GLASSBORO, NJ – Mike Dickson has been named the head
baseball coach at Rowan University. The announcement was made today
by Director of Athletics Dan Gilmore.
Dickson returns to the University after spending nine seasons as the head coach at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) (formerly Gloucester County College). He graduated from Rowan in 2002 after a successful career on the diamond as a player and then an assistant coach. Dickson replaces Juan Ranero who led the Profs to a 33-12 record and a NJAC tournament title.
“I am excited about my return to Rowan University as the next head baseball coach,” said Dickson. “I have many fond memories of Rowan both as a player and assistant coach. I am looking forward to the opportunity to lead the program. My goal is to continue the tradition of excellence set forth by former coaches John Cole and Juan Ranero.”
Dickson led the Roadrunners to a 360-88 record and two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Championships (2010 and 2013). After guiding RCGC to a 49-3 record and its seventh national title in 2013, he received the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year Award, an honor that encompasses all levels of college baseball.
Dickson is currently in Iowa training with the NJCAA Baseball National Team. He is an assistant coach for the squad that will compete at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas from August 1-9.
In 2010, RCGC posted the highest single season winning percentage in NJCAA Division III history (43-2). Dickson was tabbed the 2010 NJCAA, American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Diamond Sports Division III National Coach of The Year. He earned NJCAA District G Coach of The Year honors six times (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). Dickson was also a physical education instructor/program coordinator at the college.
"Mike is going to be absolutely fabulous for our program,” said Gilmore. “He was an All-American playing here and has done a fabulous job coaching at Gloucester County College. He's won two national titles and has a phenomenal record. We think that his success will carry over and he will lead us to winning national championships."
Dickson arrived at RCGC after coaching stints at the University of Pennsylvania and Rowan. While at Rowan, he helped guide the Profs to a 96-32 mark. The Profs won two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series in 2004. Dickson was the assistant camp director for Rowan’s baseball clinics.
Dickson has been a health and physical education teacher at Brookfield Elementary School in Camden, Assistant Director at the Sports Central Hitting Academy in Bellmawr and an instructor at various baseball camps along the east coast.
Dickson played for the Profs from 1997-2000. He was a three-time NJAC All-Conference, New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) All-State and ABCA All-Region selection. In 1999, Dickson was named to the ABCA All-America second team and selected the NJAC, NJCBA Division II/III and Eastern College Athletic Conference Metro Player of the Year. During his career, he set the school records for hits in a season (72, 1999), hits in a career (215) and doubles in a career (41). Dickson still holds the marks for runs in a season (57, 1998) and runs per game in a season (1.58, 1998). He was a team captain in 1999 and 2000.
Dickson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education
with a specialization in health and physical education. He earned
his master’s from the University in 2005 in higher education
administration and received the Medallion Award for academic
excellence.