31 (MVC)
}}
{{CBB yearly record end
| overall = 206–151
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://gvsulakers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=236 Grand Valley State Lakers bio]
- [https://goracers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1190&path=baseball Murray State Racers bio]
{{Missouri Valley Conference baseball coach navbox}}
{{Murray State Racers baseball coach navbox}}
{{Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skirka, Dan}}
Category:Kellogg Bruins baseball players
Category:Grand Valley State Lakers baseball players
Category:Grand Rapids Raiders baseball coaches
Category:Ouachita Baptist Tigers baseball coaches
Category:Murray State Racers baseball coaches