AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball head coach Mike Stone announced on Wednesday that he will retire following the 2017 season, his 30th as head coach.
A 1982 UMass graduate who returned to his alma mater in 1988, Stone has directed the Minutemen to a 682-663-3 (.507) record, 350-291-2 (.546) in Atlantic 10 Conference play.
“Coaching at the University of Massachusetts for the past 29-plus years has been a tremendous opportunity for me and my family,” said Stone. “To coach baseball at my alma mater for nearly my entire career has been a special honor and privilege. Many thanks to all of the players, assistant coaches, staff and administrators who have helped make my years at UMass extremely rewarding.”
During his tenure, Stone has led the Minutemen to eight Atlantic 10 regular-season titles (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003), two Atlantic 10 Tournament crowns (1995, 1996) and two NCAA Tournament appearances (1995, 1996). He has also guided the Minutemen to the Beanpot Championship six times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2012).
“Coach Stone’s decision to retire at the end of the 2017 season was met by our entire athletics family with mixed emotion,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. “Mike has been a fixture in our department for more than 30 years as a student-athlete and coach, and his leadership of our baseball program has been nothing short of exemplary. We thank Mike for his service to UMass and look forward to celebrating his career over the next year as he finishes up his special time here.”
Respected as one of the nation's elite coaches, Stone became the all-time winningest coach in UMass history when the Minutemen swept a doubleheader vs. Saint Joseph's on May 8, 2001. On May 11, 2014, he won his 700th game as a head coach, a 5-4 victory over VCU at Earl Lorden Field.
From 1994-96, Stone was a three-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year selection. He became only the second coach to win the award three-consecutive years, following Fred Hill of Rutgers (1991-93). Stone has sent 37 players into professional baseball during his 29 years at UMass, starting with Steve Allen in 1988, averaging just under two players signing pro contracts per season.
Stone’s start in collegiate coaching came at the University of Vermont. He served at the helm of the Catamounts’ baseball program from 1983-87.
After his graduation from the Taft School in Connecticut in 1974, Stone was an MLB third-round draft pick by St. Louis. He was a catcher in the Cardinals' system for three years and played in the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league organization for two seasons.
Following the completion of his professional career, Stone enrolled as a physical education major at UMass, where he played football for three seasons (1979-1981). During his senior year, he served as head baseball coach and junior varsity hockey coach at the Northfield Mount Hermon School. He graduated cum laude from UMass in 1982 and earned his master's degree from Vermont in 1986.