As announced by Gordon College Director of Athletics, Jason Linders this afternoon, Matt Antonelli has been named the next Head Baseball Coach for the Fighting Scots.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Gordon College Baseball program," said Antonelli. "Gordon has a strong tradition of developing student-athletes both on and off the field, and I'm excited to build on that foundation. I am committed to creating a competitive and disciplined program that emphasizes integrity, teamwork, and accountability while focusing on player development and competitive excellence. Our program will be known for doing things the right way, with discipline and professionalism. I'm looking forward to mentoring young men during a formative time in their lives, helping them grow not just as athletes, but as people. I'm excited to be part of a faith based community that values both excellence and purpose. I want to thank President Michael Hammond, Jason Linders, Jon Welty Peachey, and the entire athletic department for entrusting me with this opportunity. I am thrilled to join the Gordon community and am so excited for what's ahead for Gordon Baseball."
A three sport student-athlete at nearby St. John's Prep in Peabody, Antonelli was drafted after his senior year of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 19th round of the Major League Draft. He went on to play collegiately at Wake Forest University where he was named an All-American in 2006. After a standout junior season, Antonelli was drafted in the First Round of the MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. On September 1, 2008, the first rounder made his Major League debut and played eight seasons for the Padres, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.
After his playing career ended, Antonelli returned to his alma mater of Wake Forest as a student-assistant coach where he assisted with the development of all hitters, infielders, and base runners by developing and implementing individualized training programs. A year later, Antonelli was hired as the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach at Holy Cross where he continued to make immediate impacts on player development with the hitters and infielders as well as coordinate multiple aspects of the recruiting process.
Throughout his collegiate and high school coaching career, Antonelli established Antonelli Baseball in 2013 through his passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field. Antonelli Baseball is a youth baseball program for players ages ten to eighteen years old where he has helped over two hundred players move on to play college baseball, as well as five Major League Baseball draft picks. He currently resides in Middleton, Massachusetts with his wife, Laura, and two children, Matthew and Mia.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Matt Antonelli to the Fighting Scots Baseball program and Gordon College community," said Linders. "Matt brings a wealth of experience from the highest levels of the game, coupled with a deep commitment to mentoring and developing young men. Under Matt's guidance, we believe our baseball program is positioned to not only compete for Conference Championships, but also develop student-athletes spiritually, academically, and personally. With his leadership, we're not just building a successful team—we're cultivating a culture of excellence that will prepare our players for life well beyond the diamond."