WORCESTER -- WPI baseball coach Mike Callahan has announced his retirement from coaching college baseball. Callahan, the program's all-time winningest coach amassed 308 wins over his 17 years in the dugout for the Engineers.
"I truly enjoyed my time at WPI," remarked Callahan. "It was a privilege to coach such fine young men over the last 17 seasons. "I would like to thank Dana Harmon for giving a young man a chance almost 18 years ago."
Hired just as the practices for the spring season were beginning in the winter of 2006, Callahan quickly proved to be a winner, shedding the interim tag during the 2006 campaign and delivering the first of two ECAC New England Championships in 2007 with a dramatic walk-off victory over Suffolk.
His 2009 club won 30 games, which was the then-school record in any WPI sport. Along the way, the Engineers secured the NEWMAC regular season title and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship field for the first time in program history. In the NCAA Tournament the Crimson and Gray won a pair of games, reaching the winner's bracket championship game that featured a pair of top-10 teams, including the defending national champions.
"The past 17 years have gone by too fast as Mike has devoted himself to making WPI Baseball the best it can be for his student-athletes every day," commented WPI Director of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics Dana L. Harmon. "We are truly thankful for everything he has done as a teacher, coach and administrator. He has been a tireless worker and advocate for WPI Athletics in everything he has done and will be missed but we know he will still be close by cheering us on."
Callahan coached numerous all-NEWMAC and All-New England selections and consensus All-Americans Connor Fahey '09 and Alex Venditti '16. During Callahan's era, the program has collected over 100 Academic All-NEWMAC honors, including an average of 10 over the past eight years with the 2014 and 2017 teams setting the bar with 12.
"I would also like to thank all of the assistant coaches I have had over the years," continued Callahan. "Our program could not have been as successful as it was without the tireless work they put in. Now it's time to move on to another chapter of my life and spend more time with my family."
A national search will begin immediately for Callahan's full-time successor. Current assistant Chris Logan and former WPI assistant Bob McLaughlin and Becker head coach will lead the Engineers through the 2022 fall season.