Source: ORU to promote Ryan Folmar to head baseball coach
BY JOHN HOOVER World Sports Columnist
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
6/12/12 at 9:23 PM
Oral Roberts University will name assistant Ryan Folmar the school’s ninth head baseball coach at a 10:30 a.m. press conference Wednesday, the Tulsa World has learned.
A source close to the search told the World on Tuesday night that Folmar, 37, will succeed Rob Walton, who resigned Monday to take the pitching coach post at Oklahoma State.
Like Walton and new OSU coach Josh Holliday, Folmar is a former player at Oklahoma State. He came to OSU from Chambersburg, Pa., and played for the Cowboys from 1994-97. He was honorable mention All-Big 8 Conference in 1995.
After two seasons in the Colorado Rockies’ minor league organization, Folmar returned to his alma mater as director of baseball operations under Tom Holliday (1999-2003).
When Walton succeeded Sunny Golloway at the Golden Eagles’ helm in 2004, Walton quickly hired Folmar. Folmar has coached ORU hitters and catchers and was the point man on recruiting.
A source says Folmar will retain former Golden Eagles slugger Ryan Neill, an ORU assistant the last 10 seasons. Neill, an Okmulgee native and former Golden Eagles All-American, coaches ORU infielders and is a key recruiter.
The source also said Folmar intends to hire Duke assistant Sean Snedeker to coach ORU pitchers. Snedeker played at Texas A&M before six seasons in the minor leagues, where he also was a pitching coach. Duke’s website reports Snedeker has coached 40 current or former major league pitchers.
Folmar and his wife Kay Lynn have three children: Kade (10), Reese (8) and Luke (3).
Associated Images:
ORU assistant Ryan Folmar, left, and Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson meet at home plate prior to a game in 2007. Folmar is expected to replace Rob Walton as the school's head baseball coach.
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