Anthony Silkwood enters the 2023 season in his second year in charge at Parkland College. In his first season, the Cobras went 31-22-2, including 17-14-1 in conference. Under Silkwood, 16 players have moved onto 4-year institutions, with three going to the Big Ten Conference, and four players were awarded with All-Conference: Nick Gregory (Ball State), Mitch Mueller (Utah Valley), Cole Evans (Nebraska), and Keenan Taylor (Purdue). For the 2022-2023 season Coach Silkwood and company, recruited and signed over 33 new players to bring the total number from 28 to 40.
Silkwood spent the fall of 2021 with the University of Illinois Springfield and served as the team's pitching coach. During his time at UIS he assisted in the rehab and continued development of Quinn Gudaitis who was selected MLB DRAFT in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2022.
Silkwood was a member of the Louisville baseball team in 2021. He made a pair of relief appearances for the Cardinals. He was a part of a program that went 28-22 overall, and 16-16 in ACC action.
Prior to going to Louisville, Silkwood pitched at John Wood Community College in 2018, and was a member of the Parkland College team from 2019-20. He went 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA at John Wood, and pitched six innings in 2020 at Parkland. He struck out seven batters there and allowed just two hits.
Silkwood was a sergeant tank commander in the Marines Corps for 5 years and was stationed in Camp Lejeune North Carolina. In 2014 Silkwood deployed to the Middle East. Stops included Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During the deployment, was responsible for vehicle checkpoints and a security team.
Silkwood is originally from East Alton, Ill., and attended Marquette Catholic High School. He has spent the past three summers coaching the newly created Yard Goats travel baseball team in central Illinois. Silkwood is the son of Joe Silkwood, who was a standout player, coach, and minor leaguer for the St.Louis Cardinals.Â
