Stony Brook baseball coach Matt Senk to retire after season

Stony Brook baseball coach Matt Senk, who led the Seawolves on a memorable run to the 2012 College World Series, announced on Thursday that he will retire after the season.

Senk is in his 35th season at Stony Brook and has a career record of 967-692.

"My time at Stony Brook is coming to an end and I am grateful to have led our baseball program at our incredible University for a long time. It has been a great run," Senk said in a news release. "I want to thank my family for their support and Stony Brook for giving me the opportunity to be the head baseball coach. I am grateful to have worked with some great coaches and staff over the years and I cannot thank them enough for how hard they worked and the impact they had on our program.

"After 35 unforgettable years on campus, I can honestly say that every moment, every game, and every player has shaped who I am far more than any scoreboard could. I came here to teach the game, but the truth is that I learned just as much from the young men who wore the Stony Brook uniform," said Senk. "I'm deeply grateful for their trust, their passion, and the memories we have built together — it's been the honor of a lifetime."

Senk took over the baseball program in 1991 when Stony Brook was still competing at the Division III level. Under Senk, the Seawolves made six NCAA tournament appearances and won six conference tournament championships and seven regular-season titles. Stony Brook made a historic run to the 2012 College World Series after winning the Coral Gables Regional by beating Miami and winning three straight elimination games, and then defeating six-time national champion LSU in Baton Rouge to win the Super Regional. The Seawolves became just the second No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series since the NCAA's current format began in 1999, and the first Northeast school to reach the College World Series since 1987.

Stony Brook has 29 Major League Baseball draft picks under Senk with five making it to the big leagues, including six-time All-Star reliever Joe Nathan, current Tampa Bay outfielder Travis Jankowski, current Ducks pitcher Nick Tropeano, Tom Koehler, and Daniel Zamora.

Senk coached at Kellenberg High School and St. Agnes Cathedral High School before Stony Brook. He was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

"Matt Senk stands as a giant in the coaching profession with a legacy that will stand the test of time," Stony Brook director of athletics Shawn Heilbron said in the news release. "His impact on the game of baseball and Stony Brook University cannot be overstated. This program has been built brick by brick, rising from the foundation of Division III all the way to the pinnacle of Division I and the College World Series. Throughout his entire career, Matt has done it all with an elite authenticity and unmatched competitive fire. We are forever indebted to him for all that he has invested in Stony Brook and the young men he has coached over his incredible 35-year career."