WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – With more than a decade as a Division I coach, Rick Oliveri has been selected to restart the Lycoming College baseball program, as he was announced as the first full-time baseball coach in the college's history after a national search, Director of Athletics Mike Clark said on Wednesday, June 2.
Officially announced on Dec. 17, 2020 by President Kent Trachte, Lycoming is planning on reestablishing the baseball program as a varsity sport and a member of the MAC Freedom in fall 2022. Oliveri will lead the program through an exploratory year in 2021-22, where he will convene practices for those on campus that are interested in joining the team as well as recruit and gather supplies, uniforms and other essentials for a successful debut in 2023.
"We are incredibly excited about beginning to play baseball at Lycoming College again," Lycoming Director of Athletics Mike Clark said. "We attracted an incredibly qualified candidate pool, which tells us a lot about how much people equate baseball with Williamsport. To bring college baseball back to Lycoming College, which used to house Little League World Series competitors in its dorms, is something that will certainly add value to Williamsport's long history as one of the preeminent baseball towns in the world and it will also further the College's educational mission as one of the leading Liberal Arts institutions in the nation.
"Rick stood out to the hiring committee for many reasons," Clark continued. "He has been a part of many admirable baseball programs throughout his career, working as both a pitching coach and a hitting coach. At every step of the way, his bosses have recommended him for his recruiting ability and more importantly, they spoke to the kind of person he is – his organizational skills, his work ethic, his knowledge of the game are all things that will give Lycoming baseball a leg up as it hits the ground running."
Oliveri has spent the last 12 years as a coach at the Division I level, working the past five years at George Washington University, five before that at Monmouth University and two years at Radford University. In 13 years as an assistant coach, he has helped his teams to 10 winning seasons and 360 wins.
"I want to thank President Trachte, AD Mike Clark and Associate AD Joe Guistina for entrusting me to bring baseball back to Lycoming," Oliveri said. "Getting to know the Lycoming community through the interview process made this opportunity even more exciting for my wife and me. Each conversation and interaction taught me how committed Lycoming's leadership is to growth and excellence. I am thrilled for this unique challenge to build a competitive, values-driven program that will compete at the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference and represent the iconic baseball region of Williamsport in a first-class manner."
Oliveri worked as the pitching coach at George Washington, also serving as the team's academic coordinator and recruiting coordinator for his last three seasons, helping the team to a .500 or better record in all five seasons in the capitol.
Oliveri made an instant impact as the team's academic coordinator after taking over in the spring of 2019, raising the team's GPA from 2.81 to 3.06 in a year's time. His influence was also shown in the team's recruiting, signing a top-100 class in 2019 according to Perfect Game.
On the field, Oliveri presided over the team's pitching staff, culminating in a 3.26 team ERA in 2020 that ranked second in the A-10. He turned around a pitching staff that ranked 11th in the A-10 in ERA the year before he arrived to finish in the top half of the league in four of his five seasons.
At GW, two of his pitchers were drafted: Eddie Muhl in the 25th round in 2017 and Will Kobos in the 19th round in 2018, both by Pittsburgh. Muhl earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team in 2017 while Kobos earned ABCA All-East Region Second Team honors in 2018.
Oliveri came to GW following a successful five-year stint at Monmouth University where he played a key role in the development of the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Ricky Dennis. He helped the Hawks made the conference tournament each of his five years with the program.
One of his pitchers was drafted as well, as left-handed pitcher Anthony Ciaverlla was taken in the 24th round by St. Louis in the MLB Draft in 2016.
Prior to his tenure at Monmouth, Oliveri was a volunteer assistant at Radford University, where he primarily worked with the team's catchers. He began his career as the graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial University in 2009.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Oliveri was a three-year starter and two-year team captain at the University at Buffalo. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration in 2008. Oliveri earned a Masters of Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial University in 2009.
Oliveri's father, Richard, was drafted in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Bishop Fallon High School in Buffalo and played two seasons of professional baseball. His sister, Cassondra, was a four-year letterwinner as a swimmer at the University at Buffalo from 2004-08.
He and wife, Stephanie, plan to relocate to Williamsport.
What They Are Saying About Coach Oliveri
"Rick Oliveri is a high-caliber leader and developer of young men. He sets a platform in place for each individual and the collective to achieve their optimal potential on the field and in life. I admire Rick for his commitment to people and his ability to be an example of high standards and values. He impacts others in a positive and productive way.
"Along with Rick's ability to impact lives, he is an excellent teacher of baseball and has a wide range of knowledge and process to relay to players for their achievement on the field. Rick is an exceptional recruiter and evaluator of talent and people. He will bring to Lycoming the right leadership, the right student-athletes, and the right competitive and winning mentality.
"Rick is passionate about achieving greatness and is relentless in his pursuit of excellence. He will deliver great successes to the Lycoming baseball program.
"Rick Oliveri is the right person and leader to be Lycoming's first head coach!"
- Gregg Ritchie, head baseball coach, George Washington University, former hitting coach, Pittsburgh Pirates (2011-12)
"Rick's proven record of success at all levels of college baseball as well as his commitment to athletic, academic and social development of his student-athletes make him a great choice to lead Lycoming College baseball. The college community should be very excited for the future of this program."
- Ron Torgalski, former head baseball coach, University at Buffalo, 2007-17
"It was my honor to have the opportunity to coach Rick as a member of the University at Buffalo baseball team while he was a student-athlete here. He was a student of the game in every sense of the word, and was a hardworking, quiet leader both on and off the field. I had a very good feeling that he would do well when he decided on coaching college baseball as a career choice. I'm confident that both the administration and players at Lycoming will appreciate his dedication, work ethic, and genuine care for everyone associated with his program. I wish him the best."
- Bill Breene, former head baseball coach, University at Buffalo, 1999-06
"I can't think of a better man to be at the helm of a new baseball program. Coach O is one of the most dedicated and genuine people I know. He will incorporate a family aspect to the program that will have players, alumni and the student body excited and proud. Coach O was more than a coach to me at George Washington, he was a friend and a mentor. I couldn't imagine my college career without Coach O in my corner for the four years I played at GW."
- Andrew Wheeler, George Washington University pitcher, 2017-20
"Lycoming College made an incredible hire choosing Rick Oliveri to lead their baseball program. He brings indefatigable energy and detailed knowledge of the game to Williamsport. Coach Oliveri is a lifelong learner with an outstanding vision for building a successful program. Lycoming Baseball is in great hands."
- George Brown, assistant coach (pitching), St. John's University