Christian Kowalchuk is entering his second season as the volunteer assistant coach for the Arkansas baseball team after serving two seasons as a graduate assistant coach.
Kowalchuk is no stranger to the Arkansas baseball program, having played for the Razorbacks in 2009 and 2010, including an appearance in the 2009 College World Series. The left-hander made 29 appearances in his Razorback career, posting a 2.77 earned run average with a 3-0 record.
Kowalchuk assists pitching coach Dave Jorn with the pitching staff and will work with the team’s catchers this season.
In his first season as the volunteer assistant coach, Kowalchuk helped the Razorbacks rebound from a 15-15 start to win 18 of their final 25 regular season games and advance to the school’s eighth College World Series. He helped two pitchers earn all-conference honors as relief pitcher Zach Jackson was a first team All-SEC selection and right-hander Keaton McKinney was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
As a graduate assistant coach in 2013 and 2014, he assisted with the pitchers as Arkansas made back-to-back NCAA Regionals and posted the two lowest earned run averages in program history, including the nation’s best 1.89 ERA in 2013. The Razorbacks also led the country in hits allowed per nine innings (6.78) in 2013.
Kowalchuk was named to the Academic Honor Roll as a player in 2009 and earned Outstanding Student Award honors in the graduate program in 2013.
As a member of the Seward County Junior College baseball team from 2007-2008, Kowalchuk earned Freshman NJCAA All-American honors in 2007, All-Conference honors in 2007 and 2008 and Preseason All-American honors in 2008. He also appeared on the Dean’s List in both seasons at Seward County Junior College.
He took his talents to the professional ranks following his days as a Razorback, signing a contract with the Kansas City T-Bones in the summer of 2012, before inking with the Evansville Otters in the summer of 2013.
Kowalchuk served as an assistant coach at Seward County Community College during the 2012 season, helping lead the team to the region 6 playoffs. He helped coordinate practice and was in charge of the strength and conditioning program.
Kowalchuk earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2011 and completed his Masters of Physical Education in 2013 from the University of Arkansas.
