John Dao

Height:
5-11
Weight:
175
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Fort Worth, Texas
Prev School:
Northeast Texas CC

2009 Team Co-Captain

2008: Batted .356 with 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs, driving in 31 and scoring 37 in 42 starts. Stole 16 bases, playing 44 games at short. Logged a pair of hits, driving in a run and scoring one at Georgia in the NCAA Athens Regional (5/31). Was 2-for-5 with a double in NCAA Regional game against Georgia Tech (5/30). Had 2-for-5 effort with double, RBI and two runs scored in BIG EAST Championship win over Villanova (5/21). Went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, home run and three runs in BIG EAST Championship opening win over Seton Hall (5/20). Hit .500 with 12 runs, seven doubles, two triples, a home run, 10 RBI and was 9-of-10 on steals during teams' 10-game hit streak. Went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles in win at WVU (5/10). Was 5-for-9 with six runs and five steals in midweek wins at IU (5/6) and home against Butler (5/7). Had a career-long 11-game hit streak. Had his second career four-hit game, belting a triple, stealing a base and scoring the game-winner against WKU (4/30). Went 6-for-8 with four RBI in final two wins over UC. Belted a crucial two-run single, walked, stole a base and scored in win over UK (4/22). Jacked a 1-0 pitch out of the yard to open the win at Ohio State (4/16), collecting a career-best four hits. Picked up a pair of hits in win over Indiana (4/16). Was 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI a walk and a stolen base to help the Cards to a win at USF (4/12). Had consecutive two hit efforts at UK (4/8) and in the win at home against Marshall (4/9), scoring twice. Doubled, walked, stole a base and scored twice with 2-for-4 game in win over Purdue (4/2). Went 3-for-6 with two RBI in win over Pitt (3/30), sealing the game with an RBI single in the 10th. Jumped into the lineup, hitting leadoff and playing short after missing the first 15 games of the season with a lacerated kidney. Was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI and a run scored in win over UConn (3/21). Debuted going 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs and an RBI, adding a walk in win over UConn (3/20).

Northeast Texas CC: Twice named All-Conference and All-Region for the Eagles, he finished first on the team with 30 stolen bases in 36 attempts, four triples, 21 doubles and 83 hits and was second in average, batting at a .405 clip. Also belted six home runs and drove in 24 runs. Hit .401 with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 40 RBI and 46 stolen bases as a freshman, striking out only eight times all season. Also named to the TXNM JUCO All-Star team. Played two seasons with current Cardinal teammate Kyle Cheesebrough while in junior college.

TCU: Redshirted with the Horned Frogs his first season of collegiate ball.

High School: A three-year All-State and All-Conference selection for the Trojans, he broke the school record for batting average, hitting .583 his sophomore season, hitting over .500 in each of his four years of high school. Totalled 51 doubles, 18 triples, eight home runs, 148 RBI, 127 runs and 56 steals in high school. Named team MVP and earned the Captain's Award as a junior and senior. Also earned four letters in basketball as the shooting guard, garnering the Captains Award and Hustle Award.

Personal: Born on 12/15/85 in Fort Worth, Texas, he is the son of Lien Nguyen. He has an older brother(Richer) and sister (Khanh). Is majoring in business finance. Would like to play pro ball after college. Wears number 2 because of one of his favorite athletes Derek Jeter. Also likes Michael Jordan and Omar Visquel. His older brother has been his biggest influence athletically. Likes fishing, playing Washers, listening to music like Blessid Union of Souls, Better than Ezra, Citizen Cope and Cartel, good movies and darts in his spare time. Ocean's 11, Wedding Crashers and 300 are his favorite movies and he likes to watch That 70's Show, The Office and ESPN on TV. He enjoys pizza, Vietnamese food and anything Italian. Likes to visit Q'Doba and P.F. Chang's. Snickers is his favorite candy bar. Cheers for the Texas Rangers. He speaks Vietnamese. Would like to be joined for golf or dinner by Ted Williams, Chris Tucker and his dad, who passed when he was younger.

Career Stats for Dao:Year       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT2008....  .356   44-42    194   37   69   13    3    3   31   13   24   16-22TOTAL...  .356   44-42    194   37   69   13    3    3   31   13   24   16-22
BIG EAST Games only:Year       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT2008....  .288   26-25    111   14   32    7    2    0   21    9   16    5-10TOTAL...  .288   26-25    111   14   32    7    2    0   21    9   16    5-10