Opens in a new window COACHING STAFF
JOHN SZEFC
Head Coach
• John Szefc has led the Virginia Tech baseball program through eight seasons, having been hired as head coach in June 2017.
• Szefc's coaching career spans more than 30 years, including 20 head coaching seasons at the NCAA Division I level. He has compiled a 615-433-4 career record, including 223 victories and a .562 winning percentage at Virginia Tech.
• Along the way, Szefc has been at the helm of 17 winning seasons, eclipsed 30 victories with 14 teams and reached the 40-win plateau four times. He has guided his programs to eight NCAA Regional appearances, advancing to three Super Regional rounds (2014, 2015, 2022).
• From 2022 to 2025, Szefc has led Virginia Tech to four consecutive 30-win seasons. The Hokies' 138 combined victories and .622 winning percentage during this interval both signify the program's second best four-year performance during its ACC tenure (since 2005).
• 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.
• Since taking over in Blacksburg, Szefc has coached 26 MLB Draft picks, including 14 players who earned selection during the opening 10 rounds. Virginia 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 mentored 13 Virginia Tech student-athletes to 16 total All-ACC selections, including six First Team mentions.
• Including his head coaching stints at Marist (1996-2002) and Maryland (2013-17), Szefc has produced more than 30 All-Americans - six of whom played at Virginia Tech: Gavin Cross, Drue Hackenberg, Jack Hurley and Tanner Schobel, Ian Seymour and Carson Taylor.
KURT ELBIN
Associate Head Coach, Offense & Recruiting Coordinator
• Kurt Elbin has served as Virginia Tech's hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for eight seasons, having joined Szefc's coaching staff in June 2017. He was promoted to his current role as associate head coach in May 2022.
• From 2022 to 2024, Elbin's offense consistently placed among the top 15 NCAA Division I programs in slugging percentage, including the Hokies' No. 2 national statistical finish during their historic 2022 campaign (.574).
• Under Elbin, Virginia Tech placed annually inside the top 30 NCAA Division I programs in both on-base percentage and scoring from 2022 to 2024. Additionally during these years, the Hokies ranked annually among the top 50 programs in batting average, cracking the top 15 during the 2022 and 2024 seasons.
• In 2022, Elbin guided Virginia Tech's offense to historic success as the program placed second nationally in slugging percentage (.574), 11th in batting average (.309) and 18th in on-base percentage (.407) on its way to championing the 2022 ACC Coastal Division and 2022 NCAA Blacksburg Regional. Flexing routine power, the Hokies hammered 126 home runs (the fifth most nationally in 2022 and the program's second most all-time), averaging 2.14 per game.
• Elbin coached Ben Watson during the 2024 season on his way to setting the Virginia Tech program record for single-season hits (93) and becoming the Hokies' first ACC batting champion (.419).
• As recruiting coordinator, Elbin has recruited/signed six All-Americans at Virginia Tech, including the Hokies' most decorated All-American class to date (2022).
• Elbin has mentored two Virginia Tech position players to roster spots on USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team - Gavin Cross (2021) and Jack Hurley (2022).
• Since arriving in Blacksburg, Elbin has recruited/signed 26 MLB Draft picks - 12 of whom he coached as position players (seven of whom were taken during the opening 10 rounds of the draft). He has paved the way for Virginia Tech professionals like Kerry Carpenter (four-year MLB outfielder), Gavin Cross (2022 MLB Draft, No. 9 overall pick), Carson DeMartini, Jack Hurley, Tanner Schobel, Carson Taylor and more.
• Prior to his work at Virginia Tech, Elbin co-led VCU to four consecutive 35-win seasons and a 2015 NCAA Super Regional berth.
TYLER HANSON
Assistant Coach, Catchers/Scouting
• Tyler Hanson has worked with Virginia Tech's catchers and offense for seven seasons, having joined Szefc's staff in June 2018. He was elevated to his current role in June 2022.
• Hanson specializes in the development of Virginia Tech's battery and assists with coaching the offense. He also serves as the Hokies' first base coach.
• With Hanson's tutelage, Virginia Tech's catchers have helped the pitching staff set two program records for single-season strikeouts, raising the bar from 562 strikeouts (2021) to 581 (2025). Prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, the Hokies ranked 13th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.77).
• Hanson's collegiate coaching career spans more than a decade, including NCAA Division I stops at Eastern Kentucky (2016-18), North Carolina Central (2012-15) and Duke (2011).
• Along the way, Hanson's coaching of position players has shaped two Golden Spikes Award semifinalists, four Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists (including one catcher), two conference Player(s) of the Year and one Rookie of the Year. Individually, he has developed four NCAA statistical champions: two in home runs, one in hits and one in RBIs.
• Among catchers, Hanson mentored Virginia Tech's Cade Hunter to consideration as a 2022 Buster Posey Award semifinalist and has placed two additional catchers on the award's initial watch list (Luke Horanski – 2019, Carson Taylor – 2020).
• Prior to coaching at Virginia Tech, Hanson developed the Ohio Valley Conference's first Johnny Bench Award finalist (presently named the Buster Posey Award).
• Since arriving in Blacksburg, Hanson has worked with 12 position players who earned selection during the MLB Draft, including two catchers who were chosen during the event's opening five rounds: Carson Taylor (2020) and Cade Hunter (2022).