Jack Dahm

10

Position: Head Coach Experience: Ninth Year

In eight years as Iowa's head baseball coach, Jack Dahm has established the Hawkeyes as Big Ten contenders and is ready to lead the Iowa baseball program to new heights with his commitment to excellence.

Since taking over the Iowa baseball team in July of 2003, Dahm has sparked resurgence in the Hawkeye program, having success Hawkeye fans hadn't seen in years. Dahm has guided the Black and Gold to 30 or more wins two of the last five seasons.

In 2009, Coach Dahm surpassed Dick Schultz for the third-most victorious coach in Iowa history at Duane Banks Field on March 21 in a victory over Western Illinois. Also in 2009, Dahm picked up his 400th win as a Division I coach at Northern Iowa April 23 and notched his 124th victory as an Iowa head coach against Ohio State May 16, which surpassed Scott Broghamer (1998-03) for fourth in Iowa coaching victories. Dahm's eight-year record with the Hawkeyes stands at 190-248.

In Dahm's 18 years as a head coach, he has produced 24 first team all-conference performers, eight freshmen All-Americans and two All-Americans. In his eight years at Iowa, Dahm has coached 32 all-Big Ten selections, including eight first teamers. Iowa had only four first team selections in the previous 14 years before his arrival in Iowa City.

Four Hawkeyes garnered all-league honors in 2011. Starting pitcher Jarred Hippen earned second team laurels for the second consecutive year. Catcher Tyson Blaser and centerfield Trevor Willis both earned third team accolades. Additionally, Taylor Zeutenhorst, a freshman outfielder, was named to the Big Ten's all-freshman squad.

In 2011, Dahm guided his pitching staff to one of the best seasons on the mound in Hawkeye history. Iowa registered an ERA of 4.22, the lowest since 1980 (4.14). Hippen earned second team all-conference laurels for the second consecutive year. Starting LHP Matt Dermody and Hippen, ranked first and third in the Big Ten, respectively, in strikeouts during the regular season. Hippen, who has thrown eight complete games in the last two seasons, nearly threw a perfect game against Minnesota, allowing only one hit. In addition, newcomers Tim Fangman and Patrick Lala enjoyed successful first seasons in the Black and Gold. Fangman finished in the top ten in the Big Ten in numerous categories, including ERA, opposing batting average, games finished, hits allowed, runs allowed and walks allowed.

In the classroom, Dahm's teams have had success, as well. Iowa's baseball team boasted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 95, which is 25 points above the national average for NCAA Division I baseball programs. During his Iowa tenure, the head coach has seen 68 players named academic all-Big Ten, including a team-record 12 players in 2011. That is the best eight-year total in the history of the program. Iowa had eight student-athletes recognized in 2010. Additionally, shortstop Kurt Lee was named Academic All-District first team in 2011.

In 2010, Iowa finished with a bang, winning 11 of its final 14 contests and eventually finishing 30-28. Dahm coached the Hawkeyes to road series victories at Michigan and Penn State and home sets against Ohio State, Illinois and Purdue. Furthermore, Iowa ultimately won all five meetings against the Boilermakers in 2010, sweeping a three-game regular-season set and winning two in the league tournament.

The Hawkeyes finished third in the conference and ultimately placed second at the Big Ten Tournament. The tournament berth was the third under Dahm and only the eighth in school history. The Hawkeyes won three games at the tournament, which was the first time an Iowa team had won since 1990. The runner-up finish in the conference tournament tied the school's highest finish, which was accomplished once before (1983).

Four Hawkeyes earned all-conference laurels in 2010. Kurtis Muller and Jarred Hippen each received second team accolades, while Zach McCool was named to the third team. Freshman Mike Corbeil garnered all-freshman honors. Muller and Hippen also garnered Big Ten All-Tournament accolades.

Dahm and his coaching staff are excellent recruiters and prepare their players for the professional ranks. Twelve Hawkeyes were drafted the last two seasons under Dahm, including six incoming recruits. Relievers Zach Robertson, Patrick Schatz, Steve Turnbull, Kyle Heim and Mike Schurz were all picked up, as well as Kurtis Muller, Matt Dermody, Dan Sheppard, Taylor Zeutenhorst, Patrick Lala, Derrick Loveless, Sasha Kuebel and Nick Hibbing. Additionally, Justin Toole signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians. Forty-three of Dahm's players have been selected in the MLB Draft, while four have gone on to play in the major leagues.

On the heels of the 2010 season, the Hawkeyes' 2011 recruiting class was once again rated the best in the Big Ten by Perfect Game USA. The class was ranked fourth-best in the Midwest and 48th-best nationally.

Coach Dahm's 2008 recruiting class was ranked that 49th-best class according to Perfect Game USA. Iowa's ranking was the highest of any Big Ten team.

In 2008, the Hawkeyes broke two school records. Iowa stole 138 bases, which are the most in a single-season by a Hawkeye team; the previous record of 127 was set by the 1981 team. Five Hawkeyes had 14 or more stolen bags, 13 recorded at least one and the Black and Gold were led by senior Caleb Curry who accumulated 45 thefts.

The Hawkeyes also set a record with a team total of 86 hit-by-pitches, breaking the previous record of 83, which was set in 2007. Hoef, Muller and Curry led the Hawkeyes and 15 members of the Black and Gold wore at least one pitch.

Three Hawkeyes were named all-Big Ten, including Caleb Curry and Kevin Hoef earning second team accolades while Justin Toole earned third team laurels. Curry and Toole earned all-Mideast Regional honors. Additionally, Curry and Hoef were drafted.

In 2007, Iowa took a major step forward by recording its best record in 14 years with a 31-23 mark. The Hawkeyes placed fourth in the Big Ten Conference at 17-13, and earned their second trip to the conference tournament in three years -- this after going just once the previous 15 years.

Five Hawkeyes were named all-Big Ten, including Travis Sweet and Jason White earning first team accolades. Nick Erdman and Curry were recognized on the second team, while Justin Toole earned third team laurels. Sweet, White and Toole earned all-Mideast Regional honors. Additionally, Sweet, White and Dusty Napoleon, along with recruit Zach Kenyon were drafted.

In the classroom, Iowa was awarded the 2007 NCAA Public Recognition award, placing them in the top 30 baseball programs, academically. Catcher Ben Geelan was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VII team. In the Big Ten, seven Hawkeyes earned academic all-league honors.

In 2006, the Hawkeyes continued to build the program, on-and-off the field. On the field highlights included capturing the Austin Peay Tournament and the Louisiana Cajun Classic. Off the field, the Hawkeyes continued to shine in the classroom with ten players named Academic all-Big Ten, giving them 26 recipients the first three years under Dahm. Iowa has averaged eight academic all-conference honorees during his seven-year coaching tenure.

Individually, closer Tim Gudex earned first-team all-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive year, while starting pitcher Austin Seward was named to the second team.

After the season, a pair of Hawkeyes signed professional baseball contracts. Gudex was signed by the Texas Rangers, while Nate Price was signed by the Chicago Cubs.

In his second season, Dahm led the Hawkeyes to their best season since 1990. Iowa posted a 28-29 mark and a 19-13 league record - the second most conference wins in the history of the program. Dahm's squad finished third in the league (just one game out of first place), and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hawkeyes won five four-game series' during Big Ten play, including road series' at Big Ten champion Illinois and Michigan, along with homestands against Minnesota, Penn State and Indiana. The team's success was a reflection of the individual awards the Hawkeye earned, as Iowa had five players named all-Big Ten. Gudex was named to the first team, Price was on the second team, while catcher Kris Welker, Jason White and Andy Lytle were all third team honorees. Gudex was also a second team all-Mideast region pick by American Baseball Coaches Association.

Four of Dahm's players signed professional contracts after the 2005 season. Lytle (25th round - Cleveland Indians) and Welker (41st round - Chicago White Sox) were both selected in the MLB Draft, while Nate Yoho (Milwaukee Brewers) and Jesse Brownell (Colorado Rockies) signed free agent contracts.

In his first year, Dahm helped guide both Nathan Johnson and Yoho to All-Big Ten honors. Johnson was named to the first team, while Yoho earned his way onto the second team.

On the recruiting front, Dahm and his staff gained praise nationally for their first class. It was ranked in the top-50 by Jerry Ford, the National Director of Perfect Game U.S.A., and No. 44 by Collegiate Baseball, who also named it the top class in the Big Ten. Dahm and the Hawkeyes made their mark on the in-state recruiting trail when they inked six of the top eight high school prospects in Iowa, which included the top four pitching prospects.

In year two, another highly touted class was penned by Dahm and his assistant coaches. The class featured two of the top players in the Midwest - Kevin Hoef and Wes Freie.

Since his arrival in 2003, Coach Dahm has not only been building a foundation on the field, but off as well.

"In order to build a consistent program we must have a solid foundation and that starts with quality student-athletes who are willing to make personal sacrifices, on and off the field," said Dahm. "We must also develop a level of trust and belief in each other and in the program. If we can build that foundation the success on the field will take care of itself."

Players have been busy giving back to the community by helping raise money for breast cancer and helping the Iowa Children's Museum at the Crystal Ball dinner. The Hawkeyes are also involved with the UI's Dance Marathon, Iowa Children's Miracle Network, UI Children's Hospital and Iowa City Neighborhood Centers.

Dahm was also instrumental in starting the Corridor Classic. The Corridor Classic helped raise over $500,000 for the American Diabetes Association in its five years. It was one of the biggest ADA fundraisers in Iowa history. Iowa and Northern Iowa competed in the Classic the first five years, while the Hawkeyes met Coe College a year ago.

Other new and exciting events have been added to the schedule. Four years ago, the Hawkeyes battled the Triple-A Iowa Cubs at Principal Park in Des Moines for the fourth time in five years. The Hawkeyes and Cubs will attempt to play again in 2012. Iowa also plays an annual game against St. Ambrose at Modern Woodmen Park in the Quad Cities this season.

Dahm also created the annual Lead-Off Dinner and Steak Fry in February, which serves to kick-off the season and get fans excited about Iowa baseball. The Lead-Off/Steak Fry Dinner has also featured Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, baseball legend Tommy Lasorda, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, MLB umpire Tim McClelland along with Iowa Cubs owner and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Gartner.

Before coming to Iowa City, Dahm spent 18 years as a member of the Creighton Bluejays baseball program. He left the Bluejays as the winningest coach in school history, having compiled 283 wins against 276 losses in 10 seasons as head coach.

Dahm arrived at Creighton in 1986 to play under Hendry and spent four years as a student-athlete (1986-89). In 1990, Dahm accepted a position as a graduate assistant under Hendry and spent four years helping build Creighton into a Missouri Valley Conference power.

In 1991, Dahm was promoted to a full-time assistant as he helped the Bluejays reach the College World Series. That Creighton squad ended the season as the second-highest hitting club in the nation, batting .355. The team's 60 triples, in 1991, led the nation and remain a school record.

In October of 1993, Dahm was hired as Creighton's head coach, becoming the youngest head coach in Division I at the age of 25. For the next ten years, five of Dahm's teams finished in the top three of the Missouri Valley Conference.

In 1999, Dahm earned the first of two Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors as the Bluejays advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in the Dahm era. Creighton posted 38 wins that season before being eliminated from the South Bend Regional.

In 2000, Dahm guided the Bluejays to their second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance at the Arizona State regional in Tempe, Ariz., after finishing with a 38-23 record. During the season, Dahm led Creighton into the national spotlight as they peaked at No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and were ranked in the top 25 of the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Poll and Baseball America.

Dahm earned his second coach of the year honor in 2002 when the Bluejays finished the season 30-24 against one of the nation's toughest schedules. Victories over nationally ranked Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wichita State were overshadowed by the team's best-ever season in the Missouri Valley Conference. Despite having a lineup top-heavy with underclassmen, Creighton finished second in MVC play with a 21-10 record.

Dahm entered Creighton as a highly recruited infielder in 1985. As a player, Dahm shared the dugout with former Major Leaguers Mike Heathcott, Dax Jones, Scott Servais, Dan Smith and Scott Stahoviak. He graduated from Creighton with a bachelor's degree in business management in 1989.

Dahm played a large role in the planning, designing and fund raising for the $3.5 million Creighton Sports Complex. The Kitty Gaughan Pavilion baseball facility is one of the finest indoor baseball complexes in the country.

Dahm's teams at Creighton not only had success on the field, but in the classroom as well. During his tenure, players were named to 32 spots on the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete teams, ten Verizon Academic all-District honors and three Verizon Academic all-Americans.

Dahm has also been active in the advancement of college baseball by being a member of many national committees. He was a ten-year member on the College World Series Board of Directors and served on the American Baseball Coaches Association Change of Season Committee. He was also a part of the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee and was an onsite director of the NCAA Yes Baseball Clinic for 11 years.

The 45-year old Dahm and his wife, Lynn, have been married for 19 years. The couple has three children - sons Casey and Tyler and daughter Lyndsey. He was born January 19, 1967 in Skokie, Illinois.