Jeff Kunkel was born and raised just south of Chicago, Illinois. As he grew up, Kunkel enjoyed watching Chicago sports; Michael Jordan, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears. At Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois, he racked up three letters for baseball, playing catcher, and two for golf. Four years later, he found himself as the leader and a key component to a Michigan Wolverine baseball team that would experience back to back NCAA Tournaments.

In his freshman season in Ann Arbor, Jeff was red shirted by sixth season coach Geoff Zahn but played in the summer Great Lakes League for the Lima Locos. He started 11 games, ten as catcher, in his sophomore season with the Wolverines. The 6 foot, 198 pound sophomore was used for the first time in his career in a pinch-hit situation against Armstrong Atlantic State. His first career hit came in the fourth inning of his first career start against Saint Leo. Kunkel finished the year with only eight hits but capitalized on his opportunities by driving in five to aid Michigan in their 14-17 season under Chris Harrison’s single season leadership.

During his junior year, Kunkel was under the orchestration of his third coach at Michigan, Rich Maloney. His numbers improved dramatically from his sophomore season including a .095 increase in his batting average. He also had 29 more runs batted in, five of which were game-winning, and 45 more hits. Jeff hit his first career homerun, one of five on the season, against Louisiana-Lafayette. His offensive game wasn’t the only thing about Kunkel that dazzled first year head coach, Rich Maloney. His fielding percentage was astounding; .978 with only seven errors as the starting catcher.  

Jeff Kunkel's senior season drew national recognition as he was named to the All-Big Ten second team and a semi-finalist to the nation’s top catcher honor, the Johnny Bench Award. He hit the peak of his career as a Wolverine by notching 73 hits and 45 runs batted in. His fielding percentage increased to .984 with only five errors. He also decreased his strikeout total by five, an apparent increase in his understanding of the game. Kunkel co-led the Big Ten in pick-offs with seven and threw out 46% of runners in attempted steals. The switch-hitting senior also ranked third on the team with a .384 batting average. At the season’s end, Rich Maloney recognized him as a critical element of Michigan’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999 and handed him the Ray Fisher Award for Michigan’s Most Valuable Player for 2005.

As a fifth year senior, Jeff Kunkel entered his final season with the Wolverines. Awards and recognition came frequently for the co-captain. His stats were surpassed only by his leadership and poise. He was named All-Big Ten First Team catcher and All-Big Ten Tournament catcher. He yet again received the Ray Fisher award from the team and won the Ted Sizemore award for best fielder for the second straight year. He ranked second on the team with a .335 average and finished with 77 hits and 28 RBIs. His defensive percentage soared to a career best with only two errors and a .995 fielding percentage. Jeff played in nearly every game, starting in 53, and played in every Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament game. In the Big Ten Tournament, he hit .333 and had hits in all six (2005 and 2006) of Michigan’s Atlanta Regional games.

Kunkel finished his career with 211 career hits which ranks 10^th on Michigan’s All-Time list. As Jeff Kunkel moves onto Major League Baseball, drafted by the Detroit Tigers before the 2006 season, his legacy will live on in the to-be renovated Ray Fisher Stadium. Rich Maloney deserves much of the credit for the Wolverines’ recent success, but as Michigan fans certainly realize, the two year starting catcher has become a legend at Michigan.