Frank Szymanski
Frank Szymanski

Bio

Frank Szymanski does not spend a lot of time dwelling on his coaching accomplishments. Sometimes he is not even aware of them.

When informed that the victory in 2010 over Region 20 champion Potomac State was the 300th of his coaching career, Szymanski said that just meant, "I’ve been coaching a long time." Similarly, he did not realize his team’s 30th win of the 2010 season was also his 300th win at Chesapeake College.

When Szymanski does consider what it all means, it’s others he thinks of first. "I always think about the commitment our players have made to the college, both academically and athletically," he said after his 300th career victory. "I also think about how incredibly supportive the faculty, staff and administration have been of our program."

Szymanski is best known for his success in baseball. He will enter his 27th season this coming spring 2026 with a 697-474-9 record in 26 seasons at Chesapeake and 715-545-9 record in 29 seasons as a collegiate head coach. That record includes 17 winning seasons in the last 18 years – each featuring at least 25 victories. More important than the victories, according to Szymanski, is the program's ability to assist players in reaching their highest potential in life and baseball at the next level.

"Our coaching staff wants to help our players develop their skills and prepare them for the next level," said Szymanski, who routinely sends players to four-year NCAA Division I, II and III institutions to continue their playing career. The Skipjacks have fourteen players that they have assisted in developing, that are either currently playing professional baseball, have played professional baseball, or that have ties to professional baseball.

  • Cory Willey played for the Boston Red Sox organization in 2004 and the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2007 and in 2008 reached the Double A level.
  • Brian Brainer played for the New Haven County Cutters organization in 2007.
  • Justin Arminger played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs from 2009-2010.
  • Cody Holiday was drafted by the New York Mets organization and played from 2009-2011.
  • Brennen Miller, who played for the Skipjacks in 2009 is currently an MLB umpire.
  • Mike Turner, shortstop, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2010 amateur draft.
  • Nik Nowottnik was signed by the Orioles organization as a free agent from 2013-2015.
  • Mike YaSenka was drafted by and played for the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 2019-2024.
  • Joe Nahas was signed by and played for the Chicago Cubs, reaching the double A level.
  • Allen Saathoff was signed by and played for the Seattle Mariners, reaching the double A level from 2023 to 2025 and was most recently signed by the Savannah Bananas.
  • Livan Reinoso signed with and currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Dayan Reinoso was signed by and played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2012 to 2024 and was most recently signed by the Indianapolis Clowns.

  Throughout his coaching career at Chesapeake, the team has also had a number of NJCAA All Americans. 

  • JR Dobson
  • Tim St. Clair
  • Will Delawter
  • Joseph Nahas
  • Dayan Reinoso
  • Nick Newnam

 The following players were also honored as NJCAA All-Academic. 

  • Matthew Orr
  • Austin Benton
  • Cody Forster
  • Trent Koerner
  • Kyle Sonneveldt
  • Ryan Morse
  • Michael YaSenka
  • Casey Joseph
  • Robert Karwacki
  • Jacob Brigati
  • Jordan Glazer
  • Victor Leitzel
  • Joseph Smoloski
  • Aris Zamiskas
  • Dillon Smith
  • William Pope
  • Garrett Nepert
  • Austin Massey
  • Andrew Brady
  • Bryce King
  • Ben Riddick
  • Joshua Sherwood
  • Johnathan Kasten
  • Michael Koerner
  • Michael Henrie
  • Cole Grable
  • Jack Greenspan
  • Robert Distelcamp
  • Coleson Stoltzfus
  • Nathan Sadler
  • Hayden Askew
  • Chase Cassera
  • William Clay
  • Kaleb Elliott
  • Nicholas LoPreato
  • Samuel Schaefer
  • Nickolas Strope
  • Michael Tolle
  • Gabriel Walker

Already the college’s career leader in coaching victories, Szymanski has racked up a collection of "firsts" with the Skipjacks. He led Chesapeake to its first 20-win season in 2001, first 25-win season in 2003, first 40-win season in 2005 and first 45-win season in 2018. That 2005 squad became the first Chesapeake baseball team to win region 20 Northeast District, advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series, and win a World Series game on the way to a fifth-place national finish. The team was Region 20 Runners up in both the 2010 and 2018 seasons and the 2018 Maryland State Champions.

While Szymanski credits his players for Chesapeake’s success – "Players win games, not coaches," he said – it is no coincidence that the Skipjacks became perennial winners when Szymanski came aboard. He was named NJCAA Division II Region 20 Coach of the Year and Northeast District Coach of the Year in 2005, when he was also selected Maryland College Coach of the Year – an award that encompasses all NCAA and NJCAA programs. He was once again named the Maryland JUCO Coach of the Year in 2018. Rich Midcap, Chesapeake’s former vice president for student success and enrollment services, praised Szymanski for the way he has rebuilt the program. 

Szymanski played for Coach Mike Matulia at Gordon State College and Coach Dean Deshon at Salisbury University.