Clemson head coach Erik Bakich has added one of the most respected young defensive minds in professional baseball to his staff, announcing the hire of Tyler Smarslok as an assistant coach. The hire was finalized October 15 by the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.

Smarslok will coordinate the Tigers’ defense and assist with all aspects of the offense.

“We are thrilled to add Tyler, his wife, Dara, and their growing family to the Clemson baseball family,” Bakich said. “Tyler brings unique coaching experience at the MLB, MiLB and DI levels. We targeted outlier defensive and baserunning coaches who are regarded as the best in the world at what they do, and Tyler’s name repeatedly surfaced.”

Smarslok spent the 2025 season on a major league staff as the Miami Marlins’ first-base coach, infield coach and baserunning coach, then joined the Washington Nationals as field coordinator for 2026. He previously coached in the Minnesota Twins system with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints from 2021-24 and managed the Salt River Rafters to the Arizona Fall League championship in the fall of 2024.

As a player, Smarslok was a four-year starter and all-conference performer at Kean University, where he won a Rawlings National Gold Glove and helped lead three teams to the Division III College World Series.