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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. John Szefc
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Home Phone: 337-269-8825 Baseball loses Szefc to Kansas Joshua Parrott � jparrott@theadvertiser.com � August 19, 2008 John Szefc decided the opportunity the University of Kansas offered was too good to pass up. After six seasons as UL’s head assistant baseball coach, Szefc recently accepted the same position with the Jayhawks. Szefc will oversee the program’s recruiting efforts, instruct hitters and outfielders and serve as the third-base coach. Szefc held those same responsibilities with the Ragin’ Cajuns, although he worked with the infielders instead outfielders. “I’ve been to Kansas before recruiting, and you expect it to be flat, but it’s not,” said Szefc, who accepted the job last week and starts his new position in September. “It was impressive. It’s a place where they’re looking to upgrade baseball. They just put $2 million into their baseball facility. “They made an incredible offer to both me and my family, and that’s why I chose to make this decision.” Szefc said he was first contacted about the opening when he received a phone call in July from KU head coach Ritch Price, who served as an assistant on the U.S. Collegiate National Team this summer. Szefc and Price first met in 2002 out on the recruiting trail. “He called me about three weeks ago while he was in Czechoslovakia and said he was going to make a change in his coaching staff,” Szefc said. “He went through the whole thing, and it sounded interesting. They are in the Big 12 Conference. They just won the national championship in basketball and won the Orange Bowl in football. “They have a lot of resources and want to improve their other sports along with football and basketball.” KU finished last season with a 30-27 record, including a 9-18 mark in Big 12 play. UL, coming off a 30-29 season filled with injuries and inconsistencies, now must replace a lead assistant who helped the program rank among the Sun Belt’s best offensively during his tenure. Szefc’s efforts paid huge dividends in 2005, when the Cajuns won the league’s regular-season title and had three hitters drafted. Tony Robichaux, UL’s head coach, did not return a message left on his cell phone on Monday night seeking comment on Szefc’s departure. Before joining the Cajuns, Szefc was the head coach at Marist College. He posted a 212-137-1 record in seven seasons with the Red Foxes. Szefc has high hopes for the Cajuns in the immediate future. “I think the program is in a good situation,” said Szefc, who played two years of college ball at Connecticut before finishing his career at Drexel. “A lot of young guys got some time last year. Combine that with one of the better recruiting classes I’ve had in the six years I was here, and I think the team will reap the benefits of last season.” As he leaves UL, Szefc shared his appreciation for both Robichaux and the Lafayette community. “Tony was good enough to give me an opportunity even though he didn’t know me that well,” Szefc said. “Being here has really been beneficial. My wife (Barbara) and I had both our children (Anna and John Michael) here. We leave Lafayette with good feelings.” “There will always be a piece of our family here.”
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