Having given nearly half a century to UT Arlington – 48 years, to be exact – John Mocek has touched every corner of Mavericks' athletics and is one of the most beloved and popular staff members in UTA history.
A 1977 Dean's List graduate from UTA, Mocek arrived on campus from his native Chicago in 1973. He lettered four years on the baseball team, playing first base and designated hitter, and as a senior was named Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference.
Additionally, at the time of his graduation, Mocek held program records for most home runs and RBIs in a conference season, along with possessing the UTA record for RBIs in a conference game.
Following his graduation, Mocek served as the department's Business Manager from 1978-82 before returning to the diamond. There, for the next 14 seasons from 1983-96, Mocek was as an assistant coach and 3rd-base coach under Marvin "Butch" McBroom before eventually moving back into administration.
In that administrative role over the next 2+ decades, Mocek served in nearly every possible capacity with UTA Athletics. He managed events and facilities, served as the ticket manager and promotions director, announced events via public address, radio and television and oversaw operations. He even maintained fields, worked as an equipment manager and assisted with sports-information duties.
From the mid-90s until late 2010s, Mocek climbed the administrative ranks from Assistant AD to eventually his final post as Senior Associate AD for Finance and Administration in 2018. Despite being 'retired', Mocek still to this day serves as the department's unofficial historian and archivist, and has been a mainstay in the broadcast booth for Maverick baseball on the radio and ESPN+.
In addition to his responsibilities with the UTA Athletic Department, Mocek served as a member of the university faculty, teaching advanced techniques of coaching baseball and the history and business of baseball in UTA's Department of Kinesiology. Prior to his time at UTA, Mocek taught at the Arlington School District. He also served as an official scorer for Major League Baseball for 14 seasons with the Texas Rangers.
In April of 2019, UTA Athletics unveiled the John & Pattye Mocek 3rd Base Patio at Clay Gould Ballpark where Mocek and his wife, Pattye, were the dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The large event space will continue to serve visitors of Mocek's beloved baseball program for years to come, hosting parties and gatherings for patrons who will enter the patio by passing the commemorative 'John & Pattye Mocek 3rd Base Patio' welcome brick.
Mocek is the only person in UTA baseball history who has put on the Maverick uniform more than 1,000 times as both a player and as a coach; in total he is one of just three people who has donned the blue and orange on 1,000+ occurrences with the other being current head coach
Darin Thomas and 2004 Hall of Honor inductee Butch McBroom.
