Niagara University, N.Y.—Following the most successful season in Niagara baseball history, Rob McCoy has stepped down as Niagara Head Coach to accept the head coaching position at William & Mary. McCoy is the winningest coach in Niagara history with 299 career wins over 16 seasons as the skipper for the Purple Eagles.
McCoy joined the Niagara coaching staff in 2006 as an assistant coach and took over as interim head coach in 2009 and led the Purple Eagles to a 13-11 MAAC record.
In 2024, he took the Purple Eagles to new heights as Niagara finished with a program record 38 wins. Niagara finished the regular season with a share of the MAAC regular season championship after notching a 20-4 record in MAAC play. Niagara earned its first MAAC Championship as the Purple Eagles went 3-0 in the MAAC Tournament to earn the program's first NCAA Tournament bid.
Over the last three seasons, Niagara has won 84 games while winning at least 20 games each of the last three seasons. McCoy led the Purple Eagles to back-to-back winning seasons in 2023 and 2024, it was the first time Niagara had winning seasons in back-to-back seasons since the 1976-1977 seasons.
Under McCoy, six Purple Eagles were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, most recently current Seattle Mariner Matt Brash in 2019. From 2017-19 four Purple Eagles were selected. In 2024, McCoy became the first Niagara head coach since 2003 to be named the MAAC Coach of the Year.
McCoy is grateful for his time at Niagara "Niagara University will forever hold a special place in my heart. This was my first full time coaching job. I grew up here as a person and a professional. We had hard times and times greater than we could ever imagine. I met my wife and started a family" McCoy said.
"I am forever indebted to Simon Gray and Niagara University President Father James J. Maher for their patience, confidence, and investment so we could take this program to new heights. Further, I would like to thank Ed McLaughlin and Bill Morris for the initial opportunity. The program is in a great place and I look forward to following the success of these special young men."
Niagara University Associate Vice President for Athletics Simon Gray has named Matt Spatafora Interim Head Coach as he enters his 13th season at Niagara in 2025. Spatafora spent the last 12 seasons as an assistant coach while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
"Rob has been an exceptional leader on our campus throughout his tenure. I have always appreciated how his care and concern for the student-athletes went well beyond the playing field" Gray added. "He and Matt Spatafora have provided a program that exemplifies our core values of integrity, commitment, and excellence. While we are sorry that Rob will no longer be with us, we are so happy for him and his wonderful family in this new opportunity. I am excited that Coach Spatafora will fulfill this enhanced role and we very much look forward to continuing the championship standard for Niagara Baseball."
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