Baseball, Sports

Baseball Head Coach Mike Cole Accepts Assistant Position at Army

By, Angelica Niedermeyer, Assistant Sports Editor

Manhattan College Head Coach Mike Cole has left the Jaspers to take on the position of associate head coach at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. 

“We wish Mike Cole the best of luck in his future coaching position at Army West Point and thank him for his dedication to our baseball program over the past five years,” Marianne Reilly, director of athletics said. 

Cole is to become Army’s Chris Tracz’s top assistant, Kendall Rogers, a writer for D1Baseball, posted on Twitter. Head Coach Tracz was also hired this summer, coming from Marist.  

Cole spent five years with Manhattan baseball, bringing in 90 wins and coaching the Jaspers to the program’s 15th MAAC Tournament in 2019.

“Our baseball program is one of the most storied and historic programs in the country, and we are committed to finding the next leader to guide our young men to success both on the field and in their careers,” Reilly said. 

The athletic department has appointed David Vandercook, former assistant coach for the Jaspers, while the search for a new head coach takes place.

“We are in the process of searching for our next head coach. David Vandercook is our interim head coach until Mike Cole’s successor is officially named,” Phil Paquette, ​​assistant athletic director, said.

Vandercook was in his third year at the college as a volunteer assistant coach, before becoming interim head coach. Prior to his time here, Vandercook was an assistant coach at Dartmouth College.

The athletic department has declined The Quadrangle access to speak with players regarding this matter until an official new coach has been determined. 

Manhattan has also lost two women’s basketball coaches and a golf coach. Allie Bassetti, the assistant coach and recruitment coordinator is now at Columbia University, while Kiki Griffin, the director of basketball operations, is now working at the Women’s National Basketball Association. Golf Coach Phil Wildermuth left for St. Johns and is now replaced by Keith Prokop.