Friday, January 23, 2009

DANS GIVE NOD TO COACHING STAFF

The Danville Dans 2009 coaching staff brings with them 13 years of professional experience.

2008 CICL Coach of the Year, Pete Paciorek, returns for his 3rd season at the helm of the Danville Dans. During Paciorek's tenure, many Dans players have received natonal accolades including: 4 Division I All-Americans, 1 Team USA player, 8 league top professional prospects, and one Player of the Year.

After playing professional baseball in the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations for 9 years, Paciorek began his coaching career at Whittier College before moving to Cal State-Los Angeles, where he helped lead the team to the best overall record in school history. Paciorek comes from a long line of baseball players. His dad, John, holds the MLB career batting average record of 1.000 (3 for 3). He has two uncles (Tom & Jim) who played MLB. His brother Mack and his cousin Tommy also played professional baseball and his cousin Joey is playing in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization.

Pete is currently the Head Coach at Principia College. A San Gabriel, CA native, Pete earned his B.A. in Communication from Cal State LA as well as a Masters in Organizational Communication and Leadership. He and his wife Sara reside in Elsah, IL.

Coach Paciorek will be joined by 2nd year Dans assistant coach, Joe VerPlancke. Joe attended Cal State LA where he was a two sport athlete (soccer and baseball) and was drafted as a pitcher after his junior year by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Verplancke has the distinction of being the very first college player drafted by the Diamondbacks in their inauguaral season in 1996. During his 4 year professional career, Coach VerPlancke was a teammate of 3 former Danville Dans: Chris Michalek, Doug Bedinger, and Justin Kees.

Currently Head Baseball Coach at Diamond Ranch High School (Pomona, Ca.), Verplancke took his team to the California State Div IV Championship game at Dodger Stadium last spring, losing 1-0.

Joe and his wife Erin reside in Corona, CA.

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