GRCC has had many successful coaches help lead our athletic programs, with several continuing that success at the next level. Wally King and Dan Skirka have both recently been named head coaches at Division I institutions. 

Dan Skirka, former Raider assistant baseball coach was recently named the head coach of Division I Murray State.  Skirka had a decorated collegiate career as a student-athlete. He began his career at Kellogg Community College. He was named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, served as a team captain, and helped the Bruins to a 30 game winning streak on the way to a conference championship. Skirka then transferred to Grand Valley State and finished his career as All-Region, first team All-GLIAC, as well as second-team all-region from Daktronics. He then graduated from GVSU with a degree in group social studies.

After his decorated playing career, and finishing his degree, Skirka's coaching career began at GRCC in 2007-08. During his time at GRCC, Skirka helped the Raiders advance to the world series. Just recently, Sikrka spent four seasons at Walters State Community College, where he was the recruiting coordinator, and led his team to the world championship game this past season and finished with an overall record of 60-8. Additionally, Skirka also spent time working for a season as an assistant coach at Ouachita Baptist.


Wally King is another former Raider assistant who has recently landed a Division I head coaching job. He was recently named the head Softball coach at Furman University, where he spent this past season as the interim head coach. Before beginning his coaching career, King had a very extensive playing career. He competed on two of the world's top five teams. Between 1998-2002, King was the starting center fielder for the Midland Explorers, the fourth-ranked team in the world, and he spent 2003 with their third-ranked Waterloo Hallman Twins. He was a first-team All-American, as well as state and national tournament MVP with the Kamphuis Pipeline in 1997. In 1996, King helped lead the Midland Metros to the national championship. King also played collegiate baseball for Hope College in 1985-88 where he earned bachelor's degree in both sociology and psychology.

After his decorated playing career, King began his coaching career at Grand Rapids Community College as an assistant Softball coach and the head recruiter. During his three seasons, he helped develop Raider softball into a national title contender, with back-to-back World Series appearances. King's coaching resume also includes working as an assistant coach at Trinue University, a volunteer assistant coach for Division I Furman University, a volunteer assistant coach at Division I Bowling Green University, associate head coach at Division I Syracuse University from 2008-13, as well as the head softball coach at NCAA Division II Ferris State University.