IUP Baseball Alumni Feature: Article 3
Dennis Miscik, Retired Health and Physical Education Teacher, Athletic Director and Professional Pitcher
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1973-76)
As a high school athlete, he excelled in both football and baseball. After his senior year, he had to make a difficult choice: to accept a football scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Pittsburgh or accept a minor league baseball contract after being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds to play first base. Ultimately, he chose to attend Pitt and play football. He decided before his freshman year at Pitt that he wanted to continue his baseball career, transferring to IUP before beginning the fall semester.
Dennis, who was a graduate of IUP with a major in Health and Physical Education, was a health and physical education teacher at his alma mater Mount Pleasant High School for 30 years, retiring in 2011. During his time there, he was an assistant coach in football along with head baseball coach, where he coached for 19 seasons and captured 10 WPIAL section championships, while finishing section runner-up in five others. During his time as coach, he saw more than 85 of his student-athletes continue their careers at the collegiate level, something that he takes a pride in. Of those student-athletes, 19 competed at the Division I level while 35 at the Division II level. He also served as the athletic director for Mount Pleasant his final four years prior to his retirement.
This is where the "Misick tradition" began at IUP and throughout the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)…
If you are a follower of IUP baseball and the PSAC, the last name of "Miscik" will be a familiar one. His brother Bob ('80, IUP), who is also an IUP Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, and sons Adam ('07, IUP) and Ryan ('05, Shippensburg) are also a part of the IUP/PSAC family tradition. Dennis attributes a lot of his success to his older brother Tom, who was a major influence on his life both as an athlete and a coach. Tom was always there for the both he and his brother Bob, always giving great advice and was the one who listened to their concerns throughout their careers.
Misick, who was a 2000 inductee into the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame, saw a very successful career at IUP playing for head coach Arch Moore, who Dennis says was a major influence in his life both academically and athletically. Although he had much success at the collegiate level, it wasn't always easy for him, suffering from an elbow surgery during his sophomore year, causing him to miss most of that season. That injury did not set him back or ruin his determination to be one of the best of all time at IUP. Misick was offered a professional contract after his junior year by the St. Louis Cardinals (from scout Tommy Thompson), but turned it down to return to IUP for his senior year.
During his career, he never lost more than two games in a single season while winning 15 total. His name still remains in the record book to this day in top 10 categories in career wins (15), strikeouts (161), and earned run average (1.94). During his senior year, Miscik finished the season with a 0.53 earned run average, which led the nation in NAIA final statistics. That year he surrendered three earned runs, posting a 6-2 record on the mound.
Following his senior season, he was drafted a second time by the Houston Astros in the 1976 draft. After the completion of his first season in professional baseball, Misick was named to the Astros All-Rookie team. He pitched four seasons in class AAA for the Astros before being traded to the Philadelphia in 1980. After spending two seasons with the Phillies, Miscik signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1982, finishing his professional career with the Pirates. He also had the opportunity to play winter ball in Puerto Rico on three separate occasions.
Misick, who is now retired, enjoys his time with family along with hunting, fishing, boating and traveling around the country.
Anthony Rebyanski: You have a very successful resume in baseball as a coach at Mount Pleasant, with over 250 wins. You also had over 85 former student-athletes earn the opportunity to play collegiate baseball, including both of your son's. As a teacher and coach, it's a great feeling to see your students and/or athletes have success in the classroom and field of play. What do those particular numbers mean to you personally?
Denny Miscik: I have never been one to get caught up in numbers. I had very good assistant coaches and very good players who worked very hard to earn what they accomplished both on the field and in the classroom.
AR: Athletes are looked at differently in the professional world, in a good way of course. How did being an athlete help you as a teacher professionally?
DM: Being an athlete gave me the confidence I needed in the professional world. I was used to being on time, being prepared and working hard. That is what athletes teaches you as a student-athlete.
AR: During your senior year of high school you had two major decisions to make as a young kid. Why did you decide to choose Pitt for football and why did you decide to transfer to IUP for baseball before the start of your freshman year?
DM: I liked each sport equally. Pitt made me a great offer and it was close to my home town. I transferred to IUP because I thought that I could make a career out of baseball. Another reason was because I knew head coach Arch Moore played for the New York Yankees.
AR: You helped IUP win the conference championship your freshman year to jump start your collegiate career, finishing the season with a win/loss record of 5-2. In your final season, you posted a 0.53 ERA, which is almost unheard of in today's baseball world, while going 6-2 on the mound. Which season was most memorable and why?
DM: I can direct this question two ways. First from a personal standpoint, my senior season was more memorable because of the final outcome that I had. From an overall team standpoint, my freshman year also stood out because we had a lot of success overall. Both of these years for me was great to be a part of.
AR: You mentioned that former head coach Arch Moore was a major influence in your life both academically and athletically. Elaborate on what coach Moore was like as a coach and how he got the most out of you personally.
DM: Coach Moore was extremely helpful to me as a student-athlete. He always stressed the importance of academics and he was a fair, yet firm coach. He was very knowledgeable of the game of baseball. He gave me great advice during my years at IUP. He was someone who helped us when situations would arise.
AR: It is very difficult in the baseball world to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft or offered a professional contract. To have it happen twice is a blessing. Through your eyes as an athlete, did you ever think you would be offered a professional contract?
DM: I got drafted twice and was offered a professional contract a third time. I did think I would be drafted because I prepared myself that way. That is what I wanted to do and tried to train that way to put myself in that position. I never took what I did for granted, but it was something that I worked hard to accomplish for a long time.
AR: Along with your brother Bob, both your son's played in the PSAC. Adam played here at IUP while Ryan attended Shippensburg. As a father, what makes you most proud of them to choose the same path as you during their collegiate athletic careers?
DM: I am extremely proud of both of my sons. Them playing baseball was just icing on the cake for me. I am glad they both received an education from great institutions and that they had the opportunity to play the sport they loved collegiately.
AR: We all know that as an athlete, we are not able to "stay put" once our playing days are over. Being retired from teaching and coaching, what do you do in your spare time that allows you to stay ambitious?
DM: My spare time offers a lot. My wife and I enjoy the outdoors, including fishing, boating, hiking, biking, golfing and more. It is what we do daily. We live half of the year in Florida and the other half back in our home town of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. We absolutely love the great outdoors.
AR: What is your most memorable IUP baseball playing experience?
DM: I was fortunate to have many memorable moments as a student-athlete during my time at IUP. The most memorable for me though would have been a 2-0 shutout victory over Pitt.
AR: What is your most memorable experience in professional baseball?
DM: All seven seasons that I was able to play professionally were fun, but my rookie season was the most memorable. Making the All-Star team was an added bonus.
AR: If you could give every athlete one piece of advice, what would you want to tell them?
DM: I would tell them to follow their dream. If they want to play at a high level, know that there is a lot of sacrifice involved. But also have fun with it each and every day.
What they are saying about Dennis Miscik:
"Growing up with my dad as a professional athlete and baseball coach wasn't always easy. He instilled in me at an early age that commitment was everything. If you were going to start something, you were going to finish it out to the every end and to the best of your abilities. I remember in high school a lot of friends would go away on vacations or skip practice due to other activities, but for me it was not an option. He taught me leadership, accountability, ethics, competition, setting goals amongst many other attributes. Looking back as a business owner and entrepreneur, all of the qualities that he taught me translated to my professional career which has helped me become a successful businessman. I am fortunate enough to work with my brother (Ryan) and some of my closest friends; always knowing I can call my parents for advice and guidance just as I did on the baseball diamond. I am very thankful for all my dad has taught me throughout life thus far."
~Adam Miscik, son of Dennis and former IUP baseball student-athlete
"Being at Shippensburg, playing against IUP and my brother always had a lot of excitement and build up. He and I are both very competitive and wanted to come out on the winning end. Having my parents in the stands cheering us both on was something I will always cherish. My dad had a huge influence on me growing up. He is someone that I look up to and have a great deal of respect for. The times he and I spent together fishing, hunting and on the baseball diamond will forever be cherished. He taught me to be humble, work hard and to treat people with respect. These are all things that I still carry with me to this day."
~Ryan Miscik, son of Dennis and former Shippensburg baseball student-athlete
"Dennis Miscik was a special player and to this day, a very special person. As a student-athlete, coach, teacher and parent, he has always been extremely professional in all he has done. Dennis is a great friend and loyal supporter of IUP and the IUP baseball family."
~Tom Kennedy, former IUP baseball assistant and head coach
"The first time I met Dennis was at our first fall intrasquad game my senior year. He threw two fastballs by me in the blink of an eye and I think the catcher was throwing the ball back to him when I finally decided to swing the bat. On the third pitch, Dennis hung a curve and I hit a single over the second baseman. That was the only hit I had off of him! I am truly glad to say that he was on my team. He was a super competitor on the field and a great person off the field. I was priviledged to have had the opportunity to play on the same field as him."
~Jay Johnston, former IUP baseball teammate and head coach
