July 16, 2018

Altieri retires after 19 years as head coach

More news about: Delaware Valley

DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Following a 25-year career on the Delaware Valley University baseball staff, including the last 19 as head coach, Bob Altieri has announced his retirement from coaching. He will remain in his full-time position as the Aggies' gymnasium equipment manager.

"Since 2000, it has been my honor to hold the position of head baseball coach at DelVal," Altieri said. "I would like to thank (former athletic director/baseball coach) Frank Wolfgang, (current director of athletics) Steve Cantrell and the support staff or the kindness and support given to my team and throughout all those years. I would like to thank the former coaches who worked with me and the players whom I have coached for giving me many great memories that I will always treasure."
 
A 1992 graduate of DelVal and a member of its Athletic Hall of Fame thanks to a standout playing career, Altieri produced a program-record 333 wins as head coach. His teams reached the postseason seven times during his tenure, including an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region championship in 2004. He coached two All-Americans, 16 all-region honorees, six conference players of the year and 57 all-conference selections.
 
Altieri was promoted to head coach in 2000 and directed the team to a 23-16 record, despite losing the team's top three pitchers to graduation. The Aggies earned trips to both the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and ECAC playoffs that year and he was named the MAC Freedom Coach of the Year for his efforts.
 
In 2002, he led the Aggies to a 24-win season, a berth in the conference championship game and an ECAC postseason appearance. They once again reached the Freedom Conference playoffs in '03 with Mark Roth earning All-America accolades.
 
In 2004, the Aggies took first-place honors in the Freedom Conference during the regular season and were selected to host the ECAC South Region Championship. The team won both ECAC contests to capture the title – the second in program history – and finished 27-13. Brandon McCabe was selected as an All-American following the season.
 
The Aggies were picked to finish last in the preseason conference coaches' poll in 2008. Instead, Altieri and his squad went 25-18, qualified for the Freedom Conference playoffs and reached the ECAC South Region Championship Game. They followed the next year with 21 wins and another berth in the ECAC playoffs.
 
Altieri served as Wolfgang's right-hand man from 1994 to 1999 and played a major role as the Aggies became a regional power. They set a school record for victories in three straight seasons, culminating with 31 wins in 1999. That team won the ECAC South Region championship while the '98 squad captured the MAC Freedom regular-season title and reached the MAC Championship Game.

"I would like to thank Bob for his many years of hard work and dedication to the DelVal baseball program and we looking forward to him continuing to be an asset to the department," Cantrell said.
 
The search for Altieri's replacement is underway.