Erik Grafton named the 20th head coach in University of Dallas baseball history, now entering his ninth season at the helm in 2026.
Since taking over the program in 2019, Grafton has brought a steady and committed leadership style, emphasizing player development, academic achievement, and community engagement. His 2019 debut season saw the Crusaders post an 18-21 record — their best win total and winning percentage since 2013.
The 2020 season was off to a promising 8-8 start before being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Dallas posted a 12-18 overall mark and an 8-11 record in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play, finishing fifth — their highest conference placement since 2016 — and closing the year with a 6-1 road trip. That same season, Joe Vondrachek earned All-SCAC First Team honors at third base, while Ethan Mann (relief pitcher) and Conrad Voss (starting pitcher) were named to the All-SCAC Second Team. The team was also recognized with the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award.
In 2022, the Crusaders went 9-28 (3-18 SCAC), followed by a 15-24 overall record (6-15 SCAC) in 2023. Grafton guided a strong bounce-back season in 2024, leading the team to a 21-15 overall record and a 9-11 mark in conference play. The 2025 campaign saw a rebuilding year, with the Crusaders finishing 8-27 (8-22 SCAC).
UT Tyler
Prior to Dallas, Grafton served six seasons as an assistant coach at UT Tyler, helping the Patriots to four ASC Championships and recruiting multiple All-Conference, All-Region, and an All-American athlete.
Personal
Beyond the field, Grafton has made community involvement a cornerstone of the program, organizing service projects with organizations like Special Olympics, Miracle League, Catholic Charities, Readers 2 Leaders, and the annual “Blue Christmas” event with Irving Police and Fire Departments.
He previously coached at Conway High School (AR) and volunteered at the University of Central Arkansas, where he completed his master’s degree.
A former collegiate catcher and infielder at Hendrix College, Grafton was an SCAC All-Academic honoree and has built a coaching career rooted in excellence, accountability, and mentorship.
