Clarke University Baseball
2010 Baseball Coaches
Chad Harris Image
COACH PROFILE
Chad Harris - Head Coach - 4th Season
Chad Harris, a native of Hot Springs, Ark., is currently in his fourth year as the head baseball coach at Clarke College.
 

In 2009, Harris' squad more than doubled the win total from the previous year, going 18-30. The Crusaders improved in almost every statistical category in 2009. In 2008, Clarke managed only 11 home runs the entire season. In 2009, the Crusaders more than tripled that number by hitting 35 home runs as a team. The Crusaders raised their batting average from .239 in 2008 to a respectable .294 in 2009. On the mound, the Crusaders also showed major improvement by dropping their team ERA by almost two full runs.

The 2009 year also included a huge win for the baseball squad as they defeated NCAA Division I Western Illinois University. The win came just week after Western defeated the University of Iowa and just a few weeks after Western defeated Oklahoma State University.

According to Harris, NAIA baseball is only a slightly lower level than NCAA Division I.

"It's not unusual for NAIA teams to beat Division I programs," said Harris. "In baseball, a solid pitching performance and making the routine plays can keep any game competitive. Then you're just a clutch hit away from a win. That's one thing that's great about baseball. And at this level, our talent isn't too far behind D-I teams. The biggest difference is the depth. D-I programs are going to be deeper on the bench, but with the starting nine or 10, I'll take my chances."

Harris and his staff are working hard to get the Clarke baseball program to national scene.

"We play in a solid conference. Once we are consistently competing for a conference title, we will then be gaining more regional and national attention," said Harris. "We are working to make Clarke a household name in NAIA baseball, and we're getting there!"

Harris is also determined to make sure his coaches and players understand how fortunate everyone is to be involved with this level of baseball. His teams run two baseball camps per year for kids from ages five and up while also hosting a "Little League Team of the Day." Each year a youth baseball team gets to hang out with the Crusaders before a home game and then take the field as the starting line-up is announced. The Crusaders also make an annual visit to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. On the visit, the Crusaders hand out hats, T-shirts, and sign autographs for patients at the hospital.

"We are all guilty of taking for granted the opportunities we have before us. I think it's important to make sure we give back to the community around us and use our positions in a positive way for others. I want my players to understand this in life as soon as possible."

Before Clarke College, Harris was a five-year assistant coach at Division III University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. In his time at Ozarks, the program saw the team's most success in more than 10 seasons, having set numerous team records, along with individual hitting and pitching records. In addition to his pitching coach duties, Harris served as the head coach for the Ozarks' junior varsity team, along with serving as the head coach for the Oklahoma Kubs in the Sooner Collegiate League, a summer collegiate league based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. As recruiting coordinator at Ozarks, Harris coached four ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Americans.

Harris earned his master of science degree in administrative studies with emphasis in sport management from Missouri State University.

Harris played his collegiate ball at the University of the Ozarks for two years, where he received Academic All-Conference honors in 2000, while graduating with a bachelor of science degree in social science.

Prior to Ozarks, Harris pitched for the nationally ranked North Arkansas College Pioneers while earning his associate of arts degree.



Aaron Ciaburri Image
COACH PROFILE
Aaron Ciaburri - Assistant Coach - 1st Season

Aaron Ciaburri enters his first season as assistant coach for the Crusaders this season. "Coach Cia" is a recent graduate of Clarke College with a bachelor of arts degree in history. He was a letter winner and hit .333 his senior year including a clutch pinch-hit performance against Waldorf College with a base clearing double. Aaron Ciaburri returns to Clarke after spending two seasons with the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti, Mich, a member of Independent Professional Baseball's Frontier League. Coach Cia will be responsible for the catchers and hitters.

"Aaron has already brought a new enthusiasm and excitement to our program. He has experience working at the professional level of baseball and his knowledge and experience as a former Clarke student-athlete will certainly be beneficial to our young men and to me. Aaron will spend a lot of time working with our hitters and defense, more specifically with our catchers. Being a Clarke alum, he will be able to relate to our players and assist them with all aspects of being a student-athlete at Clarke. I am very excited Coach Cia aboard." Head Baseball Coach Chad Harris on Aaron Ciaburri.


Irving Duran Image
COACH PROFILE
Irving Duran - Assistant Coach - 2nd Season

Irving Duran, a native of Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic, is entering his second year as an assistant coach at Clarke College. Coach Duran works with all areas of the Crusaders' program. Duran played for Clarke and graduated in 2008 with a bachelor of arts degree in computer information systems. Coach Duran's career highlight came during his senior year when he went 4-for-4 at the plate and had 4 RBIs in a 4-3 win against in-town rival Loras College.

Coach Duran is currently working on his masters degree in management information systems from the University of Phoenix and is set to graduate in August. He also teaches computer classes part-time at Northeast Iowa Community College.

Coach Harris on Coach Duran: "Irving has been a great addition to our staff. From his time as a player to currently as a coach, he has proven to be one of the most selfless, reliable people I have ever met. His knowledge of the game goes far beyond his years and his ability to relate to our student-athletes is tremendous."


Dan Spain Image
COACH PROFILE
Dan Spain - Student Assistant - 1st Season