Bio

Frank Szymanski does not spend a lot of time dwelling on his coaching accomplishments. Sometimes he is not even aware of them.

Informed a 2010 victory over Region XX champion Potomac State was the 300th of his coaching career, Szymanski said that just meant, "I’ve been coaching a long time." Similarly, he did not realize his team’s 30th win of the 2010 season was also the 300th at Chesapeake College.

When Szymanski does consider what it all means, it’s others he thinks of first. "I always think about the commitment our players have made to the college, both academically and athletically," he said after his 300th career victory. "I also think about how incredibly supportive the faculty, staff and administration have been of our program."

Szymanski is best known for his success in baseball. He will enter his 25^th season this spring 2024 with a 640-432-9 record in 24 seasons at Chesapeake and 658-503-9 mark in 27 seasons as a collegiate head coach. That record includes 15 winning seasons in the last 16 years – each featuring at least 25 victories. More important than the victories, according to Szymanski, is the program's ability to assist players in reaching their potential.

"Our coaching staff wants to help our players develop their skills and prepare them for the next level," said Szymanski, who routinely sends players to four-year NCAA Division I, II and III institutions to continue their playing career. The Skipjacks have recently sent fourteen players to the pros.

• Cory Willey played for the Boston Red Sox organization in 2004 and the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2007 and in 2008 reached the Double A level.
• Brian Brainer played for the New Haven County Cutters organization in 2007.
• Justin Arminger played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs from 2009-2010.
• Cody Holiday was drafted by the New York Mets organization and played from 2009-2011.
• Brennen Miller, who played for the Skipjacks in 2009, was the first Chesapeake baseball players to become a MLB umpire is 2023.
• Mike Turner, shortstop, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2010 amateur draft.
• Nik Nowottnik was signed by the Orioles organization as a free agent from 2013-2015.
• Mike YaSenka was drafted by and plays with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2019-present.
• Joe Nahas was drafted by and plays with the Chicago Cubs from 2019-present.
• Allen Saathoff was drafted by and plays for the Seattle Mariners from 2023-present.
• Livan Reinoso signed with and plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2022-present.
• Dayan Reinoso was drafted by and plays with the Los Angeles Angels from 2021-present.

 Throughout his coaching career at Chesapeake, the team has also had a number of NJCAA All Americans. 

• JR Dobson
• Tim St. Clair
• Will Delawter
• Joseph Nahas
• Dayan Reinoso
• Nick Newnam

The following players were also honored as NJCAA Academic All Americans. 

• Matthew Orr
• Austin Benton
• Cody Forster
• Trent Koerner
• Kyle Sonneveldt
• Ryan Morse
• Michael YaSenka
• Casey Joseph
• Robert Karwacki
• Jacob Brigati
• Jordan Glazer
• Victor Leitzel
• Joseph Smoloski
• Aris Zamiskas
• Dillon Smith
• William Pope
• Garrett Nepert
• Austin Massey
• Andrew Brady
• Bryce King
• Ben Riddick
• Joshua Sherwood
• Johnathan Kasten
• Michael Koerner
• Michael Henrie
• Cole Grable
• Jack Greenspan.

Already the college’s career leader in coaching victories, Szymanski has racked up a collection of "firsts" with the Skipjacks. He led Chesapeake to its first 20-win season in 2001, first 25-win season in 2003, first 40-win season in 2005 and first 45-win season in 2018. That 2005 squad became the first Chesapeake baseball team to win region 20 Northeast District, advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series, and win a World Series game on the way to a fifth-place national finish. The team was Region 20 Runners up in both the 2010 and 2018 seasons and the 2018 Maryland State Champions.

While Szymanski credits his players for Chesapeake’s success – "Players win games, not coaches," he said – it is no coincidence that the Skipjacks became perennial winners when Szymanski came aboard. He was named NJCAA Division II Region 20 Coach of the Year and Northeast District Coach of the Year in 2005, when he was also selected Maryland College Coach of the Year – an award that encompasses all NCAA and NJCAA programs. He was once again named the Maryland JUCO Coach of the Year in 2018. Rich Midcap, Chesapeake’s former vice president for student success and enrollment services, praised Szymanski for the way he has rebuilt the program.

Szymanski played for Coach Mike Matulia at Gordon State College and Coach Dean Deshon at Salisbury University.