UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft announced the hiring of Mike Gambino as the Nittany Lions’ head baseball coach on Monday. Gambino takes over the Penn State Baseball program after 13 years at the helm of his alma mater Boston College.
“I am thrilled to welcome Mike and his family to Happy Valley as our new baseball coach,” said Kraft. “We worked with Mike at Boston College and know how he grows a program to find success on a national stage. Mike guided BC to the best season in program history this past season, which is impressive in a conference with historical baseball success like the ACC. Mike is a tremendous teacher and has a track record for developing players’ skills to prepare them for the next level. He has an impressive 33 Major League Draft picks in his first 12 years as a head coach. We are excited to have Mike, Jill, and their children, Sonny and Callahan, as part of our State College community.”
“My wife, kids and I are honored and humbled to be a part of the Penn State Baseball program, athletics department, University and the State College community,” said Gambino. “I want to thank Athletics Director Pat Kraft, [Deputy AD] Vinnie James and President [Neeli] Bendapudi for giving me this opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited to get to work with these young men and develop this program into a national contender and challenge to make the College World Series. We will work tirelessly each and every day to make our alumni, former players and everyone involved in the program proud.”
In his 13 seasons leading the Eagles, Gambino ranks second in program history in wins (291) while guiding Boston College to a pair of NCAA Regional appearances in 2016 and 2023 and an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2016. He had five seasons of 25 or more wins and eight seasons with 10 or more ACC wins. BC also appeared in the ACC Championship Tournament four times under Gambino’s tutelage, including berths in three of four years for the first time since Boston College joined the ACC in 2006.
Gambino has a long history of developing Major League Baseball talent with 33 draft picks in his first 12 years at BC. He has had three first round picks and six picks in the first five rounds of the MLB Draft in his tenure. Three former Boston College players have appeared…
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