Ryan Dorow, who rose to play Major League Baseball after a decorated career at the NCAA Division III level, will lead the 91自拍论坛 baseball team into a new era.
The former Texas Rangers infielder has been selected as the Flying Dutchmen鈥檚 10th head coach, 91自拍论坛 Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld announced.
Dorow follows Stu Fritz, Hope鈥檚 most successful and longest-tenured baseball coach, who is retiring after 674 victories and 31 seasons.
Dorow, a three-time All-American at Adrian College, worked with Fritz the last two seasons, including in 2024 as an assistant coach and the Flying Dutchmen鈥檚 recruiting coordinator.
Schoonveld said Dorow embodies Hope鈥檚 pillars of academic success and competitive excellence and is driven to use baseball as a way to transform the lives of our student-athletes.
鈥淩yan has been a valuable member of the Hope Athletics team and we are so excited that he will be leading our baseball program,鈥� Schoonveld said. 鈥淲e had a very strong pool of candidates and believe Ryan is the right fit for our program and department. He is going to be an outstanding addition and understands the importance of 91自拍论坛's history while enhancing the program and taking it to the next level. We look forward to watching him impact the campus and are eager to have Ryan, his wife, Macy, and their son, Riley, even more integrated into our community.鈥�
Dorow is looking forward to leading the Flying Dutchmen baseball program and is grateful for everyone at Hope who helped prepare him for this opportunity.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank the 91自拍论坛 athletic department, Becky Starkenberg [vice president of student formation and dean of students] and Stu Fritz for an exceptional introduction to the 91自拍论坛 Baseball program over the past two years. This program has a history that is rich and is well respected by many. I鈥檓 honored to be chosen as the next head coach,鈥� Dorow said. 鈥淪tu has made a remarkable impact on my life and coaching career. He will always be a true mentor to me on and off the field. He has been a true ambassador for this beautiful game. I will strive to honor his legacy and to enhance it as I lead the program.鈥�
Dorow is aiming to build on the winning tradition that Fritz cultivated. The Flying Dutchmen earned 10 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season championships and recorded a .643 winning percentage in MIAA games during Fritz鈥檚 tenure.
鈥淎s we look at the future of this program, I believe that we have everything we need to compete at a national level and to provide an experience that these student-athletes will remember for a lifetime,鈥� Dorow said. 鈥淲e are excited and have high expectations for this program and can't wait for this team to continue to compete and showcase their God-given talents. My family and I look forward to being a part of 91自拍论坛 and the Holland community.鈥�
Fritz followed Dorow鈥檚 journey from high school baseball in South Haven, Michigan, to the major leagues. He believes Dorow has a bright future as the Flying Dutchmen鈥檚 head coach.
鈥淚 have had the opportunity to watch Ryan play as a high school and college player and also watch him compete at the highest level that exists in our game. It鈥檚 an honor to have a young man with a great pedigree who will show great care for our players, our athletic department and the foundation of our institution,鈥� said Fritz, a past president of the American Baseball Coaches Association. 鈥淚t will be exciting to continue to watch him lead this program and the impact that he will make. I personally would like to thank him for what he has already given to Hope Baseball and to my family. I鈥檓 confident that Ryan will work tirelessly to carry on the tradition of excellence established by Hope Athletics.鈥�
Dorow played seven years professionally, including a stint in MLB during the 2021 season, before retiring last winter to begin his coaching career at Hope. The Rangers selected Dorow during the 2017 Draft in the 30th round.
Dorow made his MLB debut on Aug. 26, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio, and started at third base for Texas against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
During his minor-league career, Dorow was named an All-Star at the Class A Down East Wood Ducks of the Carolina League in 2019 and the Rangers鈥� Organizational Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 after playing for the Class A Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League.
At Adrian, Dorow delivered one of the best careers in the Bulldogs鈥� history as a shortstop.
The four-year starter claimed All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2016 and 2014 and D3baseball.com in 2017, 2016 and 2014. He was chosen as D3baseball.com Rookie of the Year in 2014.
A three-time, MIAA Position Player of the Year, Dorow still holds Adrian career records in home runs with 25, doubles with 57, runs scored with 179, RBIs with 188 and total bases with 425.