John McCormack (baseball)

John McCormack
Sport(s) Baseball
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Florida Atlantic
Conference Conference USA
Record 219-147
Playing career
1987–1990 Lynn
Position(s) Catcher, Third base
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1991–2008
2009–present		 Florida Atlantic (asst.)
Florida Atlantic
Head coaching record
Overall 219-147
Tournaments NCAA: 5-4
Sun Belt: 8-8
Accomplishments and honors

Championships

Sun Belt: 2010, 2012
Sun Belt Tournament: 2013

Awards

Sun Belt Coach of the Year: 2010

John McCormack is an American college baseball coach who has been the head coach of Florida Atlantic (FAU) since the start of the 2009 season. McCormack was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2010, and the Owls have appeared in two NCAA Tournaments under him. Previously, he served as an assistant at FAU from 1991–2008. McCormack is an alumnus of both Indian River Community College and Lynn University.[1]

Coaching career

McCormack began his coaching career in 1991 and spent 18 years as an FAU assistant under head coach Kevin Cooney. During that time, the Owls appeared in six NCAA Tournaments. McCormack handled much of the program's recruiting during his time as an assistant, focusing on players from the South Florida region where FAU is located. Although he was offered coaching positions at other schools and professional scouting jobs, McCormack chose to stay at FAU.[1][2][3]

When Cooney retired at the end of the 2008 season, McCormack was hired to replace him.[4] The Owls spent his first five seasons in the Sun Belt, winning two regular season titles and one tournament.[1][5] They reached the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2013, losing in the regional final both times. In 2010, McCormack was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year. In 2013, after losing their opening game, the team reached the decisive seventh game of the Chapel Hill Regional against #1 national seed North Carolina. The Owls lost, 12-11, in a game that multiple media outlets described as "epic."[6][7][8] Trailing 6-2 in the ninth, the Owls took an 8-6 lead, then gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. They scored three in the top of the 12th, but UNC answered with three in the bottom half and walked off in the bottom of the 13th.[8] The Owls moved to Conference USA following the 2013 season and missed the conference tournament in their first season in the league.[9]

Head coaching record

Below is a table of McCormack's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach.[9][10]

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt Conference) (2009–2013)
2009 Florida Atlantic 30-26 12-17 T-7th Sun Belt Tournament
2010 Florida Atlantic 37-24 21-9 T-1st NCAA Regional
2011 Florida Atlantic 32-25 17-13 T-4th Sun Belt Tournament
2012 Florida Atlantic 32-22 19-8 1st Sun Belt Tournament
2013 Florida Atlantic 42-22 19-11 T-3rd NCAA Regional
Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) (2014–present)
2014 Florida Atlantic 28-25 14-16 9th
Florida Atlantic: 201-144 102-74
Total: 201-144

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal

McCormack played youth and high school baseball with former Cincinnati head coach Brian Cleary.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "John McCormack". FAUSports.com. Florida Atlantic Athletic Communications. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ De Nicola, Christina (February 20, 2009). "FAU Turns to 'Mac'". CollegeBaseballInsider.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kurtenbach, Dieter (May 30, 2013). "Odds Against Them, FAU Baseball Coach John McCormack Picks the Owls". Sun-Sentinel.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ Caruso III, Anthony (July 31, 2008). "After Nearly Two Decades as an Assistant Coach, McCormack Becomes the New FAU Head Baseball Coach". TheCapitalSportsReport.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ Hotard, Scott (June 19, 2013). "ULL Baseball Falls in Sun Belt Title Game". TheAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ Manuel, John (June 4, 2014). "Tar Heels Win Regional in Epic Fashion". BaseballAmerica.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Keck, Aaron (June 4, 2013). "Heels Beat FAU, 12-11, In 13 Inning Epic". Chapelboro.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sorenson, Eric (June 3, 2010). "Regionals -- Day Four, Taking an Epic Big Step". CollegeBaseballToday.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Division I Conference Standings at www.d1baseball.com. Accessed July 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "2014 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Media Guide". Sun Belt Conference. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ Hutton, Ted (February 11, 2005). "Coaches Make Series a Reunion". Sun-Sentinel.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.