Mark Laschanzky enters his second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Viking baseball team in 2013.
Laschanzky, a native of Littleton, Colo., played baseball at Arapahoe High School from 1988-1991. As a senior, versatility became his trademark with starting assignments at five different positions.
In the summer of 1991 he played in the Colorado Semi-Pro Baseball League and earned All-Star recognition as the shortstop for the Metro Mets. He attended Dodge City Community College from 1992-1994 and was a Jaw Hawk All-Star choice as a sophomore. He played at Fort Hays State for one season, and was a closing pitcher/infielder at Hastings College his senior year.
In the spring of 1998 he signed with the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League, where he made the spring roster but not the regular season roster. He has played for the Denver Cougars in the Colorado Semi-Pro League and for the Latino Wooden Bat League in Denver.
Laschanzky embarked on his coaching journey early and nabbed the head Legion C job for Regis High School in between playing seasons at Dodge City CC. After his playing stint at Hastings College, Laschanzky assisted at Ellis High School in Ellis, Kan. for a season.
In the winter of 2001, Laschanzky took the reins for the pitching staff at Hastings College where he earned his bachelor's degree and followed that with a pitching coach gig in 2002 at Arapahoe Community College in his hometown. Laschanzky was then named the head coach at ACC and stayed there until the program was cancelled in 2005. Most recently, Laschanzky served as pitching coach for Boulder High School in Boulder, Colo. where his staff compiled an impressive 175 strikeouts during his two years in charge.
Mark and his wife Kendra reside in Sioux Falls, and Laschanzky is pursuing his master's degree in sports administration and leadership.
