Zach Dillon

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Position: Volunteer Assistant

Zach Dillon completed his second season as a volunteer coach at the University of Iowa in 2011. He was part of a coaching staff that helped produce a team-record 12 Academic All-Big Ten honorees.

Dillon primarily works with the catchers, assists with hitters and also serves as the camp coordinator.

Last season, he helped coach catcher Tyson Blaser, outfielder Trevor Willis and freshman outfielder Taylor Zeutenhorst to All-Big Ten recognition.

"We are extremely excited Coach Dillon is a part of our program," Dahm said. "The experience Coach brings to our team is great. He grew up a coach's son, was a part of a state winning Des Moines Dowling program, has been to the College World Series with Baylor and has experience in the minors. He has a wealth of experiences to share with our players. Coach Dillon has a bright future."

In his first season with the Hawkeyes, Dillon helped spearhead an Iowa resurgence in the Big Ten. In 2010, the Hawkeyes surged to a third place finish in the conference, as well as earning the school's eighth appearance and finishing runner-up at the Big Ten Tournament. The hitting instructor, along with Ryan Brownlee, helped the Hawkeye offense improve in several areas. The 2010 squad boasted higher numbers in; hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts and walks. Iowa ranked among the national leaders in stolen bases, triples and sacrifice hits.

Dillon attended Baylor University and was subsequently selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th Round (595th overall) of the 2006 amateur entry draft as a catcher. His honors include: 2006 Big 12 Player of the Year, two-time ABCA All Region choice, two-time all-NCAA regional selection, two-time first team all-conference honoree, four-time academic all-conference selection, Johnny Bench Award semifinalist, ESPN the Magazine first team academic all-America selection and a ten-time Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient.

The Urbandale, Iowa, native holds the Baylor school record for conference batting average .421 (40-for-95, set in 2006). He also holds school records in: walks in a Big 12 series with six (vs. Missouri (5/20-22/2005), season on base percentage with .496 (2006), conference on base percentage with .504 (2006) and career conference on base percentage with .454 (2003-06).

Dillon currently holds the school's second highest career batting average in Big 12 play (.360) and second most walks in a season (53). He ranks sixth in the Baylor record books in; career games played (232) and career walks (115). In 2006, Dillon ranked nationally in walks (53, T-4th) and walks per game (.840, 17th).

Dillon was part of a College World Series qualifying Baylor team in 2005. The team finished with a 46-24 record and ranked fourth nationally--the program's highest final ranking ever. Dillon scored the winning run in arguably the best game in Baylor history. In the College World Series, the Bears rallied from a 7-0 deficit through six innings for an 8-7 victory, eliminating the top-ranked and top-seeded Tulane. It was the second largest comeback in CWS history. The cleanup hitter was a DH/Catcher on the 2005 squad and finished the year hitting .304 with 43 RBI and 20 doubles, two of his 20 doubles were in the College World Series and register as a school record.