UK names Nick Mingione as new baseball head coach

Anthony Crawford
June 13, 2016

Following a disappointing season where the Cats failed to make the NCAA tournament, the resignation of head coach Gary Henderson left Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart with a big hole to fill for UK baseball. The coaching search ended Monday with the announcement of the hiring of Nick Mingione.

“Nick Mingione is exactly the kind of coach we hoped to hire when we began our search,” Barnhart said. “His passion, tactical mind and tireless recruiting efforts made him an important part of Mississippi State’s staff during some great years for the program. More than that, he is a man of substance who is committed not only to developing young men as baseball players, but as students and people. We are excited to welcome Nick, his wife, Christen and son, Reeves, to the UK Athletics family.”

Mingione has served as the assistant coach under John Cohen at Mississippi State for the last seven years, and served the same role under Cohen when he was at UK for two years from 2006-07.

In his nine years as an assistant coach, Mingione has excelled as a recruiter securing an average class ranking of 14th while at UK and Mississippi State. He has also done well when it comes to player development as he has coached 64 players selected in the MLB Draft and 36 with All-American selections.

“This is an opportunity I’ve dreamed about for more than a decade,” Mingione said. “From the moment I first stepped foot on campus, I knew it would be a place I could call home. What an incredible feeling to be back. Kentucky is a special place and this baseball program has had great moments over the years, including some that I have been a part of. I can’t wait to get to work on building toward an even brighter future.”