Joe Jordano Hometown: Erie, PA Position: Head Coach Alma Mater: Westminster College Graduated: 1985

Excellence. Integrity. Passion.

Three words to describe the successful baseball coaching career of eleventh-year Pitt skipper, Joe Jordano. Hired by Steve Pedersen to lead the Panthers on November 15, 1997, Jordano begin a rebuilding project that has delivered an unprecedented amount of growth, productivity & success over the past 10 seasons.

The Panthers, only three years removed from a conference title, were slipping within the ranks of the powerful Big East Conference and were in need of a new direction and vision. Jordano stepped in and engineered an incredible turn-around in just one-season as he molded the Panthers into a significant presence over the past ten seasons. Pitt has won over 280 games, been nationally-ranked, sent numerous players to the professional ranks and established itself as a force in the highly competitive Big East Conference during his tenure. In 2004, Jordano was named Big East Coach of the Year, the fourth time in his career that he has earned coach of the year honors.

The 2008 season hopes to bring more success to Jordano and his squad. The coaching staff's diligent recruiting efforts are apparent once again, as the Panthers have added 12 new faces to complement their already solid lineup. Pitt is poised to make another run at a Big East title.

The Panthers are hoping to build off a 2007 campaign in which they exceeded everyone's expectations by placing fourth in the Big East during the regular season. Following the season, Jordano watched as six players associated with the program were offered the opportunity to play professionally, with four of those opportunities coming via Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.

"I feel strongly that when you have six players associated with your program have opportunities to play professional baseball in a single year, it is a testament not only to them, but to our program as well."

There have been many highlights over the past ten years including a trip to the Big East Championship game in 2005. From 2002-2005, Jordano put together the best four-year winning stretch in the program's 97-year history, capturing a total of 143 wins, including 36, 36, 38 and 33 during the stretch. The 38 wins in 2004 tied for the second-most victories in a single season. The 2004 season also saw the Panthers make a return visit to the Big East Championship in Somerset, N.J. The accolades were numerous. In addition to Jordano being named Coach of the Year, P.J. Hiser was named Player of The Year, Nick Evangelista was named Co-Pitcher of the Year and Negrych was named Rookie of the Year. Both Hiser and Negrych garnered All-America honors. The Big East also named Ben Copeland, Tom Cashman and Bryan Spamer to the All-Conference squad.

Over the course of Jordano's career, over 35 players have played professional baseball, in addition to eight All-Americans and countless All-Conference and All-Region selections. Jordano's overall record of 564-355-2 (.612) ranks him among the top 40 active Division-I coaches.

Jordano has earned the respect of some of the top collegiate coaches in the country. LSU Tigers Head Coach Paul Maineri states, "Joe Jordano is without a doubt one of the finest college baseball coaches in the country and a man I admire very much. He has done a remarkable job with the program at the University of Pittsburgh. While I was coaching at Notre Dame and in the Big East, I always enjoyed the competition with the Panthers because we knew Pitt would always be well prepared, play hard, and play with a great deal of enthusiasm. I always attributed this to the way Joe handled his team and the competitive fire that he possesses. It seemed his teams always took on his personality, as they played the game with a lot of confidence and had a lot of fun. We had some tough losses to Pitt through the years; however, every time we lost to them I walked away from the game feeling that Pitt deserved to win because they outplayed us."

One of the top college programs in the country today is Vanderbilt University. Its head coach Tim Corbin is also a Jordano fan. "Very seldom do you come across a coach on the other side of the field that you truly respect, admire and like....Joe Jordano is that coach. He is a coach that can relate well with young people and get the very most out of them - that has been very apparent at Pittsburgh. Although he is a friend, I consider him one of the best baseball coaches in the country."

"I am proud of what we have accomplished. However, our work is not nearly finished. My staff, players and I look forward to taking this program to the next level and continuing the building of a great baseball program that will be in place for a long time, " Jordano states.

That trend of rebuilding has been a trait of Jordano in his coaching career. His first position was at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. The NCAA Division II School did not have a strong baseball tradition and Jordano inherited a team that had won only nine games the previous season. However, the success began immediately for Jordano and did not stop for 10 seasons.

During his 10-year reign on the Hill, Jordano's numbers speak for themselves: 283 wins against only 118 losses; six post-season appearances; two conference championships in his two years in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; 30 All-Region players; four All-Americans; and several players in professional baseball.

Upon leaving Mercyhurst, Coach Jordano was the winningest coach in Mercyhurst College history and was ranked sixth all-time active winningest coaches in the D-II baseball history at the time of his departure.

Jordano was also named the GLIAC Coach of the Year twice and was the Louisville Slugger NCAA DII Independent Coach of the year in 1995. In his last four years at Mercyhurst, Jordano's teams finished with a gaudy 128-31 record with four consecutive NCAA regional appearances. During his stay, Jordano also served on the NCAA DII National Baseball Committee and served as a chairman of the North Central Baseball Region. While at the University of Pittsburgh, Jordano has served on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee as well as President of the Big East Coaches group for four years, 2000-04.

Jordano has been honored by groups over the past several years for his contributions to baseball. In 2003, he was named "Baseball Man of the Year" in Erie, Pa. - his hometown, for "appreciation for his lifetime support and devotion to baseball on the local and collegiate levels."

Following the 2004 season and the Big East Coach of the Year award, Jordano was recognized by the Team Pittsburgh Group of Erie and was also awarded an Honorary Lifetime membership to the San Francisco Bay Area Pitt Club.

Academically, Jordano has been extremely successful graduating his players. Since 1998, 91 percent of his players who have completed their eligibility have earned a University of Pittsburgh Degree. The Panthers have garnered 36 All Big East Academic Awards as well as the Most Improved Team GPA in 2008. Jordano emphasizes this importance from the outset. "Our commitment to Academic Excellence occurs in the first few minutes of meeting with a prospective baseball player. The nucleus of what we do is to educate. Along with the World-Class degree from the University of Pittsburgh, our players have the opportunity to participate in one of the best, most productive baseball programs in the East."

The future is bright for the Panthers under Jordano's leadership. "I very much look forward to being a part of this program for quite some time. I have a deep passion for the University and its leadership. Chancellor Nordenberg and Mr. Pedersen have given our entire athletic program an opportunity to be the best we can possibly be, both in the competitive arena as well as in the classroom. This is a special place."

Jordano received his bachelor's degree from Westminster College, where he was a stellar four-year letter-winner and All-District performer in baseball for the Titans. He also obtained his master's degree in athletic administration from Slippery Rock University.

Jordano resides in Cranberry Township with his wife, Michell, and sons Matthew (8) and Joseph (7) and his faithful golden retriever, Babe, named after Babe Ruth, of course.

1998-present Head Baseball Coach - University of Pittsburgh
1987-1997 Head Baseball Coach - Mercyhurst College

RECORD - MERCYHURST COLLEGE NCAA DIVISION II

RECORD - UNVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH NCAA DIVISION I

Education