SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Bringing over a decade of coaching and playing experience to Schenectady, John Muller has been announced as the next head coach of the Union College baseball team, Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93 announced on Friday.
"I want to thank Jim McLaughlin and the entire search committee for their belief in me to be the next head baseball coach at Union College," Muller said. I'm very excited to lead such a historic program that is filled with many great successes both on the field and in the classroom. I look forward to developing an excellent culture full of hard work and passion both on and off the field, encompassing an exciting brand of baseball that will make our strong alumni base, outstanding institution and community proud."
"We look forward to welcoming John and his family as the next head baseball coach at Union," McLaughlin said. "John's passion for the sport, high-level experience and success as both a player and coach, and commitment to building a strong culture of success made him a perfect candidate to take over the baseball program. We look forward to the future of the program under John's leadership."
Muller recently finished his seventh season at the helm of the baseball team at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in 2023. After spending his first few years in Riverdale building the culture of the program, the results of Muller's efforts started to show in recent years, boasting 62 wins over the last three seasons. The team won a program-record 26 games in 2022 on the way to a tie for second in the Skyline Conference regular-season standings, winning the program's first conference tournament game since 2011 and boasting the program's first ABCA and D3baseball.com All-American, Jake Blinstrub. His 2023 squad tied for second all-time at the school with 23 wins to its credit, while making the postseason for the fourth straight season and seeing a program-record-tying four players earn All-Region recognition.
In total, 12 CMSV players earned All-Region honors during his tenure in addition to two Regional Rookies of the Year, three Skyline Conference Players of the year, one Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year, and 16 All-Conference honorees. Muller's teams also succeeded off the field, earning the ABCA Academic Excellence Award in each of the last six seasons.
In addition to his time at the helm of the baseball team, Muller also served as an Associate Director of Athletics at Mount St. Vincent, serving as the liaison between the Athletic Department and the Admissions Office and assisting the department with recruiting policies and procedures.
"I would also like to thank [Athletic Director] Phil Stern and the administration at Mount St. Vincent, along with all of my players that I coached while I was there," Muller added. "Their support, efforts and dedication have helped lead me to this opportunity."
Muller started his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, spending three years as the pitching coach at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas University from 2014-16. During his time in the dugout, the Spartans were nationally ranked in two of the three seasons and reached a pair of NCAA Tournaments, while the pitching staff produced one All-American, two All-Region honorees and four All-Conference selections.
Muller played four seasons collegiately at St. Thomas Aquinas, captaining the team for three years and graduating as one of the most prolific offensive players in program history. A three-time All-East Coast Conference honoree, he left STAC as the all-time leader in hits (228) and ranked second in runs scored (134) and third in runs batted in (113), while also serving as the team's primary closer over his final two seasons.
After graduation, Muller was signed by the Chicago Cubs before the 2007 MLB Draft and spent two years in the organization, playing for the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League and the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League, where he learned under the direction of Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. He then spent three years playing on the independent circuit, earning All-Star honors in both the Atlantic League and the Frontier League.
In addition, Muller has also served as the President and Director of Player Development for Evolution Baseball Training, providing professional development-based instruction for coaches and players.