University of Minnesota Duluth baseball alum Tyler Erickson, minor league pitcher Kevin Folman and former Duluth Huskies manager Daniel Hersey have joined the Bulldog staff as assistant coaches for the 2018-19 season.

"We are thrilled to add these three to our coaching staff," said UMD Head Coach Bob Rients. "Each have accomplished undeniable success within the sport and will be positive mentors for our student-athletes as they develop on and off the field.  Coach Hersey will lead the pitching staff and be supported by Coach Folman while Coach Erickson will handle the hitting instruction.  I'm excited to see the positive impact these three assistant coaches -- along with Coach Kiel Kreidermacher, will have on our program."

A native of Alexandria, Minn, Erickson started four years at shortstop for the Bulldogs and exited the UMD program in 2011 as its all-time leader in both hits (237, a mark that has since been eclipsed) and defensive assists (458). As a junior, he topped the Bulldogs in hitting with a sizzling .452 batting average en route to attaining Daktronics All-America (honorable mention), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Central Region (second team), Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Region (second team), Daktronics All-Central Region (first team), Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Gold Glove (second team) and All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (first team) recognition. Erickson also cobbled together a a school-record 29-game hitting streak that spring while playing in 56 outings (another program mark).

Folman, a native of Hermantown, Minn., closed the books on a rewarding four-year career at North Dakota State University this past May, posting the second-most saves (15) in program history. The two-time Bison team captain and 2018 All-Summit League second team selection went on to pitch for Sioux Falls Canaries. After a somewhat short stay with that American Association of Independent Professional Baseball club, Folman had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox on June 25. He subsequently was assigned to the Arizona Leagues' White Sox before moving on to the Great Falls Voyagers (Pioneer League). In his eight appearances with those two rookie league franchises, Folman made seven starts and went 2-3 with a 4.35 earned run average in 39 1/3 innings of work.  During the summers of 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, he provided his pitching services to the Duluth Huskies and in 2017 was selected as a Northwoods League All-Star. A Summit League All-Academic Team pick as a junior and a senior, Folman graduated from North Dakota State in May 2018 with a B.S. degree in mathematics education.

Hersey has assembled an impressive coaching resume over the past dozen years. He served as both the manager (2010-17) and director of baseball operations (2011-17) with the Duluth Huskies, directing them to Northwood League playoff appearances in 2013 and 2015. Prior to coming to the Twin Ports, Hersey spent time in an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator role at the College of Central Florida (2009-11) and Saint Leo University (2005-08). He also was the pitching coordinator for the All-American Prospects travel team out of Vero Beach, Fla., during the summer of 2009 and the manager for the Coastal Plain League's Wilmington Sharks one year earlier. Hersey's collegiate playing experience includes stints at the University of West Georgia (2003-04) and Rollins College (2000-03). Last spring, he assisted with the Proctor (Minn.) High School baseball program.

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