FHSU Athletics

Jerry Valdez enters his first year as an assistant coach for the Fort Hays State baseball team in 2016. Valdez was a former standout at Cochise College in Arizona for two seasons (1994 and 1995) where he was an All-Conference catcher his freshman year before finishing up his collegiate career at Fort Hays State (’96 and ’97). 

While at Fort Hays State Valdez broke the top ten in numerous records including sixth in single season batting average (.421), second in career batting average (.408), first in single season doubles (28), fifth in career doubles (51), sixth in single season hits (92),  third in single season homeruns (20), third in career homeruns (36), first in single season total bases (184), first in single season RBI’s (96), and fourth in Career RBI’s (164).  

After his record breaking days as a Tiger, Valdez was drafted in the 25^th round of the 1997 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent five season in the Phillies organization reaching as high as AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barr. During his professional Career, Valdez had a career batting average of .251, with 24 home runs and 126 RBI’s. In 1998 Valdez was named to the New York Penn All Star team as a catcher. In 2002 Valdez was named a Central League All-Star while playing for the Alexandria Aces.

Once his playing days were over, Valdez become the President of the Dallas Patriots where he would oversee the day to day operations of three baseball academies, 50 Select baseball teams, and over 100 coaches.

Valdez’s personal coached teams have seen 100% college placement for his players, including several NCAA Division I signees, and Major League draft picks. Valdez’s most recent graduating team (2015) saw seven players sign at the Division I level.

A native of El Paso, Texas, Valdez was a 2011 inductee to the Fort Hays State Tiger Sport Hall of Fame, and a 2015 inductee into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.