COACHING STAFF
JOHN SZEFC
Head Coach
Hired: June 2017
Tech XP: Seven seasons
- John Szefc carries nearly 30 years of coaching experience, having compiled a 584-408-4 record through his 19 head coaching seasons.
- Considering the 2022 through 2024 seasons, Szefc has led Virginia Tech to 107 combined victories (.641 winning percentage), marking the program's best three-year performance during its ACC tenure.
- In 2022, Szefc was named the ACC Coach of the Year and the ABCA/ATEC Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year, ultimately leading Virginia Tech to 45 wins (fourth most all-time), its first ACC Coastal Division title, its first NCAA Regional championship and its first NCAA Super Regional appearance.
- During his coaching tenure, Szefc has been at the helm of 16 winning seasons, eclipsed 30 victories on 13 occasions and reached the 40-win plateau four times.
- Szefc has led his teams to eight NCAA Regional appearances, advancing to the Super Regional round three times.
- Since taking over in Blacksburg, Szefc has coached 21 MLB Draft picks, including 11 players who have earned selection during the opening 10 rounds. Tech's 2022 MLB Draft class was arguably its greatest all-time, highlighted by Gavin Cross becoming the program's highest all-time draft pick at No. 9 overall (Kansas City Royals).
- Szefc has also developed 31 All-Americans, including four following the 2022 season: Gavin Cross, Drue Hackenberg, Jack Hurley and Tanner Schobel.
RYAN FECTEAU
Associate Head Coach, Pitching
Hired: June 2017
Tech XP: Seven seasons
- Ryan Fecteau has served on John Szefc’s coaching staff since the 2017 season at Maryland and was Szefc’s first coaching hire in Blacksburg.
- During the 2023 season, Fecteau's pitching unit finished among the top 25 NCAA Division I programs in strikeouts per nine innings (10.09).
- Fecteau's 2022 pitching staff ranked among the top 40 NCAA Division I programs in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.52), placing second among ACC programs in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (3.75). Two starters earned All-ACC recognition in Drue Hackenberg (First Team) and Griffin Green (Third Team).
- In 2021, Fecteau’s staff set the Tech record for strikeouts (562) – the third highest mark among ACC programs. The Hokies ranked seventh nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.07) and witnessed four pitchers progress to the pro ranks: Shane Connolly (10th round, MLB Draft), Chris Gerard (12th), Anthony Simonelli (16th) and Peyton Alford (free agent signee).
- From 2019 to 2022, Fecteau placed Tech annually among the top six ACC staffs in team ERA. The Hokies’ 3.98 ERA during the 2019 season ranked among the top 50 NCAA Division I programs and equated to Tech’s best mark since 1984.
- Within two seasons in Blacksburg, Fecteau had led the Hokies to program-best, ACC-era marks in opposing batting average (.243), strikeouts per nine innings (9.51), hits allowed (428), runs allowed (237), unearned runs allowed (207) and hit batsmen (28).
- As an assistant coach, Fecteau has mentored 24 MLB Draft selections, 12 of which have come at Tech. In 2020, Ian Seymour was selected at No. 57 overall, becoming the Hokies’ highest drafted pitcher since 2002 (Joe Saunders). By 2023, Drue Hackenberg was selected No. 59 overall by the Atlanta Braves.
KURT ELBIN
Associate Head Coach, Offense & Recruiting Coordinator
Hired: June 2017
Tech XP: Seven seasons
- Kurt Elbin serves as the Hokies’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator.
- Under Elbin, Virginia Tech's offense has finished among the top 15 NCAA Division I programs in home runs per game, scoring and slugging percentage during both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
- Elbin guided Tech's offense to historic success during the 2022 season as the Hokies placed second nationally in slugging percentage (.574), 11th in batting average (.309) and 18th in on-base percentage (.407). Additionally, Tech hit 126 home runs (fifth most nationally), averaging 2.14 per game.
- Serving as recruiting coordinator, Elbin singed Virginia Tech's most decorated All-American class to date in 2022 as four student-athletes received national praise.
- Two of Elbin's Tech hitters have placed onto USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team - Gavin Cross (2021) and Jack Hurley (2022).
- Under Elbin, Tech’s 2021 lineup posted the sixth highest batting average (.272) and on-base percentage (.366) in the ACC. The Hokies also cracked the top 100 NCAA Division I programs in doubles (97) and home runs (52).
- In 2020, Elbin had the Hokies ranked among the top 100 nationally in eight major offensive categories, averaging 6.9 runs per game (No. 54). Tech also swiped 36 bases, ranking 10th in the nation.
- Between his first and second seasons at Tech, Elbin’s approaches led the Hokies to elevate their on-base percentage, placing among the top 60 programs nationally in 2019 (.380). Tech’s 265 walks that year also set the program’s ACC-era record.
- Prior to arriving at Tech, Elbin co-led VCU to four straight 35-win seasons and a 2015 NCAA Super Regional berth.
- Has recruited/coached 25 players who have been chosen in the MLB Draft, including 2020 fourth-round choice Carson Taylor.
TYLER HANSON
Assistant Coach, Catchers/Scouting
Hired: June 2018
Tech XP: Six seasons
- Tyler Hanson works with Virginia Tech’s catchers and assists the Hokies’ offense.
- Hanson’s collegiate coaching career spans more than a decade. He has coached two OVC Players of the Year, a MEAC Rookie of the Year, two Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists and a Golden Spikes Award Watch List player, plus multiple All-Americans.
- Individually, Hanson has coached four NCAA statistical champions: two in home runs, one in hits and one in RBIs.
- Hanson has coached or recruited 13 position players who have been chosen during the MLB Draft, including Carson Taylor – Tech’s fourth-round selection in 2020.
- At catcher, Hanson coached the Ohio Valley Conference’s first Johnny Bench Award finalist (presently named the Buster Posey Award). With the Hokies, he and has mentored one Buster Posey Award semifinalist (Cade Hunter– 2022) and placed two additional catchers on the award's initial watch list (Luke Horanski – 2019, Carson Taylor – 2020).