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Hampden-Sydney baseball has a new head coach in charge. Director of Athletics Chad Eisele announced on Friday that Michael Mulvey will take over the team in the wake of Jeff Kinne’s resignation. Kinne stepped down in mid-June after 21 years at the helm. 

Mulvey meanwhile becomes the program’s 10th head coach since 1960, no stranger himself to NCAA Division III. He comes to Hampden-Sydney baseball from his alma mater Marietta (OH) College, where he’s served as pitching coach since 2019. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native played four years at Marietta and then coached two years each at Division III schools Muskingum (OH) University and Misericordia (PA) University, along with one year at Denison (OH) University. 

“I am excited to have Mike leading our baseball program,” said Eisele. “His championship experience as a player and a coach in highly competitive Division III conferences will help Tiger baseball in becoming a top ODAC contender with national aspirations.”

Mulvey’s record paints a picture of a man who knows how to build a program. Marietta during his time there was one of the most successful teams in Division III baseball. The team went 152-48 during that period, winning two OAC Regular Season and Tournament championships, making three NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances and the group made it to the 2022 Division III College World Series.  Additionally, Mulvey assisted in recruiting, creating practice plans and scouting reports, developing strength and conditioning programs. 

Hampden-Sydney baseball hire praised

Mulvey served under 21-year veteran head coach Brian Brewer at Marietta, one of the most successful head coaches in Division III baseball, and the second-winningest baseball coach in that school’s history (664-281). The Pioneers have had 33 All-OAC selections since 2020, including three Conference Players of the Year, along with eight American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Americans, 23 All-Region and four Gold Glove Award winners. 

Mulvey’s former coach sang his praises when asked what the Tigers were getting. 

“Mike is more than ready to run his own show and I am confident he will have Hampden-Sydney College Baseball competing for conference championships in the near future,” said Marietta Head Coach Brian Brewer. “Mike is an exceptional recruiter and has a great sense of how to coach all things to do with baseball but certainly excels on the pitching side. As much as we hate to see Mike and Lindsay go, we wish them well and feel confident they will have a positive effect on the Hampden-Sydney community as a whole.”

At Marietta, Mulvey mentored Sam Mathews to a pair of OAC Pitcher of the Year accolades (2021-22), while Mathews also garnered ABCA/Rawlings Region 7 Pitcher of the Year and ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors during both seasons, as well. During Mulvey’s time as pitching coach, Marietta has ranked among the Top 20 in Division III Team Earned Run Average during each of the previous four seasons (2024-3.68, 2023-3.85, 2022-3.29, 2021-3.18).

His own playing career

Mulvey was a four-year team member (2010-13) and pitcher at Marietta, making 43 appearances with 23 starts over his final three seasons (2011-13). He posted a career record of 15-3 with a 2.70 earned run average over 186.1 innings with 125 strikeouts (6.04) and only 38 walks (1.84), along with two complete games. Mulvey helped the Pioneers to an overall record of 127-26 during his three years on the mound, including 48-6 in the OAC-Marietta won National Championships in 2011 and 2012, while claiming three OAC Regular Season Championships (2011-13) and two OAC Tournament Titles (2011-12). Mike was a two-time All-OAC selection, including First Team in 2013 when he garnered ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team honors. In addition, he was a three-time All-League First Team pitcher in the All-American Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania from 2011-13, and received the AAABA’s Pete Vuckovich Award as the league’s top pitcher in 2013.

Mulvey graduated from Marietta in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management. He earned his Master of Science degree in Organizational Management from Misericordia in 2017.

“My wife Lindsay and I are extremely excited for this next chapter,” explained Mulvey. “I would like to thank Chad Eisele and President Larry Stimpert for the opportunity to lead the Hampden-Sydney baseball program. Lindsay and I look forward to immersing ourselves in the H-SC community. It’s a special place and we look forward to building upon the rich tradition and brotherhood that it instills. We will strive to create a winning culture, and field a competitive program in one of the best Division III athletic conferences in the country.”