Joel Dombkowski Hometown: Erie, PA Position: Associate Head Coach Alma Mater: Mercyhurst Graduated: 1991

Joel Dombkowski enters his 16th season as part of Head Coach Joe Jordano's staff, after transferring from Mercyhurst to Pitt with Jordano in 1998. Once among the youngest Division-I assistant coaches at age 27 when he began his career at Pitt, Dombkowski has proved age doesn't equate value. Over the course of the last decade, Dombkowski has been an instrumental part of the Panthers' success. In return for the value that he has continued to bring the program, Dombkowski was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2004. Since that time, Dombkowski's primary responsibilities have included offensive instruction of all players and defensive instruction of the outfielders.

"I was very pleased to promote Joel to the position of associate head coach for our baseball team," Jordano said. "It is a well-deserved honor and it is a testament to his outstanding coaching ability and his loyalty to the University of Pittsburgh."

During the past four seasons, under the direction of Dombkowski, numerous offensive school records have been broken and all-time lists rewritten. Last season alone, five players entered Pitt's offensive all-time record books, including former outfielder Peter Parise, who set Pitt's all-time career hits record in 2007. Parise tallied 253 career hits, three more than the previous leader, Bryan Spamer who, under the direction of Dombkowski as well, set the record of 250 hits between 2001-04.

Parise's record wasn't the only high point of the 2007 season for the Panther offense under Dombkowski. Sean Conley, Dan Williams and Jordan Herr all aided in the revisions to the offensive record books at Pitt last season, helping Pitt to a fourth-place finish in the Big East, good enough for a bid to the conference tournament held in Brooklyn, N.Y. The defense of the Pitt outfield under Dombkowski's instruction committed just four collective errors during the 2007 season, while accounting for 295 putouts and 20 assists.

Following the 2007 season, Parise was among six Pitt players that were drafted or signed to professional contracts. Former teammates Kyle Landis, Paul Nardozzi and Seth Button moved on the respective minor league affiliates, while Jordan Herr returned to Pitt to continue his career as a Panther, and in-coming freshman David Kaye chose to postpone his professional career and honor his commitment to play for the Panthers.

During his tenure with Pitt, Dombkowski has aided 27 players in the move to the next level of baseball. Dombkowski has also seen five of his players earn All-America honors. Jim Negrych was honored as an All-American after garnering the award in back-to-back-to-back seasons during 2004, 2005 and 2006. Other former athletes include Ben Copeland, PJ Hiser and Brad Rea. Current Panthers' pitcher Rob Brant was awarded All-America status during his freshman campaign.

In 2006, Pitt had three players drafted including Jim Negrych in the sixth round to the Pirates, Billy Muldowney in the eighth round to the Cubs and Jimmy Mayer in the 30th round to the Devil Rays.

Setting the standard was the 2004 class, which included a school-record six All-Big East selections, as well as a record-setting number of Major League Baseball draftees, including Hiser (Cleveland Indians), Nick Evangelista (Philadelphia Phillies) and T.J. Gornati (San Francisco Giants). Copeland set the still-standing Pitt single-season records for hits (84), runs scored (65), doubles (23), triples (10) and total bases (154). Additionally, Dombkowski helped guide Hiser to Big East Player of the Year honors, Jim Negrych to the Big East Rookie of the Year, as well as All-America hype for Copeland and the duo. In 2002, the Panthers boasted impressive numbers as they captured Big East titles for team home runs, doubles and stolen base, while they finished second in hits. In addition, Dombkowski saw three players drafted or signed by professional teams; Eric Ackerman, Rolando Bello and Brant Colermarino.

Prior to his career at Pitt, Dombkowski served on Jordano's staff at Mercyhurst College from 1992-1997. During his tenure there, Dombkowski helped coach the Lakers to five consecutive NCAA Regional appearances while capturing two straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles.

Dombkowski also began his own playing career under Jordano's direction at Mercyhurst as a standout catcher for the Lakers. He earned All-Region honors twice and led the Lakers to two playoff berths in 1989 (ECAC) and 1991 (NCAA). Upon his graduation, Dombkowski made the quick transition to the coaching ranks by joining Jordano on the coaching staff.

A 1991 Mercyhurst graduate, Dombkowski earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and his master's in administration of justice, also from Mercyhurst.

Dombkowski, 38, is a native of Erie, Pa. and currently resides in Pittsburgh. Dombkowski and his wife, Leigh Ann Gulla, have two sons, four-year old Zachary Thomas and 10-month old Jacob.