WILLIAMSBURG− William & Mary announced Rob McCoy as the newest Tribe head baseball coach on Thursday.
McCoy, who completed 16 seasons as the head coach at Niagara, led the Purple Eagles to a historic season in 2024 that saw the team win 38 games, share the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season championship, win the MAAC Tournament Championship and play in the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach McCoy to William & Mary,” said Athletics Director Brian D. Mann. “After comprehensive discussions during the process, I am confident that his outstanding coaching ability and his motivational skills will keep our baseball program on track for continued success. He will compete for championships, and he will ensure that our players have a premier student-athlete experience as members of the Tribe.”
“William & Mary is a phenomenal school with great athletics and academics, and I love being around high performers on the field and in the classroom,” said McCoy. “You add their history of success, and it makes it a great destination and opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with Brian and his team, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The Purple Eagles’ 2024 season saw the coach and numerous players win all-conference honors. McCoy is the first Niagara head coach to be named MAAC Coach of the Year since 2003. Zach Cameron was named MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year and Eric Rataczak was MAAC Player of the Year. In addition, both players earned ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region Team honors. Cameron earned first team honors and Rataczak was second team.
In conference play, the Purple Eagles won seven of eight series, with five MAAC sweeps, and the team lead the MAAC with a .305 average. The Niagara pitching staff held hitters to a .264 batting average, best in the MAAC.
McCoy is the winningest head coach in Niagara baseball history with 299 victories. He led Niagara to each of the last four MAAC Tournaments, and the Purple Eagles boasted a league record of 63-41 during that stretch. Six of his players have been selected in the MLB Draft, with relief pitcher Matt Brash currently on the Seattle Mariners roster.
During his time at Niagara, McCoy coached 34 All-MAAC selections, including 10 first teamers, six all-rookie picks, four major conference award winners, including two players of the year, and six all-region choices with four first teamers. McCoy also coached a pair of All-Americans in Greg Cullen (ABCA/Rawlings All-America First Team in 2018) and Brash (the program’s first Freshman All-American in 2017).
The Purple Eagles also excelled in the classroom during McCoy’s tenure. He coached 203 MAAC All-Academic Team selections over his 16 years. Last season, Niagara received the ABCA Academic Excellence Award thanks to a team GPA of 3.46.
Before Niagara, McCoy was a volunteer assistant coach at James Madison, where he helped the Dukes to a .324 average. The team hit 101 home runs and was second in the nation in doubles per game (2.53) and slugging percentage (.549).
While familiar with the CAA from his time at James Madison, McCoy also spent time as a coach at Charlottesville High School and at baseball camps across the country.
A graduate of Dakota Wesleyan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine, McCoy played baseball and was the captain of the team’s 2002 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship team and a 2001 NAIA Academic All-American Scholar Athlete. Later he earned a Master of Education degree in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Virginia.
McCoy plans to reside in Williamsburg with his wife, Burgundy, his stepson, Bryce and his daughter, Blake.
