CLEMSON, S.C. - Head Coach Erik Bakich announced the addition of Tyler Smarslok to the Clemson baseball staff as an assistant coach. The hire was finalized Thursday by the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee. Smarslok (pronounced SMAHRZ-lock) coordinates the defense and assists with all aspects of the offense.
“We are thrilled to add Tyler, his wife, Dara, and their growing family to the Clemson baseball family,” said Bakich. “Tyler brings unique coaching experience at the MLB, MiLB and DI levels. We targeted outlier defensive and baserunning coaches who are regarded as the best in the world at what they do, and Tyler’s name repeatedly surfaced. This is an exciting day for Clemson baseball, and I know our players and staff are eager to work with ‘Smars.'”
Prior to the 2025 season, Smarslok landed his first job on a major league staff, as he was the first-base coach, infield coach and baserunning coach for the Miami Marlins in 2025. In 2026, Smarslok joined the Washington Nationals’ coaching staff as field coordinator.
Smarslok earned his first professional job in 2020 with the Minnesota Twins’ rookie-league affiliate, but the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021-23, he served as defensive coach for the St. Paul Saints, the AAA affiliate of the Twins. In 2023, the Saints tied the franchise record for highest fielding percentage.
In 2024, he became the bench coach of the Saints, then he was named manager of the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League in the fall of 2024, when his team won the championship.
Prior to his tenure in the professional ranks, Smarslok served as an assistant coach at Marist in the fall of 2019 after holding the title of volunteer assistant coach at Seton Hall in 2019. He was also a graduate assistant coach at Heidelberg in 2018, an assistant coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in 2017 and an assistant coach at Kean in 2015 and 2016.
The native of Jackson Township, N.J. graduated from Kean, a Division III program in Union, N.J., with a degree in exercise science in 2015. He later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Heidelberg in 2020.
The four-year starter and all-conference player at Kean hit .295 with 78 RBIs, 124 runs, a .401 on-base percentage thanks in large part to 59 walks against only 48 strikeouts, and 38 steals in 190 games as a part of three Division III College World Series teams.
Smarslok won a Rawlings National Gold Glove and helped lead Kean to two NJAC Tournament championships and three regional titles. He was also an integral part of four Kean teams that amassed 153 combined victories. He attended Jackson (N.J.) Liberty High School as well.
He was born Tyler Brian Smarslok on Feb. 7, 1992 in Edison, N.J. and is married to his wife, Dara. They are expecting their first child in 2027.