Surhoff began his career as a catcher, and after playing third base in the mid-1990s, shifted to become primarily a left fielder.

[1] Surhoff was honored as the 1985 ACC Male Athlete of the Year, and played on the first (1984) U.S. Olympic baseball team.

He was a two-time first team All-American at UNC and his career batting average of .392 was a school record until Dustin Ackley set the mark at .412 in 2009.

Surhoff's father Dick played two years in the NBA in 1952–1953 and 1953–1954 and his brother Rich appeared in nine games in 1985 as a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers.

His son, Austin, swam at the University of Texas and won the 200 individual medley and 200 backstroke at the 2010 Big 12 Championships.

He is the president of Pathfinders for Autism, a Hunt Valley support group for families with autistic children.