Wednesday, February 1, 2012

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College head baseball coach Carmen Nocera will step down following the completion of the 2012 season after 13 years on the coaching staff.

"We are very appreciative of the many contributions Carmen Nocera has made to our baseball program during his long association with Westminster College," said Westminster's Athletic Director Jim Dafler.  "Although he was only a part-time member of our coaching staff, he always gave a full-time effort to the job, devoting countless hours and displaying a high energy level in all that he did.  He is greatly respected by his coaching colleagues both at Westminster and in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.  We will miss him and wish him and his family well."

The baseball team has compiled a 228-221-1 record since Nocera has been in the dugout. Westminster has also made the playoffs 10 of the last 13 years. Since 2004, 18 of Nocera's players have earned 24 all-PAC selections. In 2005 Nocera coached the Titans to their first Presidents' Athletic Conference playoff berth, where they won the PAC championship and Nocera was voted PAC Coach of the Year.

"Not too many times in your life, can you work your two passions," said Nocera. "I'm humbled that I was able to coach collegiately and be an administrator in the New Castle school system. "I would like to thank Scott "Scooter" Renninger for bringing me in 13 years ago and Jim Dafler and President Dr. Richard H. Dorman for giving me the opportunity to lead Westminster baseball to success."

The team's success continued as it has made the conference playoffs in four of the last five seasons, finishing second in the conference last year and tying the school record for second most wins in a season (25).

Before coaching at Westminster, Nocera was the head baseball coach at New Castle high school where he still works full-time as a school administrator in the school district.

Nocera's successor that will take the reins in the 2013 season will be Titan assistant coach Tim Mulligan. The 2012 season will make Mulligan's second year on the staff as the team's pitching coach. Mulligan brings 17 years of baseball coaching/recruiting experience. He has worked with the Ohio Glaciers, Paramount Scouting Bureau, and the Brothers Class "B" 18 & Under team in Youngstown, Ohio. Before coaching at Westminster, Mulligan was the pitching coach at Canfield High School in Ohio.

"I just want the kids to succeed," said Mulligan. "Win or lose, I just want them to do well on and off the field and for them to know that I care."

"My son will be playing baseball at Slippery Rock," added Nocera. "I will be a father, instead of a coach and that's ok."

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster, a top-tier liberal arts college, ranks third in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 6th among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 376 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 42 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.