Baseball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- k.saarloos@tcu.edu
On June 15, 2021, Saarloos was named the 20th head coach in program history. Saarloos joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2012 after two seasons as the pitching coach at Cal State Fullerton.
In his time at TCU, the Horned Frogs have totaled seven conference regular season and tournament championships, double the total of the next-closest schools, as well as five College World Series appearances. Hired initially as pitching coach in Summer 2012, he was promoted to recruiting coordinator the following year. In just three short years as the head coach, TCU has won a Big 12 regular season crown as well as a tournament title, made two NCAA appearances and advanced to the 2023 College World Series.
Saarloos’ presence at TCU has been felt both on the field and off the field. As the recruiting coordinator for nine seasons, Saarloos mentored one of the nation’s top pitching staffs which was a key factor in TCU’s four straight trips to the College World Series from 2014-17. He made a similar impact in his first season as the head coach, guiding the Horned Frogs to a Big 12 Regular Season championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. His efforts on the field earned him Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades, making him the first coach in Big 12 history to claim the award in his first season as the head coach. In just his second year at the helm, he brought home a Big 12 tournament title and guided the program back to Omaha and the College World Series. In 2024, the Frogs raced out to a school-record 13-0 start and Saarloos became the fastest coach to reach 100 career wins.
Since his arrival in 2012, the Frogs rank fourth nationally in team earned run average (3.67) and tied for seventh in shutouts (63). TCU led the nation with a 2.22 ERA in 2014 and ranked second in 2015 with a 2.45 ERA.
The 2024 season saw Payton Tolle earn Big 12 Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year en route to being drafted 50th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Frogs fell short of the postseason, finishing the campaign with a 33-21 record. Tolle and Ben Abeldt went on to be named 2nd-team All-Americans.
In 2023, a blistering month of May and a torrid run through the postseason had TCU back home in Omaha where it eventually advanced to the semifinal game. TCU finished fourth in the Big 12 regular season standings and ran through the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship unscathed to earn its fourth straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Frogs pummeled the opposition in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional and served as a Super Regional host for the fourth time in program history. A sweep of Indiana State locked up the berth in the CWS.
TCU ultimately finished the campaign with a 44-24 record and ranked No. 4 nationally. Four freshmen (Ben Abeldt, Karson Bowen, Kole Klecker and Anthony Silva) were named Freshmen All-Americans by various publications and three (Abeldt, Bowen and Silva) earned an invite to the Collegiate National Team with Abeldt ultimately earning a roster spot. Brayden Taylor became TCU’s first-ever position player to be drafted in the first round, going No. 19 overall to Tampa Bay. Six other Frogs were also drafted.
TCU put together a 38-22 record in Saarloos’ first season as head coach and took home the league title on the strength of a 16-8 record. Ten Horned Frogs received all-conference recognition and five were drafted over the summer. River Ridings, Luke Savage and Taylor earned an invite to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Taylor was ultimately selected to the roster that represented USA Baseball at the Honkbalweek where he earned a bronze medal.
A mixture of youth and experience marked the 2021 pitching staff. For just the second time in program history, the staff racked up over 600 strikeouts, finishing the season with 606. Senior Haylen Green became a two-time All-American after leading the team with 12 saves. On the youth side, left-hander River Ridings splashed onto the collegiate scene, earning freshman All-American accolades after posting a 1.08 ERA in 23 appearances.
The 2020 pitching staff was off to another solid start, ranking 15th nationally in ERA (2.40) and 17th nationally in WHIP (1.08). Haylen Green was tabbed a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American after eight scoreless outings spanning 17 2/3 innings in an abbreviated season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under his guidance, the 2019 season produced TCU’s highest-ever draft pick in Nick Lodolo, who was tabbed by Cincinnati with the seventh overall pick. Lodolo left his mark on the record book, totaling 131 strikeouts in just 103 innings of work. Additionally, newcomer Brandon Williamson became the second player taken on Day 1 of the draft, getting selected by Seattle in the second round.
In 2018, the group featured a more experienced bullpen than it did a starting rotation. Despite the inexperience, the staff put together a 3.45 ERA, a mark that ranked 21st nationally, and led the league with a 2.79 K:BB ratio (13th nationally), 9.6 K/9 (13th nationally) and a 1.29 WHIP (36th nationally).
In 2017, the starting rotation had plenty of experience, but the bullpen featured just two pitchers with significant mound time under their belts. The group peaked at the right time in helping TCU to the CWS. The Frogs allowed three or fewer runs in all 10 NCAA postseason contests.
TCU set a school-record with 643 strikeouts and ranked sixth nationally in K:BB ratio (3.09), 10th in K/9 (9.5) and 11th in WHIP (1.22). Jared Janczak earned All-American honors, while Brian Howard’s 12 wins were the second-most in the nation. Durbin Feltman set a school record with 17 saves. Sean Wymer was selected to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
The 2016 season presented Saarloos with new challenges following the departure of three starting pitchers and the all-time saves leader at TCU. At the conclusion of the 2015 campaign, TCU bid adieu to eight seniors in addition to a pair of drafted underclassmen. Heading into the 2016 season, the Horned Frogs needed to replace 48 starts, 14 saves and 406 innings on the mound.
TCU showed no signs of let up as Saarloos brought in a group of 15 newcomers to fill the vacancies, helping lead TCU to a third straight appearance in the College World Series. Luken Baker was named an All-American in addition to earning TCU’s second-straight Big 12 Freshman of the Year honor. The Frogs also had four Freshmen All-Americans. TCU once again boasted one of the top pitching staffs in the country. The Horned Frogs ranked first in the Big 12 and 16th in ERA (3.18), fifth nationally with nine shutouts and 16th in K:BB ratio (2.81).
His efforts on and off the field, garnered Saarloos the 2016 D1Baseball.com National Assistant Coach of the Year award.
A year removed from leading the nation in ERA, TCU once again fielded a dominating pitching staff that finished second in the nation with a 2.45 ERA in 2015. The dynamic group led the nation in WHIP (1.04) and ranked second with 10 shutouts and a 3.94 K:BB ratio. Additionally, the staff ranked in the top-6 in two other pitching categories: H/9 (5th, 7.24) and B/9 (6th, 2.16).
Three Frogs (Riley Ferrell, Preston Morrison and Alex Young) were tabbed All-Americans at the conclusion of the season. All three were drafted in the first eight rounds of the 2015 draft. Also drafted in June were Tyler Alexander in the second round, Trey Teakell in the ninth round and Mitchell Traver in the 28th round.
The 2014 TCU Horned Frogs rode the arms of their pitching staff all the way to the College World Series. Under his guidance, the group led the nation in ERA at 2.22. In addition, they ranked in the top six in all major pitching categories: H/9 (6th, 7.07), K:BB ratio (2nd, 3.80), K/9 (6th, 8.4), WHIP (2nd, 1.03) and BB/9 (5th, 2.22). Additionally, the Frogs set a school and Big 12 record with 14 shutouts on the season.
The staff will go down as one of the best in TCU history as they set a then-school record with 574 strikeouts in addition to posting the lowest ERA since the 1972 season. Riley Ferrell established a new mark for saves in a season at the time with 15, while Preston Morrison’s 129 2/3 innings pitched are a school record. In addition to his innings pitched, Morrison posted the lowest individual ERA since 1972.
Three members of the pitching staff (Morrison, Brandon Finnegan and Ferrell) earned All-America accolades from various publications. Morrison was tabbed the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, while Finnegan was the 17th overall draft pick in the 2014 MLB First-year Player Draft. Tyler Alexander earned Freshman All-American honors in addition to being named second-team all-Big 12. Finnegan went on to make history in the summer of 2014 as he became the first player in history to appear in both the CWS and the Major League Baseball World Series in the same year.
The impact of Saarloos’ tutelage was immediate as the Horned Frogs boasted one of the top pitching staffs in the country in 2013. They were top 15 nationally in most pitching categories, including ERA (15th, 2.78), K:BB (11th, 2.82) and WHIP (11th, 1.15). The group produced the lowest team ERA in TCU history since 1968. TCU’s season ERA ranked second in the Big 12, while its 2.47 ERA in league play was tops among conference opponents. Additionally, the Horned Frogs racked up 449 strikeouts and held opponents to a .230 batting average against. Both marks were second in the league.
Individually, the pitching staff saw numerous members receive multiple honors. Morrison was honored as a first-team All-Big 12 performer, while Young was named second-team all-conference. Ferrell, along with Young, was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Finnegan, Morrison and Ferrell each earned a spot on the 24-man USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster.
Saarloos joined the Titan coaching staff in 2011 after wrapping up a seven-year major league. He spent his first season on staff as an undergraduate assistant for Dave Serrano. Saarloos moved into the role of pitching coach when Rick Vanderhook took over the head coaching duties in the summer of 2011.
In his two seasons at Fullerton, the Titans put together a 77-38 (.670) record and won two Big West titles.
After taking over the pitchers in the fall of 2011, Saarloos coached a predominantly freshman and sophomore pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.18. They fanned 336 batters and limited opponents to a .250 batting average. The group led the country in fewest walks per nine, ranked third in K:BB ratio and fifth in WHIP. At the end of the season, four pitchers earned Freshman All-American accolades.
Under his guidance, Dylan Floro was named the 2012 Big West Pitcher of the Year. The junior compiled a 10-4 record in 17 appearances. In 15 starts, the right-hander tossed three complete games. He went on to be drafted in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB draft.
Saarloos spent seven years in the major leagues, playing for Houston (2002-03), Oakland (2004-06, 08) and Cincinnati (2007). In 2001, he was drafted 86th overall (3rd round) by Houston after a decorated collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton.
In seven seasons in the big leagues, Saarloos made 73 starts as part of 165 appearances on the mound. He posted a career record of 29-30 with two saves and a 5.02 ERA. In 509 innings pitched, he fanned 251 batters. He was called up to the majors on June 18, 2002. Saarloos made history on June 11, 2003 as he was one of a major league record six Astro pitchers to combine for a no-hitter against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
As a player at Cal State Fullerton, he racked up a school-record 127 appearances over his four seasons in a Titan uniform. His first three seasons were spent as a reliever before moving into a starting role as a senior. In 2001, he went on to earn first-team All-American honors and was named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year after putting together a 15-2 campaign. He owns one of the Titans three no-hitters as he blanked Pacific on April 8, 2001.
He was 33-12 with a 2.96 ERA in four collegiate seasons. He ranks sixth all-time in innings pitched, second in wins, third in strikeouts and fifth in saves. In two appearances at the College World Series (1999 and 2001), he recorded a save and allowed just two runs in 15 1/3 innings pitched.
Saarloos and his wife, Kristen, have a son, Brady, and two daughters, Emery and Lane.
