Fordham officially announced Monday that it has hired Manhattan coach Kevin Leighton to be its new head coach, replacing Nick Restaino, who resigned after seven seasons in June.

Leighton, who won more than 30 games in each of his six years as head coach with the Jaspers, is coming off one of his most successful seasons, leading Manhattan to its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Association championship and second appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Jaspers finished the season with a 34-19 record with six players earning all-conference honors. Leighton was named MAAC coach of the year after guiding the Jaspers to the regular-season crown with a 20-2 conference record.

“We are excited to find a coach with the experience and accomplishments of Kevin Leighton,” Fordham executive director of athletics Frank McLaughlin said in a release. “We have a proud and successful baseball tradition at Fordham and look to Kevin, with the support of our alumni, to build on that success and the winning traditions.”

Fordham has the oldest and winningest baseball program in NCAA history. Through the 2011 season, the Rams have compiled 4,074 all-time victories, more than 800 wins ahead of second-place Texas (3,246). The Rams went 31-23-1 in 2011, missing the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament after losing to Xavier in their final game of the season.

Leighton, who played at Seton Hall, helped Manhattan's program reach new heights, including its first MAAC regular-season title in 2008 and its first two trips to regionals (2006 and 2011). The Jaspers said in a release that they will begin a national search to replace him immediately.

"Manhattan is appreciative of the hard work, dedication and success Kevin brought to the baseball program," director of athletics Bob Byrnes said. "On behalf of the Jasper community, we wish Kevin the best in this next chapter of his career."