Assistant Coach Ray Skjold enters his fifth year with the FDU baseball program. He serves as the programs Recruiting Coordinator and is responsible for working with the catchers and hitters. He is also responsible for producing scouting reports on opponents, handling the baseball operations of the program, and running high school prospect camps at Fairleigh Dickinson.
Ray Skjold played a major role in recruitment and development of the 2015 team which resulted in the FDU baseball program regaining its status as a contender in the Northeast Conference. The 2015 team qualified for the Northeast Conference tournament and knocked off #1 seed Bryant in the opening round. The 2015 team saw three position players garnish all Northeast Conference accolades at the conclusion of the regular season.
In 2014 Skjold was instrumental in helping the FDU catchers and hitters. The FDU catchers threw out more runners than any other team in the Northeast Conference in the regular season (27). Skjold’s catchers were also second in the NEC in SBA% (.698). The offense also made significant improvements under Skjold’s guidance. FDU improved in four main offensive categories from the 2013 season including team batting average, runs, RBI’s and home runs.
Head Coach Gary Puccio promoted Assistant Coach Ray Skjold at the start of the 2013 season. At the end of the year Skjold was officially named the programs Recruiting Coordinator.
In 2012, Skjold made an immediate impact on the program in his first season with the Knights. He coached the catchers to an improvement in every defensive statistical category from the previous season. Additionally, Skjold was also responsible for managing the FDU bullpen, which recorded a Northeast Conference-leading 14 saves. These improvements were instrumental in helping FDU get back to the NEC Tournament for the first time since 1999, as FDU would finish with the third most wins in single-season history (25).
"Ray Skjold has already made significant contributions to our program, and I am sure he will continue to be one of the main reasons for the program's success,” Head Coach Gary Puccio said. “Ray was so instrumental last season in Pat McClure becoming, in my opinion, the top defensive catcher in the NEC.”
Prior to FDU, Skjold served as an assistant coach at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa. He was responsible for the daily operations of the baseball program and also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During his time at Arcadia, Skjold was also an instructor at All-Star Baseball Academy in Warminster, Pa. He was involved in teaching the fundamentals of baseball to players at the amateur level and was the head coach for All Star's 16-U team for two seasons.
Skjold was a four-year player at Post University in Waterbury, Conn., where he was a versatile player who primarily caught but contributed innings on the mound, as well as playing first base. During his senior year, the Eagles were runners up in the CACC and were ranked as high as No. 3 in the region. Skjold graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration and a minor in sport management.
Ray Skjold has been invited to instruct in several baseball camps around the country. He has served as lead instructor at camps such as Under Armor top 96, Time to Sign Sports Match Up Camp, Mapelzone Sports Institute’s “Road to the Show,” Best in Class Virginia College Coaches Camp, All Star Baseball Academy’s College Coaches Camp, Frozen Ropes College Bound, East Coast Conditioning’s College Coaches Camp, and the B2B College Coaches Camp. In addition to serving as an instructor Skjold also runs his own camps at FDU under the North Jersey Baseball Camps LLC. Skjold’s High School prospect camps have helped many high school players improve upon their skills while learning more about the college recruiting process.
A tireless worker, Skjold continues to improve himself professionally. He is currently is enrolled in FDU’s masters program and is seeking to obtain his Masters in Sports Administration. Ray is an active member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and has attended its annual convention the past five years.
In addition to coaching and playing, Skjold also has a background in umpiring. He served as an umpire at the high school level and has experience umpiring in the North Jersey Valley Central Scholastic League, as well as NJ Senior Babe Ruth.
Skjold is a local North Jersey product, who hails from Ramsey, N.J. and is a graduate of Paramus Catholic High School, where he was a First Team All-NNJIL baseball selection after his senior season.
