Paul Komistek will begin his UT career in 2018, coming to Rocky Top to study biomedical engineering and play baseball for the Vols. Academically, he will be following in his father’s footsteps. Dad Richard Komistek is the Fred M. Roddy Professor in MABE and co-director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research.
Paul says his decision to join the Volunteer family was an easy one. “I have grown up around the campus and have fallen in love with it. When I had the opportunity to play here, it was an easy decision.”
Paul believes his father played a large role on his choice of major. He says his dad has always challenged him to push himself in the classroom. With a knowledge of what an engineering career looks like, Paul decided it was the best fit. Richard Komistek shared that the connection between biomedical engineering and sports injury made it even more of a fit for Paul, given his passion for baseball.
Juggling sports and academics can be hard, but Paul was able to get a little advice from one engineering alumni who did it very well. Last year, he sat down with Josh Dobbs, former UT quarterback and aerospace engineering graduate, and got some tips on how to do his very best on the field and in the classroom. He knows it will be a challenge, but he is extremely excited to pursue his lifelong goal of playing baseball in the SEC.
Plus, he knows, “There’s no better color than orange!”
Komistek says that he is proud of his son for pursuing engineering and is excited to see him develop both playing in Lindsey Nelson Stadium and walking the same halls that he does.
“Paul’s dream has always been to be a professional baseball player,” says the elder Komistek. “As much as I would love to see him follow my path in engineering, this would mean he missed out on his real dream.”