USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com
Kunkel brings more than 15 years of coaching experience within the state of Florida to Tampa
TAMPA, June 28, 2019 – Head coach Billy Mohl is excited to announce the addition of Alan Kunkel to his USF baseball staff.
“I’m pleased to welcome Alan Kunkel into the Bulls baseball family as an assistant coach,” said Mohl. “Alan has developed an unbelievable reputation around the state of Florida as a great baseball coach, but more importantly as a developer of young men. His Florida ties are strong and will help us immediately in recruiting.”
Kunkel arrives in Tampa following four seasons as head varsity coach and Director of Baseball Operations at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He guided the program to a pair of Class 4A state titles during his tenure. The team finished 22-4 in 2019 and 28-4 in 2018. He coached the Florida Dairy Farmers 4A Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018 (Christian Scott). Kunkel coached and developed Raynel Delgado, a sixth-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He also coached pitcher Jake Eder, who was drafted in 2017 by the New York Mets before honoring his collegiate commitment to Vanderbilt. Eder pitched and won Game 3 of the College World Series on June 26, as he helped the Commodores earn their second national title in the last six years.
Prior to his time at Calvary Christian Academy, Kunkel was the head coach of Florida Travel Ball Tucci and the Director of Recruitment and Teams from 2010-2013. He then returned to FTB in August of 2017. In 2012, FTB was rated as one of the top travel ball organizations in the U.S. in 2012. The team was the WWBA World Championship runner-up in 2017. Kunkel coached nine MLB Draft selections with Florida Travel Ball, including two first rounders. Nick Gordon was the fifth overall pick in 2014, Christian Arroyo was the 25th selection in 2013, while Sean Reid-Foley was the 49th overall pick in 2014.
From 2013-2017, Kunkel was the Director of College Recruiting and head coach of the 17U Prime Team with South Florida Elite in Pembroke Pines. The team made the WWBA Final Four and Perfect Game World Series Final Four in 2015. The team placed third at the Perfect Game World Series in 2014 and was the PG Memorial Day Weekend champion that year as well. He coached 10 All-Americans and 20 players that were selected in the MLB Draft. Tristan Casas was taken in the first round (26th overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2018. Jeter Downs was the 32ndoverall selection of the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. Mark Vientos, Joe Perez and Quentin Holmes were all second-round draft picks in 2017.
Kunkel also had a coaching stint at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale as an assistant with both the baseball and football programs from 2012-2015. He coached with the USSSA All-America Team in 2013, as it competed in Prague, Czech Republic and won bronze. The team was also the 18U champion of the Gold Medal Games.
Kunkel’s first head coaching role was at Orangewood Christian School in Maitland, Fla. He was there from 2004-2011 and coached his team to a 120-80 record over that time. Orangewood Christian was the 2A District 7 champions in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The 2011 club was the Class 2A state runner-up, finishing 30-2. That team also held the Sentinel Super Six No. 1 ranking, was in Baseball America’s top 50 and set the state home run record for a single season (83). The team had several individual honors, including a Baseball America All-American, two Under Armor All-Americans, three Rawlings All-Americans, one Louisville Slugger All-American, two Central Florida Player of the Year recipients, 11 All Central Florida Team members, five all-state players and 23 all-district players.
Under Kunkel’s guidance, Orangewood Christian had 13 players committed to play in college, five at the NCAA Division I level. Of the notable players that Kunkel coached are Dante Bichette Jr. (51st overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft), Tomas Nido (eighth-round selection in the 2012 MLB Draft), Forest Wall (35th overall pick of the 2014 MLB Draft) and Vicente Conde (ninth-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft). Throughout his coaching career, Kunkel has coached 73 players that were selected in the MLB Draft dating back to the 2011.
Aside from coaching, Kunkel has served as an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays, evaluating talent of area high school and collegiate players since 2017. He held the same title with the San Diego Padres from November, 2010 – August, 2017.
Kunkel played at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Mich., from 1995-1997. He then transferred to the University of North Carolina, where he played in Chapel Hill from 1997-1998. His UNC team was a NCAA Regional finalist in 1998 and was ranked in the top 15.
What they’re saying about Kunkel
Joe Girardi – Analyst, MLB Network and FOX Sports | Former MLB catcher and manager
“Coach Kunkel has developed my son Dante as a baseball player, but more importantly helped him develop into a great man.”
Christian Arroyo – infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays
“Kunk was one of the best coaches I had the chance of playing for. Not only did he care about us players immensely, but he also made sure that we were getting the most out of our time at the ballpark. He’s a phenomenal leader, fantastic father and incredible coach. I don’t think there’s anyone more deserving of being given this opportunity.”
Andrew Perez – USF baseball pitcher/closer (2016-18) – Drafted by the White Sox in the 8th round of the 2018 MLB Draft
“Alan Kunkel is a player’s coach and understands and appreciates the development of his players. Having an opportunity to have been coached by him was amazing. He is very open and dedicated to help grow those he teaches by maximizing their potential.”
Coco Montes – USF baseball infielder (2016-18) – Drafted by the Rockies in the 15th round of the 2018 MLB Draft
“I had the pleasure of playing for coach Kunkel back in high school with Elite Squad. He is always ready to help his players with anything they need on or off the field. Kunkel is a great coach and an even better person and I’m excited to see the positive effect he will have on the USF baseball program.”
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success under first-year head coach Billy Mohl in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months. USF earned its third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. The team had four players drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first rounder, Shane McClanahan. Junior third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after tallying 24 doubles and hitting better than .370, being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
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Patrick Puzzo
Assistant Director of Communications
University of South Florida Athletics
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