Elmira, NY – Pat Thompson, Vice President of Athletics announced the appointment of Corey Paluga as the first Head Baseball Coach at Elmira College. The Soaring Eagles will hold their inaugural season of baseball during the 2014-15 academic year and compete in the Empire 8 Conference.  

“Elmira College is eager to initiate baseball in our sport offerings as well as in our community. Coach Paluga brings a diverse background of baseball experiences that transition to implementing a quality program.  His familiarity with NCAA Division III recruiting and our Conference gives him a distinct advantage with his main focus in 2013-14 being planning and building a roster for our first season – we are looking forward to him getting started,” Thompson said.

Paluga comes to Elmira from Empire 8 Conference rival Stevens Institute of Technology where he has served as assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator since 2009.  During his tenure with the Ducks he worked closely with catchers, outfielders and hitters.  In his third season at Stevens the Ducks improved by 10 wins to finish the season with a 24-18 record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro Championship.  Post-season awards for the team included six Empire 8 All-Conference recipients, two players named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region Team and one CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America Team.  The coaching staff was also named Empire 8 Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.  Paluga also served as an admissions counselor and assisted the Director of Athletics with NCAA Compliance while at Stevens.

Prior to Stevens, Paluga was a member of Lynchburg College baseball coaching staff for three seasons.  The Hornets compiled an 80-45 overall record (41-13 league), captured two regular-season championships (2008 and 2009) and competed in the 2008 NCAA Regional Tournament.  The 2008 Regional Tournament was Lynchburg's first NCAA appearance since 2008.

In 2010 and 2011 Paluga served as the Head Coach of the New Market Rebels.  The Rebels compete in the Valley League, one of most recognized summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country.  Paluga was responsible for recruiting, game-day management and coaching third base for a squad that consisted mainly of top Major League Baseball prospects from NCAA Division I programs.  The Rebels earned playoff berths in both years Paluga was at the helm and had four players sign professional contracts.

"I am humbled and very excited to be named the first Head Baseball Coach at Elmira College!” said Paluga. “I would like to thank Pat Thompson and the search committee for the opportunity to bring baseball to the College and the Elmira community. I am looking forward to help cultivate a competitive environment for our student-athletes to develop academically, athletically, and personally."

Paluga graduated from Lynchburg in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics while earning four varsity letters in baseball.  In 2009, he earned his Master's degree in Educational Leadership while serving as the graduate assistant baseball coach for the Hornets.

Elmira College and the City of Elmira continue to work on an agreement for the Soaring Eagles baseball team's usage of Dunn Field as their home practice and game site.