Rich Maloney, who posted a 256-144-1 (.640) record as the head baseball coach at Ball State from 1996-2002, will return as the program’s head coach, according to Ball State director of intercollegiate athletics Bill Scholl.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Rich Maloney back to the Ball State family and the Muncie community,” Scholl says. “He was an integral part of continuing the outstanding tradition of Ball State baseball in his previous tenure with the Cardinals, and we are looking forward to his return. Coach Maloney has built an outstanding resume as a collegiate head coach and his proven track record was a key factor in his hiring at Ball State.”
Ball State will hold an 11 a.m. press conference Friday to formally introduce Maloney and his family. The press conference will be held in the Worthen Arena Lounge, which is located through the lower-level doors of Gate 1. Parking is available in the Worthen Arena Parking Lot. The press conference will also be streamed live on www.ballstatesports.com
Maloney replaces Alex Marconi, who announced his resignation from Ball State at the end of May after two seasons at the helm of the Ball State baseball program.
For the past 10 seasons, Maloney served as the head baseball coach at Michigan, guiding the Wolverines to a 341-224 (.604) overall record. He led Michigan to three Big Ten Conference titles, two Big Ten Tournament titles and the 2007 NCAA Regional title. He was also named the 2007 and 2008 Big Ten and ABCA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year.
Maloney also guided the Wolverines to Big Ten Tournament berths in seven of his 10 seasons, including a streak of six straight from 2003-08. His teams also made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2005, ’06, ’07, ’08).
Prior to being named the head coach at Michigan, Maloney amassed a 256-144-1 (.640) overall record in seven years as BSU’s head coach, including a 141-60 (.704) ledger in Mid-American Conference games. Maloney guided Ball State to four MAC West Division titles (1998, ’99, 2000, ’01) and two MAC Regular Season titles (1998, ’99).
Maloney also led the Ball State baseball program to the only two 40-win seasons in program history – – 42 in 1999 and 40 in 1997 – – and was named the 1998 and 2001 MAC Coach of the Year.
Over his 17-year collegiate coaching career, Maloney has mentored 51 different players who have been drafted a total of 57 times. He has coached five first round draft picks, with all five playing at Ball State.
In 2002, he helped Bryan Bullington become the only No.1 overall draft pick in both Ball State and MAC history in any sport when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later the same day, Luke Hagerty was chosen with the 32nd overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in the supplemental first round, giving Maloney two first round draft picks in the same season.
A third-team All-American as a senior shortstop at Western Michigan, Maloney earned two degrees at Western Michigan — a bachelor’s degree in 1986, and a master’s in 1993. A three-year letterwinner at WMU (1984-86) and a two-time captain, Maloney was a two-time All-MAC first-team selection and was twice named to the all-district squad. He was Western’s team MVP while hitting .362 as a junior in 1985, and was twice named the top defensive player on the team (1984, ’86). In 1986, he set the WMU career record for runs scored (124). Maloney was inducted into WMU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2004.
Maloney was a 13th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1986 following his career at WMU. He spent six seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization, earning all-star status in the Appalachian League for the Pulaski Braves and in the South Atlantic League for the Sumter Braves.While in the Braves system, he played for former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little. Maloney retired from pro baseball following the 1991 season at Greenville (AA).
Following his professional baseball career, Maloney served as an assistant coach for legendary Fred Decker at Western Michigan from 1992-95 before accepting the head coaching position at Ball State in May 1995.
Maloney is married to the former Kelle Lynn Seitz. They have two sons, Alexander and Nicholas, and a daughter, Natalie.
