Stanford fills baseball coaching vacancies with familiar faces

The Stanford baseball program named three assistant coaches Friday. Brock Ungricht rejoins Mark Marquess’ staff this year, while Santa Clara grad Jon Karcich becomes a volunteer assistant and Stanford product Eric Smith will serve as an undergraduate assistant.

Ungricht, who returns to Stanford after spending a month with the Arizona baseball program as a volunteer assistant. He spent the last four seasons at Stanford as a volunteer assistant and officially fills the vacancy left by Ryan Garko.

“In the end, returning to Stanford was best for me and my wife,” Ungricht said. “I’m excited to be back with Coach Marquess, Coach Filter and the outstanding student-athletes at Stanford.”

Ungricht’s wife, Taylor, has been a part of the Stanford sports performance staff since June 2010. She is in her third year working with men’s, women’s and sand volleyball and men’s and women’s diving.

Ungricht has helped numerous hitters’ progress over the course of their Stanford careers, including current AAA All-Star Stephen Piscotty. One of the top prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Piscotty hit .340 during three years on The Farm with 124 runs scored, 132 RBI, 43 doubles and 12 homers.

“We are very excited to get Brock back and be part of our staff,” Marquess said. “He is very good with our hitters; he has a good background having worked with Tony Gwynn, and will help with our infielders, catchers and also coach third base, where he did an outstanding job last season.”

Karcich has served as an assistant coach at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Ariz.) and as the head coach of the Shelter Island Bucks of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League.

Prior to coaching, Karcich played three years in the minors, reaching the Triple-A level. He hit .243 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI in 225 games with the Los Angeles Angels organization.

Karcich, a San Mateo native, was a two-time All-West Coast Conference performer at Santa Clara before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

Smith becomes the first undergraduate assistant coach in Marquess’ 39 years as head coach at Stanford.

Smith returns to The Farm, where he hit .321 as the Cardinal’s starting catcher in 2012, to finish his political science degree. After his breakout season in 2012, Smith was drafted in the 18th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .295 over 109 games during two seasons in the minors and was named the Dodgers’ Organization All-Star at catcher in 2012 before being forced to retire due to injuries.

“This is the first time we have had the opportunity to have an undergraduate coach,” Marquess said. “Eric is going to come back and finish school and that will, again, be a welcome addition. He will help us with our catchers, with our hitters and especially the freshmen as they transition to Stanford both academically and with baseball.”

By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics

By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics

By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics