Rich Maloney


Richard Allen Maloney is an American college baseball coach, the head coach at Ball State since the start of the 2013 [NCAA Division I baseball season|2013 season]. He is the former head coach of the Michigan Wolverines where he compiled a record of 341–244 and 3 Big Ten Regular Season Titles and 2 Big Ten Tournament Titles in 10 seasons, from 2003 to 2012. He led the Wolverines to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
From 1996 to 2002, he was the head coach at Ball State. He was named the MAC Baseball Coach of the year in 1998 and 2001. The Cardinals finished first in the MAC West for four straight seasons from 1998 to 2001 and won 3 Regular Season Titles in those years. He returned in 2013 and led the Cardinals to 2 Mac West Titles and 2 Regular Season Titles and earned Coach of the Year honors in 2014 and 2022. In 2023 he led the Cardinals to their first Tournament Title since 2006.

Head coaching record

The following is a table of Maloney's yearly records as an NCAA Division I head baseball coach.

Draft picks: first rounders

Maloney in his career coached 70 players drafted 77 times in the MLB Draft at Michigan and Ball State, including 6 first rounders all at Ball State. He had the first overall pick in 2002, Bryan Bullington; it was the first time in MAC sports history that a player was selected number 1 overall.
PickPlayerTeamPositionYear
41Jeff UrbanSan Francisco GiantsLHP1998
21Larry BigbieBaltimore OriolesOF1999
1Bryan BullingtonPittsburgh PiratesRHP2002
32Luke HagertyChicago CubsLHP2002
18Brad SnyderCleveland IndiansOF2003
34Drey JamesonArizona DiamondbacksRHP2019

Played in majors

Coach Maloney has 15 players between Ball State and Michigan who have reached the Major Leagues.

Player awards

Between Michigan and Ball State he coached:
  • 6 Player of the Years
  • 8 Pitcher of the Years
  • 7 Freshman Player/Pitcher of the Years
  • 4 Defensive Player of the Years
  • 4 Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Award
  • 1 Gold Glover
  • 1 National Freshman Pitcher of Year

Head coaching tree

Head coaches that coached under Maloney throughout his career at Michigan and Ball State:
Division 1
Non-Division 1