Kirk Saarloos Reveals the New Positions for Frog Baseball
It’s been a road of ups and downs for TCU baseball, but things are looking up, with baseball coaching changes, recruits, and transfers. Long-time TCU Baseball Coach Jim Schlossnagle announced that he’d be departing to College Station to take over as the Texas A&M Head Coach in early June. It was a surprising departure to many, but TCU would hire long-time pitching coach Kirk Saarloos to run the show for the Frogs. Saarloos has already started replacing the guys that they have lost.
Bill Mosiello
Associate Head Coach
Bill Mosiello has been with the Horned Frogs since 2013; he serves as the hitting coach and the third base coach. Mosiello worked under Jim Schlossnagle but decided to remain with the Frogs instead of leaving for Texas A&M. Mosiello helped lead TCU to four Consecutive College World Series appearances. He has coached at all levels, but college baseball has been his passion. Before he came to TCU, he coached at Tennessee, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Arizona State, and many pro/minor leagues.
John Dilaura
Assistant Coach
In 2018 Dilaura was brought on as a volunteer assistant coach for the Horned Frogs. He would be promoted to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for TCU baseball after the Kirk Saarloos hiring. Dilaura works with the catchers and holds down the first base coaching duties during games. The jump start of his career attended the University of Michigan, where he would start his coaching career helping catchers for the Wolverines. Dilaura has been known to get his guys to the MLB so, taking over as the head recruiting coordinator seems like a match made in heaven for him.
Kyle Winkler
Volunteer Assistant
Winkler is a former Horned Frog who is joining the staff as a volunteer assistant. While a Frog, Winkler was a stud pitcher in his three years, and his 2011 campaign, was named an All-American. Winkler played in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays organizations for seven seasons.
Meredith Montgomery
Assistant Athletics Director for Baseball Administration
Meredith Montgomery is responsible for all the administrative aspects of the TCU baseball program. The 2021-22 season is Montogmery’s 11th season with the Horned Frogs. She also serves as the Community Service Director and the liaison between umpires and the visiting teams. Montgomery is from Olney, Texas, a small town about two hours from Fort Worth.
Cooper Sholder
Director of Baseball Operations
Sholder helped TCU in prior years as the equipment manager but now takes over as Director of Baseball Operations. Before TCU, Sholder worked for the coaching staff at San Diego State, working under MLB legend Tony Gwynn. Sholder has completed his master’s at TCU while working for the Horned Frogs baseball program.
Zach Dechant
Sr. Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Dechant works with TCU’s baseball, football, and women’s tennis programs. He graduated with a degree in Health and Wellness from Missouri State in 2003. Dechant had prior experience in strength coaching with the University of Wyoming, Los Angles Angeles, and Missouri State. Dechant has been with the Horned Frogs since 2008.
Kevin Knight
Director of Player Personnel
TCU needed a key piece on the staff to relate with players, and Kirk Saarloos chose Kevin Knight, who is familiar with the Frogs baseball program. Knight was a Program Development and Video Ops Coordinator with the Frogs in previous years.
Danny Wheat
Athletic Trainer
Saarloos added Athletic Trainer Danny Wheat to the Horned Frogs coaching staff. Wheat previously worked for the Texas Rangers as an Athletic Trainer. Wheat comes in with a solid resume and looks to help the Horned Frogs.
That wraps up our recap of the baseball coaching changes. For more TCU baseball news from Campus Live, click here.
For more in-depth bios of the coaches, head to the TCU baseball page.
Story by: Jack Damon, Campus Live Intern
