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The 2012 season marks Tony Stoecklin's 12th with the Cougar coaching staff, now the Associate Head Coach, Stoecklin is responsible for the pitching staff, but also is involved on a daily basis with the baseball program, and handles most of the recruiting duties.

Stoecklin oversaw a pitching staff that finished with a 5.07 earned run average in 2011, which would have ranked fourth in the Ohio Valey Conference.

He also helped starter Spencer Patton to one of the finest single seasons in school history in 2011. He finished 9-3 with a team-best 2.55 earned run average. The nine wins are the third-most in a single season in school history. He also became the fourth pitcher in school history to record at least 100 strikeouts in a season, fanning 109 hitters, the second-most in a single season in SIUE history. Patton was awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove as chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association. He was the only Division I pitcher chosen.

Patton was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 24th round of the 2011 first year player draft, marking the 16th pitcher that has signed professional contracts after leaving the SIUE pitching staff since Stoecklin began coaching. Patton pitched the 2011 season at the rookie level, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Steocklin pitched as a professional during his career.

In its final two seasons as a Division II program, SIUE ranked among the top two in earned run average among NCAA Division II schools. SIUE finished second in 2007 with a 2.51 ERA. In 2006, SIUE's pitching staff set a nation record for shutouts with 21. The Cougars also were No. 1 in the nation with a school-record 2.09 earned run average.

Stoecklin's coaching talents have paid off with one Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year, one GLVC Pitcher of the Year, one GLVC Freshman of the Year, three All-Americans, nine All-Region pitchers, and 12 All-Conference pitchers. The list includes All-American Kyle Jones, who set an NCAA Division II record in 2006 with 54 1/3 straight innings without giving up a run.

As a player, Stoecklin was a member of the 1991 Cougar team which advanced to the NCAA World Series. He threw a no-hitter against Truman State that season and compiled an 8-5 record. In 1992, Stoecklin started 13 games and went 6-4 with a 4.42 earned run average. He was selected in the 23rd round by Atlanta in the 1992 amateur draft and spent three years in the Braves' minor league system.

While at Single A in Idaho Falls, Stoecklin went 3-2 with a 2.42 ERA and struck out 51 batters in 44 2/3 innings pitched. He was named Organization Player of the Month in August 1993. In 1994, Stoecklin played High A ball in Durham, N.C. He finished the season 4-4 with a 4.36 ERA and 55 strikeouts. In 1995, Stoecklin signed with the Bend Bandits of the Western Baseball League (WBL). He led the league, in 1997, with 51 appearances. In 1998, he recorded a career-high 13 saves out of the bullpen and earned a spot on the WBL All-Star team. Stoecklin then spent two seasons with the Chico Heat in the WBL. He had a strong 1999 season in which he posted a career best 2.20 ERA out of the bullpen. Stoecklin also tied a personal high with six victories and tied a WBL record by appearing in eight of the nine playoff games for the Heat, posting a 1.93 ERA.

The left-hander left his mark on the WBL. Stoecklin ranks ninth all-time in victories with 22 and appeared in more games (228) than any pitcher in league history.

Stoecklin, a Roxana native, received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology at SIUE in 2003.

Career Statistics

Year       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT
1992....  .000   14-0       1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0-0
TOTAL...  .000   14-0       1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0-0


Year       ERA   W-L   App  GS  CG SHO/CBO  SV    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO
1991....  3.64   8-5    13  13   3   2/0     0  73.0   64   45   38   52   50
1992....  3.40   6-4    13  13   3   0/0     0  72.0   61   41   35   34   35
TOTAL...  3.52  14-9    26  26   6   2/0     0 145.0  125   86   73   86   85