Dripping Springs ISD Athletic Director Galen Zimmerman and Dripping Springs High School Principal Angela Gamez are thrilled to announce the promotion of Stephen Szkotak to head coach of the Tiger Baseball program.
A 2005 graduate of Dripping Springs High School, Szkotak has served as the Assistant Coach for Tiger Baseball for five years. During his tenure, he has helped lead the Tigers to four state playoff appearances and guided more than 30 players to collegiate baseball careers.
As the program’s pitching coach, Szkotak was named the 2025 Region 8 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA). That season, he helped lead the Tigers to their first district title as a 6A program, a then-school-record 29 wins and a berth in the state semifinals. The Tigers continued that success in 2026 with a second straight state semifinal appearance while setting school records for wins (32) and shutouts (13).
During his playing career at Dripping Springs High School, Szkotak was a First Team All-Centex and All-State selection as a pitcher and third baseman. He continued his playing career for McLennan Community College in Waco, before finishing at Concordia University in Austin. In 2006, he earned American Southwest Conference (ASC) Freshman of the Year accolades and went on to earn ASC All-Conference honors four times.
Following college, Szkotak played professionally for three years with the Big Bend Cowboys in Texas and the Florence Freedom in Kentucky before transitioning to private and collegiate coaching.
Szkotak began his career in public education in 2020 as an assistant coach at Manor High School, where he helped the Mustangs record their most wins in more than 20 seasons.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Concordia University and a Master of Education from Sul Ross State University.
He replaces former head coach Chris Payne, who was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in July.