Kirk Saarloos is one of the rising stars in college baseball, leading TCU to the College World Series in just his second season in 2023. It's hard to believe he almost considered becoming a professional golfer instead of a coach when his playing days ended.

"I had a buddy on the PGA Tour," Saarloos said, smiling. "We played probably about 100 times and I beat him once."

That pushed Saarloos to a coaching career

TCU Accomplishments and college career

In 2021, Kirk Saarloos became the 20th head coach in TCU baseball history. A former MLB pitcher with a seven-year career across the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics,and Cincinnati Reds, Saarloos brought a wealth of experience and an MLB perspective to Fort Worth.

His journey from an undersized kid with split athletic interests to a major leaguer and now a championship-winning coach has shaped his approach to leading the Horned Frogs.

Under his guidance, TCU has thrived, capturing Big 12 regular season and tournament championships, advancing through regionals, and making a College World Series appearance in 2023, the program’s sixth ever. Through it all, Saarloos’ steady leadership, focus on player confidence, and ability to “read the room” have kept the Frogs competitive and together. 

Saarloos’ path to professional baseball was not linear. Growing up, he was never the biggest or fastest, juggling multiple sports depending on the season. At Cal State Fullerton, he started as a struggling reliever but embraced incremental improvement.

“I was a reliever and I stunk,” Sarloos said. “And then got a little bit better my sophomore year, a little bit better my junior year, a little bit better my senior year.”

That mindset focusing on small, consistent gains pushed him forward, he said.

After retiring in 2008, Saarloos ended up returning to Cal State Fullerton to finish his degree, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach before becoming the pitching coach for two years. In 2012, TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle offered him the pitching coach role. Visiting Fort Worth, Saarloos saw a program and knew there was something special.

“I thought TCU was on the brink of being really good,” he said. “It was a no-brainer.”

Saarloos spent nearly a decade as TCU’s pitching coach, developing talents like Preston Morrison, a three-time All-American who Saarloos considers one of the best he’s coached, despite Morrison’s inability to crack an MLB roster after being drafted by the Cubs in 2015.

“Some of the best players don’t make the major leagues,” Saarloos said, highlighting Morrison’s exceptional skill as a college pitcher. That perspective, valuing process and impact over professional outcomes, shapes how Saarloos evaluates and motivates his players.

Since taking over as head coach, Saarloos has instilled a clear expectation: compete for championships.

“To play for championships, Big 12 Championships. Get yourself into the College World Series to play for championships there,” he said. “I think that’s the expectation every year.”

His first four years have delivered, with Big 12 titles, a 2022 College Station Regional appearance, and a standout 2023 season where TCU won the Fayetteville Regional against No. 3 Arkansas and the Fort Worth Regional against No. 14 Indiana State, earning a trip to Omaha.

Saarloos’ ability to manage the team’s energy is a hallmark of his coaching. Whether calming nerves or igniting intensity, he strives to “stay in the middle” while reading the room.

“There’s certain times where you’re feeling a sense of, you know, there’s not as much energy and guys aren’t maybe as prepared,” he said. “Sometimes you need to tamp down the excitement. Sometimes you need to raise it up.”

This approach was evident in a mound visit with pitcher Braeden Sloan. Facing a tense moment, Saarloos offered simple, steady advice:

“He told me, don’t try to get out of it with one pitch," Sloan said. "Just keep throwing good pitches and whatever happens, happens. I was able to take a breather and locate my changeup.”

That calm, process-focused guidance helped Sloan navigate the situation, reflecting Saarloos’ knack for keeping players grounded.

Saarloos’ story is one of persistence, from an unheralded college reliever to an MLB pitcher to a championship-winning coach.

His mantra of getting “a little bit better every year” resonates with his players, who see him as both a strategist and a source of unwavering belief. By fostering confidence, managing emotions and setting a championship standard, Saarloos has elevated TCU baseball while staying true to the lessons of his own journey.

As he continues to lead the Horned Frogs, his focus remains clear: show up every day, control what you can, and strive for greatness one pitch, one game and one season at a time.