A former Bronc pitcher will be the fourth member of The University of Texas-Pan American baseball coaching staff this spring.

Ed Marko, who completed his collegiate baseball career at Texas-Pan American last spring, will serve as a student assistant coach while beginning his coaching career this spring. Marko will help Assistant Coach Kiki Trevino with the pitching staff, as well as assisting in other areas.

A native of Chardon, Ohio, Marko joined the Broncs for the 2001 season after transferring from Cleveland State University. In two seasons at UTPA, Marko appeared in 28 games, starting nine and working 84 1/3 innings. Marko walked just 37 batters, and earned victories against Troy State, Centenary and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He signed last year with the Cook County Cheetahs of the Frontier League, and appeared in one game last summer. The 2002 recipient of the Al Ogletree Scholarship, Marko is the fourth Bronc to receive that honor.

A high school star, Marko earned All-State honors as a senior at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He was named first team All-North Coast Conference, a Cleveland City All-Star, and was named to all-star teams by the Plain Dealer and the News Herald. He owns the career record for victories at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, played for the Cleveland Northcoast team that finished fourth in the nation, and also played for the Youngstown Astro Falcons.

Marko will assist the coaching staff this spring while finishing his Bachelor's Degree in General Studies. He hopes to pitch in the Frontier League again this summer, after he graduates.

"It's a great opportunity for me to learn from Coach Gawlik, Coach Johnson and Coach Trevino," said Marko. "After I finish playing, I would like to get into coaching, preferably on the college level. Coach Gawlik has brought a lot of new things to the program, and I think we will do really well."

"Being the recipient of the Al Ogletree Scholarship will allow Ed to complete his degree, and also assist the coaching staff," said Gawlik. "He will have an opportunity to gain coaching experience, and make a contribution towards the team.