COACHES
#43 Daron Schoenrock | #40 Fred Corral | #3 Jerry Zulli | #35 Zach Clark
Al Woods
The 16th baseball coach in school history, Daron Schoenrock enters his sixth season at the controls of Memphis baseball. After a rocky inaugural season, Schoenrock confirmed what many in the coaching world believed to be true when he was hired--that he was one of the top new head coaches in the business and that he woudl revive a once successful Memphis baseball program.
With Schoenrock at the helm of the Memphis program that is noted as one on the rise, it was no surprise that the Tigers were able to end the 13-year postseason hiatus and earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. With Schoenrock on the Tiger bench, the 2007 team went 36-27, marking the most wins since 1994 and, combined with the 2006 campaign represented the first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1994 and 1995 slates.
Schoenrock inherited a program that had lost its top three pitchers and 10 seniors from 2004, and struggled through a 13-42 campaign in 2005. With a well-planned goal, he wasted little time working to get the Tiger baseball program back on track, signing 25 newcomers for the 2006 season, including four four-year transfers, a National Junior College Player of the Year honoree and five major league draftees. Schoenrock brought those additions together and led the Tigers to a 32-win season in just his second campaign. The 32 wins were the most wins for Schoenrock in his three years as a head coach and the most by a Memphis baseball club since 2001. The 19-game turnaround tied for the second-best winning turnaround in the country in 2006 and also tied for the best turnaround in Tiger baseball history--tying that of the 2001 team. Along with that 32-28 mark came Memphis' first appearance in the Conference USA semifinals since the 2001 season.
Hired on June 29, 2004, Schoenrock immediately launched his plan to elevate Tiger Baseball by intensifying recruiting efforts, marketing season ticket campaigns, increasing revenue generated by the Bullpen Club and yearly banquets, and putting a plan in motion to upgrade the Tiger baseball facility. The Tiger skipper has overseen the the facelift recently given to FedExPark.
Through 17 years as an assistant (the last seven in the SEC), Schoenrock learned the importance an entire coaching staff has in carrying out the daily process of a program. In the summer of 2009, Schoenrock elevated five-year Tiger staffer Jerry Zulli to recruiting coordinator and brought in nationally renouned pitching coach Fred Corral to Memphis as the Associate Head Coach. Both of these moves, along with the retention of assistant coach and camps coordinator Derrick Dunbar and Director of Operations Al Woods have Schoenrock thrilled with the staff he has in place.
The difference he has made has been evident off the field as well. In just his first semester a more disciplined baseball team recorded the program's highest GPA ever. They once again recorded a program-high GPA with a 3.2 mark in the fall 2009 semester. A mirror of its coach, his squad also has been involved in community service efforts, such as visiting children at the Ronald McDonald House, Target House and St. Jude every year since his hiring. The Tigers added Streets Ministries to its goodwill efforts, preparing a meal and interacting with the inner city youth in a visit to the community outreach organization in the fall of 2006. In the spring of 2008, Memphis 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 came to Memphis after several successful years as an assistant coach. Before taking the post as the Tigers' skipper, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach on the Mississippi State staff--his fifth year in association with former State coaching legend Ron Polk. His primary responsibilities included coaching Bulldog pitchers, and overseeing MSU's recruiting efforts. Schoenrock also coordinated the activities of the Bulldogs' foster-parent program.
Regarded as one of college baseball's premier pitching coaches, Schoenrock has coached 77 players that have signed professional baseball contracts. He has sent 46 pitchers under his tutelage to the professional level, including Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, and Paul Maholm, who was a first-round pick (the No. 7 overall) of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Three Bulldog pitchers were taken in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Since coming to Memphis, five Tigers have been drafted and six have signed pro deals. Under Schoenrock's leadership a program record four U of M pitchers were drafted in the 2008 Major League Draft.
The 2006 Major League Baseball season was special to Schoenrock as two of his former pitchers achieved national recognition. Former Kentucky Wildcat Brandon Webb won the 2006 National League Cy Young Award, while former Mississippi State Bulldog Papelbon was the runner-up for the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year honor. A three-time American League All-Star, Papelbon won the 2007 "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award". Webb, also a three-time All-Star selection, was the Cy Young runner-up in 2007 and 2008.
Prior to joining Polk at MSU, he served as the pitching coach in 2000 and 2001 on the University of Georgia staff. In Athens, he developed a Bulldog pitching staff that, in 2001, helped boost Georgia to its first SEC championship in 47 years and its first appearance in the NCAA College World Series since 1990. He launched his affiliation with Southeastern Conference baseball in 1998 at the University of Kentucky. He served two seasons on the coaching staff of former MSU baseball staffer Keith Madison, coaching the UK pitchers and catchers and heading up the Wildcats' recruiting program in 1998 and 1999. His coaching expertise gained national acclaim during a highly-successful eight-year coaching stint at Birmingham Southern. His Panther pitchers improved their staff earned run averages each season and helped lead Birmingham Southern to the 1995 NAIA World Series.
In the summer that followed, Schoenrock earned a position as the short-season pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox's affiliate in the Appalachian League.
Schoenrock was a four-year starting pitcher under Coach David Mays at Tennessee Tech University. He earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education with a certification in biology before launching his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach there in 1985. He continued his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach under ABCA Hall of Famer Johnny Reagan at Murray State University, where he earned a master's degree in education in 1987.
Schoenrock took on his first head coaching job in 1988 at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. He was 25-52 in his two years as coach of the Railsplitters. Schoenrock guided LMU to its first postseason appearance in five years and was named the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1989. Much like the 2009 Tigers, Schoenrock's 1989 Lincoln Memorial team played the entire season on the road as facility renovations were being completed.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Schoenrock has been involved in numerous community outreach efforts, sharing his knowledge at coaching clinics and banquets nationwide and making several appearances for speaking engagements across the country, as well as in the Memphis area since taking the head coaching post at the U of M. Schoenrock also serves as a clinician for www.mycoachonline.com, a baseball instruction website, and is also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. In 1995 Schoenrock authored a comprehensive textbook on pitching titled "The Total Pitching Program." He is currently serving a second three-year term on the selection committee for the ABCA's prestigious Lefty Gomez Award, an annual award given for lifetime meritorious service to baseball. This past fall, Schoenrock was selected as the chairman for C-USA baseball coaches.
Schoenrock, 48, is married to the former Carol Cawood of Harlan, Ky. Carol is involved in the Tigers' baseball program as she coordinates the Tiger Diamond Darlings program. They are the parents of two sons, Erik, 18, and Bret, 7.
Assistant Coach: Fred Corral
On August 17, 2009, former University of Tennessee pitching coach Fred Corral was hired as the associate head coach and pitching coach for the University of Memphis baseball team, replacing former Tiger pitching coach Michael Federico.
"I feel we've really `hit a home run with the hiring of Fred Corral. Fred will have a huge impact on the pitching staff, the entire team and this program. Our pitchers will benefit from Fred's experience, his teaching techniques and the person that he is. We are truly fortunate to have him at the University of Memphis."
As one the most respected college pitching coaches in the country, Corral brings a wealth of collegiate experience and knowledge to the Memphis staff. He has served as an assistant coach at Tennessee (two stints), Oklahoma, Sacramento City College and San Joaquin Delta College.
Corral will inherit a senior-laden pitching staff that posted a 6.30 ERA with 377 strikeouts in 2009. Memphis' pitching staff has posted a 5.73 ERA or higher in each of the last five seasons.
Corral's last stop at Tennessee (2007-09) saw him instruct UT freshman Bryan Morgado to Freshman All-American honors and a spot on the Roger Clemens Award watch list in 2008. Under Corral's guidance, Morgado fanned 104 batters, marking just the second time in Volunteer baseball history that a freshman eclipsed the 100-strikeout plateau. Corral also helped several UT hurlers post dramatic improvements over his second two-year stint in Knoxville.
Corral made the move to head the pitching staff at Oklahoma following the 2004 season. During his three years with the Sooners, he helped OU to two consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including the program's first Super Regional showing in 2006. During Corral's tenure at Oklahoma, nine pitchers were taken in the MLB Draft (including 13th-rounder Daniel McCutchen) and six Sooner hurlers earned All-Big 12 honors.
During Corral's first stint at Tennessee, he led the Volunteers pitching staff to the top of the pitching-rich SEC as well as the nation. His staffs posted consecutive sub-3.90 ERA's, and UT's 3.51 ERA in 2004 ranked 13th in the country. The 2004 Volunteer staff recorded the fifth-most strikeouts in school history and held opponents to a .243 batting average, which was UT's lowest mark in nine seasons. Tennessee also had three pitchers in 2004 who's ERAs ranked among the top 12 in the SEC.
Four of Corral's pitchers at Tennessee have gone on to be selected in the MLB draft. He signed James Adkins and coached Luke Hochevar, hurlers who now rank first and third on UT's all-time strikeouts list, respectively. Hochevar now starts for the Kansas City Royals, and Adkins is in the process of ascending toward the major leagues.
Corral began his collegiate coaching career in 1993 as a pitching coach at his alma mater San Joaquin Delta Junior College in Stockton, Calif. He spent two seasons there (1993-95), before being hired to take the reins of the Sacramento City College pitching staff.
From 1996-2002, Corral served as the pitching coach at SCC, where he was a vital part of the program's success. Under one of the most highly respected and successful junior college coaches in the nation in Jerry Weinstein, Corral served on a coaching staff that produced one national championship, five Bay Valley East Conference championships and a pair of state runner-up titles. His staffs compiled an overall record of 281-56-1 for an .833 winning percentage during his tenure.
Of the 36 drafted pitchers under his tutelage at SCC, 13 signed professional contracts. Every pitcher Corral coached at SCC was either drafted or transferred to a four-year institution.
Corral's credentials of developing pitching talent speak for themselves. In 16 years as a collegiate pitching coach, 59 of his pitchers have been drafted, nine of which were selected in the top-10 rounds of the MLB Draft and six (Matt Riley, Adam Bernero, Mike Neu, Joe Horgan, Luke Hochevar and Charlie Zink) have advanced to baseball's top level. In all, Corral's instruction has helped 65 pitchers reach the professional level.
Much like Schoenrock, Corral has also had extensive experience in the professional ranks. He has worked as a pitching instructor in the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-01) and Montreal Expos (1999) organizations, and also served a coach for Major League Baseball International (1994).
As a player, Corral was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a relief pitcher at the University of California in 1987. The Golden Bears eighth 10-game winner, Corral set a school record for single-season win-loss percentage with a perfect 10-0 record in 1987. The southpaw added five saves and a 3.75 ERA in his sophomore season (1987) en route to earning the team's Most Valuable Pitcher honor. Corral helped lead the Golden Bears to their fourth College World Series appearance in 1988. He finished his career with a 13-5 mark, a 4.50 ERA and six saves.
Prior to his Division I career at Cal, Corral starred at San Joaquin Delta Junior College where he garnered All-Camino Notre Conference honors in 1985 and 1986.
Corral is married to the former Cynthia Drost, of Ripon, Calif., and the couple has two children, Kaitlyn Joy and Justin Jerome. The couple's nieces, Marisa and Chelsea, and nephews, Michael and Robert, also live with them.
Assistant Coach: Jerry Zulli
Jerry Zulli enters his sixth season on the Memphis Tigers' coaching staff. Zulli is responsible for the instruction of the Tiger hitters and outfielders. He has also taken on a significant role in the recruiting process, as well as placing Tiger players on teams in collegiate-level wooden bat leagues to hone and improve their skills in the summer.
Zulli, brings a dimension of energy and enthusiasm in his philosophy of teaching the offensive game, and has an excellent ability to evaluate talent.
Zulli's offenses have posted some of the best numbers in Memphis baseball history over the past two seasons, including banging out a record 137 doubles in 2007. In 2006, the Tiger offense posted top-five totals in games played, hits, RBI, runs, doubles and total bases. As one of the most feared offenses in Conference USA, 2007 was more of the same as Zulli's bunch hit .302 and racked up 665 hits in just over 2200 at-bats. For the second consecutive season, they recorded top-five marks in RBI and total bases, finishing with 399 and 1011, respectively.
Under Zulli, numerous Tiger hitters have etched their names in the Memphis baseball record books. In 2007, Michael Murray and Adam Amar became just the second Tiger duo to collect over 85 hits in a single season. Meanwhile, Bill Moss and Joey Lieberman each homered 14 times, representing the first time in Tiger baseball history two players have hit as many home runs in the same season. With Zulli's guidance, K.K. Chalmers took hold of several of the program's offensive records, including the triples, runs scored and walks marks. Both Chalmers and former Tiger Amar placed their names in the Tigers' career top-10 hits list under Zulli's instruction.
Zulli has also made his mark on the program off the field as the team's academic supervisor. As a team, Memphis put together its best academic semester ever by posting a 3.12 GPA in the fall of 2007.
On the field, Coach "Z" also serves as the third base coach during the season. While "Z" coaches third base, his product on the field constantly attests his coaching ability. Not known as an offensive power when he took over as hitting coach, Zulli quickly transformed the Memphis lineup into one of the top hitting teams in C-USA. A year after hitting just .262 as a team, Memphis had a breakout season at the plate, tying Rice for the league lead and ranking 30th nationally with a .315 batting average in 2006. The Tigers' high-octane offense wrapped up the season ranked in the country's top-30 (28th at 7.6 runs per game) in scoring after putting up 10 or more runs 17 times. The 2007 crew crossed 10 or more runs 15 times and ranked among the nation's best in scoring at seven runs per game.
Zulli's philosophy has resulted in a 2007 Nashville Regional All-Tournament selection for Amar and six All C-USA selections over the past three seasons. In 2007, Lieberman garnered First-Team DH honors, while Amar, Moss and Murray hauled in Second-Team recognition. Amar and K.K Chalmers were All -C-USA picks in 2006. Zulli has also produced back-to-back hitting titles for Memphis players. Murray led the league with a .375 average in 2007, while Amar, a 2007 preseason All-American, led C-USA in hitting with a .395 average to earn first team All-C-USA honors in 2006. He hit .459 in league play--third highest ever in C-USA history.
A native of New Orleans, La., Zulli was an assistant coach under Craig Young at Middle Georgia College from 2002-04. While at Middle Georgia, he was the team's hitting instructor and outfield coach. He was also responsible for coordinating the Warriors recruiting efforts. In his final two years at MGC, 12 Warriors were drafted by Major League teams.
Under Zulli's assistantship, the Warriors went 130-51--a 72 percent winning percentage. In 2004, the Warriors placed sixth in the JUCO World Series, and ended the year with a 45-17 record. The 2002 Warriors also advanced to the JUCO World Series and ranked sixth in the final National JUCO Poll.
He also spent the summer of 2004 as an assistant coach of the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Summer League. Under his assistance, the Mets advanced to the semifinals of the Cape playoffs.
Zulli spent the 2003 summer as the assistant for the U-17 East Cobb Braves. Under his instruction, the Braves sent eight players to NCAA Division I baseball programs and captured the 2003 Perfect Game National Championship.
Zulli first arrived at MGC in 1997 as a player. In 1999 Zulli helped lead the Warriors to the Region XVII Championship and finish a game away from an East-Central District Championship. During that year, he was a recipient of the Terry Daniels Award. He earned his associate degree in business management from Middle Georgia in 1999. He then transferred to the University of New Orleans where he played under the direction of Coach Randy Bush.
Zulli received his bachelor's degree, from New Orleans, in sports management in 2002. He is married to the former Kristen Bell of Lawrenceville, Ga.
Assistant Coach: Zach Clark
Former Tiger Zach Clark has been hired as the program's volunteer assistant coach/camps coordinator, University of Memphis head baseball Coach Daron Schoenrock announced today. Clark replaces Derrick Dunbar, who spent two seasons in the same position before taking an assistant coaching position at his alma mater, Austin Peay.
"I am thrilled to have a former Tiger join our coaching staff," said Schoenrock. "Zach was well-respected by his teammates for his work ethic, passion and knowledge of the game. This is the first step in what I feel will be a brilliant coaching career. He will be a great addition to our staff."
Clark, a three-year letterwinner for Schoenrock's Tigers from 2007-09, is currently the head coach for the 10-year old Memphis Tigers. He has spent the previous three summers as an assistant for the Bartlett High School summer team. "I'm excited to be back in the Memphis baseball program," Clark said. "I enjoyed the experience as a player and look forward to starting my coaching career with Coach Schoenrock and the staff." Al Woods enters his fourth season as the Director of Operations for the University of Memphis baseball program. Woods joined Daron Schoenrock's staff prior to the 2007 season after a three-year stint as the assistant baseball coach at Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Director of Baseball Operations: Al Woods
A native of Memphis and graduate of Ridgeway High School, Woods' primary responsibilities include assisting in game day operations, team travel accommodations, umpires accommodations, coordinating the Tiger baseball Diamond Darlings, assisting with Tiger baseball camps and serving as the staff liaison with the Tiger baseball Bullpen Club. In that position, Woods is responsible for building the Memphis baseball booster club's membership. He has been instrumental in recent efforts to reach out to former Tiger baseball letterwinners to get them involved in the program. Woods also assists with equipment needs. Woods is no stranger to baseball in the Memphis area. The former RHS Roadrunner slugger took the assistant coaching post at Southwest in 2004 and assisted Johnny Ray through the 2006 campaign. Prior to his stint at SWTCC, Woods coached for several years in the youth baseball ranks in Memphis.
Woods, 45, is married to the former Denise Medlin, and the couple has a son, Will (20). Will is a sophomore at Mississippi State University.
