Mike Billek returns to the Knights as a student assistant coach for the 2008 season. Below is a recap of his career in a Black & Gold uniform.
As a Junior (2005): Started 13 of 16 games he appeared in, posting a 4.07 ERA and a 4-3 record ... Also notched one save ... Amassed 84 strikeouts in 90.2 innings of work ... Worked at least 5.0 innings 13 times during the season ... Had a season-long 8.0 inning performance at Belmont (April 17), not allowing a run and striking out eight ... Fanned 12 batters in 6.1 innings vs. Siena (March 5).
As a Sophomore (2004): Had an 0-1 record with a 6.12 ERA in nine appearances ... made first appearance of the year at No. 13 Clemson (May 7) ... pitched 2.0 innings, allowed one run and struck out three ... earned second career save and first of the season at No. 13 Clemson to close out the series ... recorded the game[apos]s final outs to preserve a 3-2 UCF win ... started and pitched well at No. 6 Notre Dame (May 19) ... tied a career-high with 6.0 vs. the Fighting Irish ... allowed three runs on three hits with four strikeouts ... tough-luck loser vs. Troy State in A-Sun Tournament (May 28) ... yielded just two earned runs through seven innings before tiring in the eighth ... left with 7-4 lead, only to have the bullpen allow five more runs to spoil the win ... career-high 7.1 innings and six strikeouts vs. the Trojans ... 1.1 innings of shutout relief with two strikeouts in the NCAA Championships vs. Oklahoma State (June 4).
As a Freshman (2003): Appeared in 11 games including two starts ... 2-0 with a 4.55 ERA in 27.2 innings of work ... 31 strikeouts and just nine walks ... made his collegiate debut vs. Western Kentucky (Feb. 15), earning his first save at UCF ... tossed 1.2 innings allowing three hits with one strikeout ... pitched 3.1 innings of relief vs. East Carolina (Feb. 22) with three strikeouts ... turned in the best outing of his young career vs. Monmouth (Feb. 28) ... pitched a career-best 4.2 innings as he yielded just one hit and no runs with a personal-best eight strikeouts ... the outing was the best by any UCF reliever this season ... was dominant in his first career start vs. Toledo (Mar. 11) ... tossed 6.0 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks for the win ... improved to 2-0 on the year after pitching 6.0 for the win vs. Columbia (Mar. 18) ... limited the Lions to two runs on four hits with six strikeouts ... fanned five batters in two innings of relief at South Florida (Apr. 1) ... gave up five hits in 2.1 innings including a two-run home run in first A-Sun appearance vs. Campbell (Gm. 2, Apr. 5) ... pitched a scoreless inning of relief vs. #15 Florida Atlantic (Gm. 2, Apr. 19).
Prior to UCF: Four-year letterwinner at East Lake High School ... coached by Lee Byers at East Lake ... third-team all-state selection as a senior ... honorable mention all-state pick junior season ... outstanding student-athlete who was also an honor roll member in high school.
Personal: Michael Joseph Billek was born March 4, 1984 in Clearwater, Fla. ... son of Joseph and Pamela Billek.