Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1507572
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3 4 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M N ot long after being hired in July as Penn State's new baseball coach, Mike Gambino laid out his vision for the program moving forward. Meeting with the media for the first time since his ap- pointment, the 13-year coaching veteran from Boston College detailed just where he wants the Nittany Lions to go. Those aspirations are admittedly lofty. "I want people to talk about us going to the College World Series here," he said. "It's something that I want to talk about. And it's not just about going to Omaha for the Big Ten Tournament. I understand that the Big Ten Tournament is great, and it's fun, and I would like to take a shot at winning that thing, for sure. But we want to go to the College World Series." To get there would not be a first for the Nittany Lions. Five times — in 1952, '57, '59, '63 and '73 — Penn State appeared in the Col- lege World Series. During the 1957 tour- nament, the Lions secured a runner-up finish. But PSU hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2000, and it hasn't claimed a regular-season Big Ten cham- pionship since 1996. The Lions are com- ing off a 2023 season in which they fin- ished 25-25 with a 7-16 record in the Big Ten. Tenth-year coach Rob Cooper an- nounced during the final weekend of the regular season that he was planning to step down. His teams went 195-270 over- all and 70-188 in Big Ten play during his tenure at Penn State. Given that recent history, Gambino understands that the challenge ahead is significant. He's planning on being ag- gressive in his pursuit of new talent, hop- ing that an infusion of transfers will help elevate the program quickly. "The number one thing that we're go- ing to address is the transfer portal and growing out this roster and adding to this roster," he said. "The thing that I've learned about this group is these boys want to win. They're hungry, they want to win, they love this place. For me to be around a young and hungry group like that, and the guys that we're going to add, it's really exciting." At Boston College, Gambino went 291- 366 in 13 seasons and led the Eagles to NCAA Regional appearances in 2016 and 2023. Boston College went 37-20 this past year, tying the school record for most wins in a season. The team compiled a 16-14 record in ACC play to set a school mark for most conference victories. Gambino was known for his recruiting prowess at BC, bringing in five classes that were ranked among the nation's top 60 by the Perfect Game scouting organi- zation. At PSU, he intends to build rela- tionships in the recruiting hotbeds that already exist in Pennsylvania. Saying that the state has "great baseball" with strong high school players and programs, he in- tends to build on the connections he es- tablished while at Boston College. "We have, in the past, spent a lot of time recruiting in the Northeast and Pennsyl- vania … tough, competitive, hard-nosed kids that want to win," he said. Citing upcoming investments in fa- cilities and support staff, Gambino called Penn State's plan for the baseball program a "great strategy." The Garrison, N.Y., na- tive said he's confident the Nittany Lions can compete and win in the coming years. "I want kids that want to win," he said. "I want kids that want to put the team first. I want kids that want to play in the big leagues, but I also want kids that care about and value this degree and care about representing the alumni, the school, the logo, and representing it well. "There is a plan starting to be put in place, and I'm excited to be part of rolling that out over the next couple of years." ■ Gambino comes to Penn State after compiling 291 wins in 13 seasons at Boston College, the second-highest total in school history. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS New Coaches Abound In 2023-24 Mike Gambino will not be the only new head coach at Penn State during the 2023-24 athletic year. The baseball program is one of six at PSU that are under new management. Here's a look at the other head coaches Penn State has brought aboard in recent months: • Lisa Bervinchak Love, field hockey: A former Penn State player and longtime Nittany Lion assistant coach, Bervinchak Love was named head coach in February after Char Morett- Curtiss announced her retirement. • Adam Kaszubowski, fencing: A former member of the Polish national team and a 2016 Olympic qualifier, Kaszubowski is in his fourth year on Penn State's fencing staff and will serve as interim head coach in 2023-24 following Wes Glon's retirement in April. • Mark Leon, men's golf: A standout golfer for the Nittany Lions from 2001-05, Leon has re- turned to his alma mater after two seasons as head coach at Florida Atlantic. He succeeds Greg Nye, who retired in May. • Mike Rhoades, men's basketball: Hired in late March after Micah Shrewsberry left for Notre Dame, Rhoades went 129-61 in six seasons at Virginia Commonwealth. • Kristen Simpson, women's golf: Simpson brings 12 years of Division I coaching experience to Penn State, most recently as an assistant at Wisconsin. Her predecessor, Denise St. Pierre, had been coaching at PSU since 1985. St. Pierre announced her retirement in May. — Matt Herb Mike Gambino Has High Hopes For PSU Baseball Program NATE BAUER | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M