POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist Director of Athletics
Tim Murray has announced the hiring of
Lance Ratchford as head baseball coach.
Ratchford is returning to Marist, having served as assistant coach under former head coach Chris Tracz from 2016-18. As an assistant, Ratchford helped the Red Foxes capture the 2017 MAAC Championship and earn a trip to the Gainesville Regional.
"We are very pleased to welcome Lance and his family back to the Marist community!" Murray said. "I have great confidence that Lance will be able to continue the outstanding tradition of Marist baseball. Lance is truly a rising star in the college baseball community."
In 2016, the Red Foxes had a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (Frankie Gregoire), an All-MAAC selection, and 14 members on the MAAC All-Academic team. To go along with the MAAC Championship in 2017, Ratchford coached three All-MAAC players, had 10 MAAC All-Academic team selections, and a player selected in the 2017 MLB Draft (Scott Boches). In his final season with the Red Foxes, Marist had three All-MAAC selections and 13 All-Academic players.
"This is a dream come true for me and my family and I'm so grateful to be the next head baseball coach at Marist College," Ratchford said. "This is an incredible opportunity and I like to thank Athletic Director
Tim Murray, President Kevin Weinman, and Executive Vice President Geoffrey Brackett for choosing me to be their next leader. I'm excited to get to work and continue the long tradition of success this program is known for. During my time here at Marist we were able to build and do some special things, and I'm so grateful to be back. This is a special campus and we are so happy to be part of this family. Thank you."
Ratchford returns to Marist after four seasons at SUNY Cobleskill, during which the program experienced tremendous growth. He is coming off a 2022 season in which he was named North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year while his student-athletes earned Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Rookie of the Year honors.
In the year prior to his arrival, the Fighting Tigers had a 3-28 record, but immediately improved to 16-22 (9-9 in conference) in his first season as head coach. In 2021, the Tigers were crowned the NAC Western Division Champions and made their first appearance in the NAC Championship. This past season, the Tigers finished with a 21-20 record overall and 11-4 record in the NAC, which marked the first time in school history the program had back-to-back first-place finishes. Overall, Ratchford posted a 60-56 (.517) record as head coach.
Ratchford also has extensive experience in summer league baseball. He is in his second stint as an assistant coach for the Brewster Whitecaps of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. The Whitecaps won the league championship in 2021. In his four seasons at the Cape, Ratchford has coached over 80 Major League Baseball draft picks. Nine have been first-round selections, including Nick Senzel of the Cincinnati Reds, who was chosen second overall in the 2016 draft. Ratchford also was an assistant coach for the Oneonta Outlaws of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League from 2012-14.
Ratchford is a native of Oneonta, New York. He enjoyed a standout prep career at Oneonta High School for head coach Joe Hughes. He went on to play collegiately for three seasons at Mansfield University and one year at Keystone College. In 2011, Ratchford hit .339 for a Keystone team which advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series. The 2011 Keystone team was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2021.
Marist is coming off a second-place finish in the MAAC after finishing the season with an overall record of 29-17 and a 17-5 conference mark. The program has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in its history.
Art Smith – 1992-95
John Szefc – 1996-2002
Jim Tyrrell – 2003
Joe Raccuia – 2004-05
Dennis Healy – 2006-09
Chris Tracz – 2010-22
Lance Ratchford – 2022-