2011 BASEBALL
COACHES
Kyle Rayl Image
Kyle Rayl - Head Coach - 1st Season
(Ann Arbor, MI)  Concordia University is pleased to announce the hiring of Kyle Rayl as its new Head Baseball Coach. Kyle comes to Concordia from Coker College in Hartsville, SC. Rayl served as an assistant coach for the Coker Cobras last year. Before he headed south for Coker, Kyle was the assistant coach at Anderson University in Anderson, IN where he worked for four years.
   
Kyle grew up in Leo, IN where he attended Leo High School. He then went down to Anderson University where he played for Hall of Fame Coach Dr. Don Brandon. While at Anderson Kyle was a three year starter and was a leader for his 2003 team that finished third at the Division III College World Series.
   
"I'm really excited about the opportunity to join Concordia University and to lead the baseball program here.  I have been so blessed to have worked under two great head coaches, and those experiences have prepared me for this opportunity."
 

Besides working at Coker College and Anderson University Kyle has also had a number of coaching experiences which include coaching in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League and also coaching an Athletes in Action college team that traveled in Europe for six weeks.

 

" I am a big thinker and have many goals, I hope that over the course of the year and years to come we can create an environment where our guys can grow, not only on the baseball field but also in the classroom and life. We hope to prepare all of our players for life after baseball and life after college."

Ryan McCosky Image
Ryan McCosky - Assistant Coach - 4th Season
Ryan McCosky will return for a fourth season as an assistant. McCosky will continue to coach the outfielders as well as coordinate the strength and conditioning program. McCosky spent the summer months heavily involved in all aspects of the program as interim head coach. "I have a great deal of respect for those who have got the program to where it is and cant wait to work alongside Coach Rayl to take it to the next level."
 
McCosky is entering his sixth year with the program as he completed his playing career with the Cardinals in 2007, earning All-Conference honors as an outfielder. McCosky also earned Academic All-Conference honors during his playing career as a Cardinal.
 
McCosky started his collegiate career on the west side of the state where he walked on and played for two seasons at Kalamazoo Valley Community College under Coach Bernie Vallier. McCosky transferred to Concordia University in 2005 and played in 90 games over two seasons under Coach Karl Kling, starting all 45 games his last year.
 
Coach McCosky is supported by parents Sue and Mike Ross and Chris McCosky. McCosky graduated in May of 2009 with a degree in Physical Education and English and is anticipating his Master's degree in Educational Leadership in June 2011. McCosky plans to coach and teach at the secondary level. "Coaching and Teaching gives me the opportunity to get up every morning and do something that I love."
 
McCosky is grateful for all the opportunities Concordia has presented him with and loves the Christian atmosphere. McCosky's philosophy embodies hard work through Christian principles. McCosky believes a team is being apart of something bigger than the individual.
 
Coach McCosky resides in Livonia.
 

Josh Mason Image
Josh Mason - Assistant Coach - 1st Season
Coach Josh Mason joins the Concordia University Baseball Staff for his first season.  Josh joins the Cardinal program from Anderson, IN where he served as an assistant coach at Highland High School.  He had a great opportunity to coach and learn under one of the best coaches in the State of Indiana and brings a great knowledge of the game to CUAA.
 
Josh attended Anderson High School and Anderson University.
Alex Hoover Image
Alex Hoover - Grad Assistant - 3rd Season
 
Alex Hoover is entering his third season as an assistant coach for the Concordia baseball team. Coach Hoover is involved in the strength and conditioning facet of the program, as well as serving as the first-base coach for the varsity program while working with the infielders and serve as the program's hitting coach as well as assisting with the catching corps.
 
Prior to his coaching stint with the Cardinals, Hoover played four seasons for former coach Karl Kling ending his career in 2008 as being the first Concordia player ever chosen as the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
 
Coach Hoover is currently fifth all-time for career hits with 138, third in runs batter in with 98, fifth in total bases with 190, and second in times being hit by a pitch with 24. He also holds the school record career bases on balls with 75.
 
Hoover's .418 batting average in 2008 is fifth all-time for a season, while his 46 RBI that year is third. In 2008, Hoover set the school record for bases on balls with 29 while his on-base percentage of .522 that campaign is second all-time.
 
Hoover also holds the school record for putouts in a career with 515 while his 268 in the 2007 season is third all-time for a year.
 
Hoover, who has the full-support of his mother and father, Lynn and Ed Hoover of Shelbyville, graduated in 2009 with a BA in Mathematics, and is currently enrolled in the Organizational Leadership & Administration Graduate Program at Concordia. Additionally, Hoover is working toward certification to become a casualty actuary.
 
Coach Hoover's philosophy is based in character, discipline, team attitude and dedication.
 
Hoover currently resides in Ypsilanti.
Tim Shafto Image
Tim Shafto - Student Assistant - 1st Season
Tim Shafto begins his coaching career as a Concordia Cardinal student assistant baseball coach. Tim was a four year pitcher for Concordia University Ann Arbor. He was the captain of the 2010 Cardinal team and he won the NAIA Champions of Character award in 2010. He will be helping Coach Rayl with managing the pitching staff this year as well as strength and conditioning with Coach McCosky and Coach Hoover. Tim graduated from Concordia in December 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and plans to recieve his masters in the fall and continuing to coach.