Sept. 17, 2001
NORFOLK, VA.-- Shohn Doty an assistant baseball coach at UNC Wimingtonthe last three years, who developed the Seahawk pitching staff that ranked third nationally in earned run average, Jeff Sziksai an assistant at Western Carolina University and former Monarch Eric Folmar have been named assistant coaches at Old Dominion University today as announced by head baseball coach Tony Guzzo.
Doty served as an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington the last three seasonsresponsible for developing the pitching staff as well as coordinating recruiting. TheSeahawks have led the CAA in earned run average the last two years and last yearranked third nationally with a 3.20 ERA.
Prior to coming to UNC Wilmington, Doty spent two years working with Indiana State University's pitchers and catchers, and directing their junior collegerecruiting. He was previously an assistant coach at Arkansas Tech (1992-93), Arkansas(1994-95) and Pratt (Kan.) Community College (1995-96).
The veteran coach also managed the Manitowoe team in the Northwoods Collegiate Summer League to a franchise-record 39 victories during the summer of 1995.
In his last season at Indiana State, he helped the Sycamores post a school record 21 conference victories and a 39-17 overall record. As a player, Doty earned severalhonors during a career at Crowder Junior College in Neosho, MO., and Arkansas Tech.At Crowder, he set a school record with 31 doubles as a sophomore while also serving as the team's closer. At Tech, he was a starting pitcher for two seasons and collected17 victories during that span, earning NAIA District 17 honors and being named anNAIA All-Star.
Following graduation, Doty, a native of Springdale, Ark., served as the pitching coach at Tech and excelled. His staff led the conference in earned run average and walks per innings pitched Two of his hurlers were drafted and the team won one conferencechampionship.In 2000, UNC Wilmington led the CAA in earned run average with a 4.04ERA, ranking them 22nd nationally. Known for its aggressiveness, the staff walked just175 batters, also tops in the league in over 520 innings. The Seahawk pitchers fanned 455, good for second in the league. In addition to the 3.20 earned run average in 2001,the Seahawk staff tossed four shutouts, 12 complete games and allowed only 14 home runs.
Doty and his wife, Anissa, have a son, Blake, 14 and a daughter, Bethany, 5.Doty graduated from Arkansas Tech with a B.A. in health and physical educationin 1991 He earned a Master's degree in secondary education from the University ofArkansas in 1995.
Sziksai served as an assistant at Western Carolina the last two years,workingwith the infielders. A former All-Southern Conference second baseman in 1997 playedin the New York Yankees organization. Sziksai earned Southern Conference All-Tournament honors in 1997 as the Catamounts won the Conference title and advancedto the NCAA East Regional. That season, he played 48 games at second base withoutcommitting an error.
Sziksai also served as assistant coach with the Outer Banks Daredevils in the Coastal Plains Summer League in 2001 and the Lima Locos in the Great Lakes Summer League in 1999.
While at Western Carolina as an assistant coach, Sziksai was part of the programs turnaround, from just 15 wins in 2000 to 30 wins in 2001 and leading theSouthern Conference in hitting and homeruns. The Asheville, NC, native graduated from Western Carolina University in 1998 with a B.S. degree in business managementand earned a Master's degree in physical education from Western CArolina in 2001.
Eric Folmar was a four-year starter for the Monarchs at second base, third base and catcher. He once started 168 straight games from his freshman year to the beginning of his senior year. His best year was 1998 when he hit .303, scored 32 times and led the team in sacrifice hits with 17. Folmar graduated in 1999 with a degree in health and physical education.