Peter Stark

Bio

Peter Stark became an assistant/pitching coach for McLennan Baseball in 2021 after spending three seasons with the program as a volunteer assistant. During his time as a volunteer, Stark worked as the assistant pitching and bullpen coach, while directing the strength and conditioning program for the Highlanders.

In his first season with the Highlanders in 2018, the squad finished in second place in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) and the Region V Tournament.

In 2019, the Highlanders opened the season ranked third in the NJCAA Preseason Poll and remained in the top 10 throughout the season, working to a 24-8 record for another second-place finish in the NTJCAC. The Highlanders shined at the Region V Tournament, advancing to the championship game once again. McLennan fought hard against New Mexico in the championship game and ended the season with an overall record of 42-17.

The Highlanders were eyeing a regional championship and world series berth in 2020. The squad started the season on fire, amassing a 19-5 overall record and were 5-1 in conference play when the pandemic forced the cancellation of the season by the NJCAA.

2021 was a banner year for the Highlanders. The squad notched a 27-7 record in NTJCAC play, went undefeated in the Region V North Tournament and the Region V Super Regional to earn a berth in the JUCO World Series. The Highlanders won all five games in Grand Junction to claim the second national title in program history and the first since 1983. McLennan ended the season on a 23-game winning streak to claim the title and finish with an overall record of 47-16.

In 2022, the Highlanders once again claimed the NTJCAC Championship, with a record of 28-4, and the Region V North Championship, earning a return trip to the JUCO World Series, finishing the season with an overall record of 50-13-1. The team featured five all-conference selections including the Co-Pitchers of the Year Wyatt Cheney and Will Carsten. Cheney and Carsten led the pitching staff, under the guidance of Stark to a team ERA of 3.88 ranking 11th nationally. Cheney claimed All-American honors and was drafted in the 10th round by the Baltimore Orioles.

The Highlanders finished in second place in the NTJCAC in 2023 with a 22-10 record and ended the season in the Region V Tournament with an overall record of 40-18, the eighth consecutive year with 40 wins or more. Seven Highlanders were named all-conference selections, seven earned CSC Academic All-District^® honors and 18 were named to the NJCAA’s All-Academic Teams. The pitching staffed finished third in the country with a 3.38 staff ERA with three pitchers earning all-conference honors.

In 2024, the Highlanders once again finished in second place in the NTJCAC with a 23-9 record before going 4-0 in the Region V Tournament to secure the regional championship and a berth in the JUCO World Series. The season came to an end after two games in Grand Junction with a record of 43-19. Once again seven players earned all-conference awards, 12 were academic all-conference selections, 12 were named to the NJCAA All-Academic Teams, and the squad was named an NJCAA Academic Team Honorable Mention selection. Two Highlanders received CSC Academic All-District^® honors, and Aidan Kuni was also named to the 2023-24 CSC Academic All-America® Men’s At-Large Team. Highlander catcher Mac Rose was selected by the Texas Rangers on the final day of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.

The Highlanders finished in third place in the NTJCAC in 2025 with a 23-9 record, went 2-0 Midland in the regional, and 3-0 in the super regional held in Odessa to advance to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction for the second consecutive year. The squad went 3-2 in the national tournament, falling to Walters State in the semifinal round to end the season with an overall record of 48-18. Sophomores shortstop Sherman Johnson, outfielder Owen Smith, and catcher Deiten Lachance were named All-Tournament selections, and Johnson earned the Jay W. Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player award. Lachance was also named an NJCAA Second-Team All-American. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Alex Wallace was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays on the second day of the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft in the 15th round with the 447th pick.

Stark holds an array of coaching experience from the high school and college levels. He began his coaching career at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport, Louisiana. From 2010 to 2011, Stark was the primary assistant to the varsity baseball team while also serving as the head coach of the junior varsity and freshmen teams. He moved to Las Vegas in 2012 to work as the assistant head coach and pitching coach at Bishop Gorman High School. He held that role until 2014 before transitioning into the role of strength and conditioning coach for 2015-16.

Stark returned to Louisiana in 2016 where he co-founded and served as head coach of the Bossier City Expos, a select baseball organization for 15-18-year olds. In August 2017, Stark was named the assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator for Bossier Parish Community College. During his time with the Cavaliers, he coached infield and team defense, and directed the strength and conditioning program for position players. He also performed administrative and operational tasks such as class registration for players, recruiting, program finances, travel arrangements, and stats.

In addition to his work at MCC, Stark is the head coach for the Texas Twelve Baseball 17U high school summer baseball team and a strength and conditioning coach.

Stark graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in May 2011. He was a member of the Centenary baseball team from 2006-08 and an Academic All-Conference selection. He and his wife, Anne Marie, were married in June 2025.

Coaching experience
2021-present: Assistant coach, McLennan Community College
2019-present: Head coach/strength & conditioning coach, Texas Twelve Baseball
2018-21: Volunteer assistant coach, McLennan Community College
2016-18: Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, Bossier Parish Community College
2017-18: Co-founder/head coach, Bossier City Expos
2012-16: Assistant head pitching/strength & conditioning coach, Bishop Gorman High School
2010-11: Assistant head coach, Loyola College Prep

Playing experience
2006-08: Centenary College

Education
2011: Bachelor’s in business administration, Centenary College