Ryan Folmar
Sixth Season

Quickly becoming one of the nation’s top hitting instructors, Ryan Folmar begins his sixth season as an assistant coach at ORU.

Under Folmar’s direction, the Golden Eagles’ bats led ORU to its 11th consecutive conference title and NCAA Regional bid last season. ORU placed in the top- 30 nationally in eight batting categories, including runs (11th-524), doubles (12th-144), batting average (13th-.330), hits (15th-713), runs per game (16th-8.5), slugging percentage (21st-.510), walks (21st-293) and home runs (30th-77).   

Despite playing a very tough schedule and facing some of the best program’s in the nation, Folmer guided the 2007 Golden Eagles to a .300 team batting average.

In 2006, the Golden Eagles again were one of the top offensive squads in college baseball. The Golden Eagles ranked among the nation’s top-35 teams in several categories, including:  batting average (9th-.327), runs per game (16th-7.9), doubles per game (9th-2.33), slugging percentage (14th-.495), and home runs per game (33rd-1.04).

Two of his proteges, catcher Andy Bouchie and infielder Tim Torres, enjoyed career years at the plate and paralayed their success into professional careers. Bouchie, a junior catcher who batted .377-12-54, was a seventh-round draft pick by Milwaukee, and Torres -- who hit 10 home runs one year after connecting for just three -- went in the 23rd round to Houston.

Folmar, the former Oklahoma State standout, made an immediate impact during his  first ORU season in 2004, directing a Golden Eagles offense which ranked among the nation’s best.

With Folmar taking a hands-on approach to hitting instruction, the Golden Eagles batted .323 as a team in 2004, ranking 18th nationally. ORU’s 2004 batting average was a 23-point improvement over 2003 and the Golden Eagles’ highest team batting average since the 2000 squad batted .324 collectively.

Folmar made a positive impact on several Golden Eagles in 2004, most notably first baseman/catcher Josh Lex. After hitting .278 with four home runs and 40 RBI as a junior, Lex batted .330 with 11 home runs and 67 RBI as a senior, earning first-team all-conference honors. Lex was also drafted in the 28th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

In addition to teaching and instructing ORU’s hitters Folmar also coaches ORU’s catchers and serves as third base coach. He also handles many of the baseball program’s administrative duties as well as assisting with recruiting efforts.

Folmar joined the Golden Eagles after spending five seasons (1999-2003) as Director of Baseball Operations at Oklahoma State. At OSU Folmar handled various administrative duties, including the Cowboy baseball camps and served for three years as the color voice on OSU radio broadcasts (2000-02).

“Ryan Folmar is a good, young coach who brings a lot of different qualities to our program”, said head coach Rob Walton. “He is an outstanding worker and has a very bright coaching future in front of him. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our staff.”       

A four-year letterwinner at OSU from 1994-97, Folmar earned honorable mention All-Big 8 honors as a sophomore in 1995, and helped lead the Cowboys to the1996 College World Series. Following his playing days at OSU, the Chambersburg, Pa. native spent two seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization.

Folmar and his wife Kay Lynn have three children -- Kade (7), Reese (5) and Luke (five months).