Baseball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- mike.russo@princeton.edu
- Phone:
- 609-258-5684
Mike Russo is in his sixth season as an assistant coach with Princeton in 2022. Drafted in 2008 by the Philadelphia Phillies out of the Hun School of Princeton, Russo attended NC State for two years before transferring to Kean University.
James Proctor (Cincinnati Reds) and Jake Boone (Washington Nationals) signed professional contracts following the 2020 season.
Princeton improved its win total to 14 in 2019. Ryan Smith was picked in the 18th round of the MLB Draft.
In 2018, the Tigers won 10 games including seven in Ivy League. One of Princeton's All-Ivy players was Ben Gross, who was later selected in the MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
During the 2017 season, the Tigers saw contributions from several freshmen on the pitching staff in James Proctor, Eli Kimbell, Conor Nolan and Andrew Gnazzo. Proctor made nine starts for Princeton while Kimbell made the second-most appearances (14) out of the bullpen. Gnazzo and Nolan helped shut down the No. 22 St. John's Red Storm on the road with Gnazzo collecting his first career victory and Nolan adding his first-ever save.
Russo helped the Tigers to the 2016 Ivy League Championship and receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament's Lafayette Regional. The pitching staff's ERA dropped from 6.44 in 2015 to 3.95 in 2016. Chad Powers was honored as the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year while Keelan Smithers was picked as second team All-Ivy.
The 2011 NJAC Pitcher of the Year, Russo garnered second-team ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com All-America honors as a junior, posting 10-2 record with a 1.93 ERA. Going 7-1 during his final collegiate season, he helped pitch the Cougars to a second consecutive College World Series.
Following graduation Russo enjoyed coaching stints at the Hun School (2012-14) and Kean. Most recently serving as a pitching coach for Forest City in the Coastal Plain League (2014), he helped the guide the Owls to a 30-25 record, aiding in the development of two CPL All-Star pitchers.
