2023 College Baseball Coaching Changes Tracker

By Teddy Cahill
on February 23, 2023

As we do every year, Baseball America is tracking the latest news and movement in the college baseball coaching market.

As the season began, only the few programs that go into the year with interim head coaches have openings, but in the last two years there have been more than 80 head coaching changes, so there's sure to be more activity to come.

This story will update every time there are coaching changes this year.

Akron

Former coach: Greg Beals
New coach: Tim Donnelly (interim)

What to know: Beals’ stay in Akron was brief, as he was hired last July to take over the program. He left six months later, hired away by Marshall. Donnelly, who was hired during the summer as an assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach for the 2023 season.

Fresno State

Former coach: Mike Batesole
New coach: Ryan Overland (interim)

What to know: On Dec. 30, Batesole announced his retirement after 20 years as head coach at Fresno State. He led the Bulldogs to the 2008 national championship and made the NCAA Tournament eight times. Previously, he was head coach of Cal State Northridge for seven seasons and his 895 career wins ranked 16th among active Division I coaches at the end of last season. Overland took over the program after 10 seasons on staff at his alma mater. He caught for the national championship team and has spent the last five seasons as Fresno State's pitching coach.

New Mexico State

Former coach: Mike Kirby
New coach: Keith Zuniga (interim)

What to know: New Mexico State on March 2 announced it had fired Kirby just seven games into the season. The Aggies were 0-7, off to their worst start since 2015, when they opened the season on an eight-game losing streak. Kirby arrived in Las Cruces in June 2019 after Brian Green was hired away by Washington State. The Aggies went 56-79 under Kirby's direction, highlighted by their 2022 Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship, which earned them their fifth NCAA Tournament bid in 20 seasons. Recruiting coordinator Keith Zuniga, who is in his third season at New Mexico State, was promoted to interim head coach.

Siena

Former coach: Tony Rossi
New coach: Joe Sheridan (interim)

What to know: Siena on March 6 announced Rossi's retirement, effective March 20. Rossi, 79, is the longest-tenured Division I college baseball coach ever and is in his 54th season. When he arrived at Siena, it was a Division II program and his position was a part-time one. He eventually guided the Saints to two NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently in 2014. Pitching coach Joe Sheridan, who is in his second season with the program, will take over as interim head coach.

Western Illinois

Former coach: Andy Pascoe
New coach: Tayler Sheriff (interim)

What to know: Pascoe lasted three seasons as head coach at WIU, going 19-86, including an 8-44 mark in 2022. Sheriff, who joined the team as pitching coach in 2021, is leading WIU as interim head coach in 2023. He came to WIU after three seasons at Division III Spalding (Ky.).

Wichita State

Former coach: Eric Wedge
New coach: Loren Hibbs (interim)

What to know: Wedge starred at Wichita State before moving on to professional baseball and eventually becoming a big league manager had led his alma mater since 2019. He stepped away from the program in October, citing health reasons, and in December the university announced he would not return to his post as head coach. Hibbs, who also played at Wichita State, took over the program as the interim head coach for 2023. He spent 27 years as the head coach at Charlotte before returning to his alma mater in 2019 as assistant athletic director for baseball operations and player development.