2012 Baseball
Record: 20-26 Home: 6-7 Away: 9-8 Neutral: 5-11 MCC: 13-11
2012 Baseball Coaches
Mike Laird - Head Coach - 30th Season
641-673-1023
lairdm@wmpenn.edu
Mike Laird is in his 30th season as head baseball coach.
Laird's current record at William Penn is 831-392-3 (.669) while his overall head baseball coaching record is 919-450-3 (.671), including an 88-58 mark at the high school level. His 831 wins is ranked 11th on the NAIA's all-time list, while his .669 winning percentatge is third in the NAIA.
During his tenure, Statesmen baseball has been nationally recognized as a perennial powerhouse, ranking fourth in the NCAA in winning percentage in the 1990s. His teams have competed in nine NCAA and six NAIA postseason tournaments. Under his direction, the Statesmen have captured national statistical titles in double plays, pitching, earned run average, slugging percentage, triples, best pitching records, and fewest runs allowed per game and season
As a player and coach, Laird has participated in 21 national postseason tournaments. His teams have recorded several wins over NCAA Division I teams, including Central Michigan, Western Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Texas-Pan American.
His most recent and undoubtedly biggest accomplishment came in 2004 when he guided William Penn to the NAIA World Series. The team set a school record for wins with 48 that spring.
Laird has coached 102 all-conference players, 22 All-Americans, and 11 conference MVPs. Nearly 40 former players have been drafted and/or signed to professional contracts and three pitched in the majors. He has been named conference coach of the year eight times and has been recognized by the IHSBCA and ABCA, most recently being named Region VII Coach of the Year in 2004. He was also an NAIA Coach of the Year finalist in 2004 and in the spring of 2010, he was honored as the MCC's Coach of Character.
In the fall of 1999, Laird went overseas with his hands-on approach when he was invited to coach the Japanese national championship team, Shogaku Gakuen, in Okinawa.
Laird received his bachelor's degree from William Penn and his master's in Education Administration from Northeast Missouri State University. He returned to his alma mater in 1980 after five years as head coach in baseball, basketball, and track at area high schools. Since then Laird has served in several capacities at William Penn, including Director of the Learning Center, admissions representative, instructor, assistant men's basketball coach, and Athletics Director from 1992-2001 and 2003-2007.
He currently also works in the University's Advancement office. Laird has also been very active in community activities, including youth baseball, volunteer work, and serving on local boards.
Laird resides in Oskaloosa with his wife, Victoria. They five children: Ian, Sierra, Kara, Leah, and Aaron.
lairdm@wmpenn.edu
Mike Laird is in his 30th season as head baseball coach.
Laird's current record at William Penn is 831-392-3 (.669) while his overall head baseball coaching record is 919-450-3 (.671), including an 88-58 mark at the high school level. His 831 wins is ranked 11th on the NAIA's all-time list, while his .669 winning percentatge is third in the NAIA.
During his tenure, Statesmen baseball has been nationally recognized as a perennial powerhouse, ranking fourth in the NCAA in winning percentage in the 1990s. His teams have competed in nine NCAA and six NAIA postseason tournaments. Under his direction, the Statesmen have captured national statistical titles in double plays, pitching, earned run average, slugging percentage, triples, best pitching records, and fewest runs allowed per game and season
As a player and coach, Laird has participated in 21 national postseason tournaments. His teams have recorded several wins over NCAA Division I teams, including Central Michigan, Western Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Texas-Pan American.
His most recent and undoubtedly biggest accomplishment came in 2004 when he guided William Penn to the NAIA World Series. The team set a school record for wins with 48 that spring.
Laird has coached 102 all-conference players, 22 All-Americans, and 11 conference MVPs. Nearly 40 former players have been drafted and/or signed to professional contracts and three pitched in the majors. He has been named conference coach of the year eight times and has been recognized by the IHSBCA and ABCA, most recently being named Region VII Coach of the Year in 2004. He was also an NAIA Coach of the Year finalist in 2004 and in the spring of 2010, he was honored as the MCC's Coach of Character.
In the fall of 1999, Laird went overseas with his hands-on approach when he was invited to coach the Japanese national championship team, Shogaku Gakuen, in Okinawa.
Laird received his bachelor's degree from William Penn and his master's in Education Administration from Northeast Missouri State University. He returned to his alma mater in 1980 after five years as head coach in baseball, basketball, and track at area high schools. Since then Laird has served in several capacities at William Penn, including Director of the Learning Center, admissions representative, instructor, assistant men's basketball coach, and Athletics Director from 1992-2001 and 2003-2007.
He currently also works in the University's Advancement office. Laird has also been very active in community activities, including youth baseball, volunteer work, and serving on local boards.
Laird resides in Oskaloosa with his wife, Victoria. They five children: Ian, Sierra, Kara, Leah, and Aaron.
Laird's Coaching Career at Penn
| Year | Overall | League | Accomplishments |
| 2011 | 22-23 | 6-18 | |
| 2010 | 25-19 | 14-10 | |
| 2009 | 36-17 | 17-6 | MCC Champs, NAIA Opening Round |
| 2008 | 26-15 | 20-3 | Region VII |
| 2007 | 25-23 | 9-17 | |
| 2006 | 32-16 | 18-7 | MCC Champs, Region VII Finals |
| 2005 | 45-15 | 20-8 | MCC Champs, Region VII |
| 2004 | 48-15 | 22-6 | MCC, Region, & Super Reg. Champs, NAIA (6th) |
| 2003 | 38-15 | 16-6 | Region VII |
| 2002 | 40-14 | 12-11 | |
| 2001 | 19-21 | 10-12 | |
| 2000 | 22-18-1 | 8-10 | |
| 1999 | 30-17-1 | 10-10-1 | |
| 1998 | 23-16 | 9-10 | |
| 1997 | 21-13 | 9-6 | |
| 1996 | 29-8 | 13-5 | |
| 1995 | 30-15 | 9-7 | Playoffs |
| 1994 | 30-9 | 12-4 | |
| 1993 | 27-4 | 11-3 | |
| 1992 | 34-4 | 13-1 | IIAC Champs, Playoffs |
| 1991 | 27-9 | 14-2 | Playoffs |
| 1990 | 28-5 | 18-2 | IIAC Champs, Playoffs |
| 1989 | 27-8-1 | 14-3 | IIAC Champs, Playoffs |
| 1988 | 31-8 | 15-4 | IIAC Champs, Playoffs |
| 1987 | 39-8 | 16-4 | Playoffs |
| 1986 | 33-10 | 15-5 | IIAC Champs, Playoffs |
| 1985 | 13-20 | 6-17 | |
| 1984 | 20-13 | 8-6 | |
| 1983 | 11-14 | 3-6 | |
| Career | 831-392-3 | 367-209-1 |
James Folske - Grad Assistant - 1st Season
folskej@wmpenn.edu
James Folske is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach.
A graduate of Davenport University (Mich.), the Mount Pleasant native was a two-year team captain and Gold Glove winner at Davenport. Prior to attending Davenport, Folske played at Kellogg CC (Mich.) where he helped the program to a national runner-up finish in the NJCAA Championships. He was also a team captain at Kellogg.
An All-State and Academic All-State honoree as a prep at Sacred Heart HS, Folske has assisted at Sacred Heart, Davenport, and Aspen HS.
Folske, who will work with the infielders, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
James Folske is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach.
A graduate of Davenport University (Mich.), the Mount Pleasant native was a two-year team captain and Gold Glove winner at Davenport. Prior to attending Davenport, Folske played at Kellogg CC (Mich.) where he helped the program to a national runner-up finish in the NJCAA Championships. He was also a team captain at Kellogg.
An All-State and Academic All-State honoree as a prep at Sacred Heart HS, Folske has assisted at Sacred Heart, Davenport, and Aspen HS.
Folske, who will work with the infielders, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
Eddie Sobczak - Grad Assistant - 2nd Season
sobczake@wmpenn.edu
Eddie Sobczak is in his second year as a graduate assistant coach.
A 2010 William Penn graduate, Sobczak had an outstanding career for the Statesmen, earning first-team all-Midwest Collegiate Conference honors in both 2009 and 2010. He owned a .343 career batting average with 23 home runs and 93 RBIs. He was a two-time academic all-MCC honoree as well.
Sobczak, who will work with the catchers, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
Eddie Sobczak is in his second year as a graduate assistant coach.
A 2010 William Penn graduate, Sobczak had an outstanding career for the Statesmen, earning first-team all-Midwest Collegiate Conference honors in both 2009 and 2010. He owned a .343 career batting average with 23 home runs and 93 RBIs. He was a two-time academic all-MCC honoree as well.
Sobczak, who will work with the catchers, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
Andrew Wells - Grad Assistant - 1st Season
wellsa@wmpenn.edu
Andrew Wells is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach.
A graduate of Central Methodist University (Mo.), the Clinton, Mo. native was an outfielder/first baseman for the Eagles. Prior to coming to William Penn, he assisted at Clinton HS and was the head coach of the Clinton American Legion team, helping the Legion squad to a top-ten finish in the state in 2011.
Wells, who will work with the outfielders and pitchers, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
Andrew Wells is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach.
A graduate of Central Methodist University (Mo.), the Clinton, Mo. native was an outfielder/first baseman for the Eagles. Prior to coming to William Penn, he assisted at Clinton HS and was the head coach of the Clinton American Legion team, helping the Legion squad to a top-ten finish in the state in 2011.
Wells, who will work with the outfielders and pitchers, is currently working on his Master's of Business Leadership.
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