University of Connecticut Baseball

Jim Penders enters his 23rd season at the helm for the Huskies in 2026. A five-time conference Coach of the Year, Penders has overseen one of the most successful stretches in the 129-year history of UConn baseball. Penders has worked with the University of Connecticut baseball program in 33 of the last 36 years, being associated with the Huskies as a student-athlete, an assistant coach and now head coach. The Huskies have the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball. Overall in his tenure, Penders holds a 773-496-5 record. On May 16, 2019, Penders surpassed his mentor, Andy Baylock, for most wins in UConn history by securing his 557th victory in a 8-5 win at Tulane. He has led the Huskies to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, and three Super Regional appearances in 2011, 2022 & 2024. UConn has also won a regular season or conference title 10 times with Penders in the dugout and hosted the 2010 Norwich Regional. Under his watch, 18 Huskies have earned All-America honors, most recently Ryan Daniels in 2025. In 22 seasons as head coach for the Huskies, Penders has had a total of 79 players either drafted or signed by professional baseball clubs and had nine former players play in the MLB. During the 2015 MLB season a program-record five former Huskies played in the big leagues: Nick Ahmed ('11) of the Diamondbacks, Matt Barnes ('11) of the Red Sox, Scott Oberg ('12) of the Rockies, Mike Olt ('11) of the Cubs and George Springer ('11) of the Astros. The feat occurred ag

Catie Dann has been at UConn since July of 2007. Currently the athletic trainer for the baseball team, she has worked with many teams in her tenure at UConn, including women's soccer, swimming and rowing. Dann oversees the day-to-day care of the student-athletes, while working closely with the rest of the sports medicine staff. She has been a certified athletic trainer since 2005 and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Prior to UConn, Dann was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at The George Washington University (2005-07) and worked primarily with the women's soccer program. She graduated with a master's degree in exercise physiology focusing on exercise, nutrition, and eating behavior. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of Connecticut in athletic training in 2005.

Chris Podeszwa has been a member of his former UConn teammate Jim Penders' coaching staff since Penders took over as head coach in 2004. Podeszwa's focus is primarily on the instruction of infielders and hitters. Podeszwa is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball. Podeszwa has helped develop major league talent working with Nick Ahmed, John Andreoli, Mike Olt and George Springer during his time with the Huskies. Podeswa was inducted into the Waterford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. On November 25, 2016 Podeszwa and seven others represented the sixth induction class. The Huskies won 38 games during the 2025 campaign and won their fifth-straight BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. Second baseman Ryan Daniels earned BIG EAST Player of the Year while shortstop Rob Rispoli earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors and first baseman Tyler Minick landed on the second team. UConn earned an at-large bid to its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament during the 2024 season. The Huskies won their fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season championship and advanced to the program's third Super Regional appearance by winning the NCAA Norman Regional During the 2023 season, he helped the Huskies win 44 games and win their third-straight BIG EAST Championship while advancing to the NCAA Gainesville Regional. In 2022, he helped the program set a program record with 50 wins and a trip to the program's second Super Regional after capturing the 2022 NCAA College Park Regional title

Jeff Hourigan joined Jim Penders’ staff prior to the 2012 season and is now entering his 15th season as an assistant coach in 2026. Hourigan, who played at UConn for two seasons, returned to Storrs after spending five years as an assistant coach and pitching coach at the University of New Haven. Hourigan is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball. During Hourigan's time in Storrs, he has mentored the UConn hitters, specifically outfielders, and served as the recruiting coordinator. Since he came aboard, UConn has had 20 position players drafted or signed by MLB clubs. Hourigan has also helped mentored five All-Americans, with David Smith (2023), Erik Stock (2022), Kyler Fedko (2021), Vinny Siena (2015) and LJ Mazzilli (2013) each earning All-America honors during their time in Storrs. UConn won 38 games in 2025 and won its fifth-straight BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. Ryan Daniels earned BIG EAST Player of the Year while four position players landed All-BIG EAST honors. UConn scored the third most runs (519) in a single-season, stole 139 bases (second most) and hit a program record 97 home runs including 22 for Tyler Minick (2nd most single-season) and Ryan Daniels hit 18. Both Minick and Daniels eclipsed 70 RBI seasons. Daniels was selected in the 11th Round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. During the 2024 season, the Huskies won the NCAA Norman Regional to advance to the program's third Super Regional. Five position players (Kor

Josh MacDonald joined Jim Penders' staff in 2012 and enters his 15th season as Husky pitching coach in 2026. MacDonald is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball. MacDonald has coached seven All-Americans during his time in Storrs and had an All-American in six of seven completed seasons (Cross ('15), Kay ('16), Russell ('17), Feole & Poulin ('18), Jacob Wallace ('19) and Austin Peterson (2022). (*2020 season shortened due to Covid-19) Under MacDonald the Huskies have eclipsed 500 strikeouts as a staff the past 10 seasons, including a program record 642 strikeouts in 2022. (*2020 season shortened due to Covid-19). In 2025, the Huskies won 38 games and won a fifth-straight BIG EAST regular season championship. UConn closer Brady Afthim earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors with nine saves and and a team-low 2.45 ERA. Afthim finished his career with 92 career appearances under MacDonald, ranking second most in program history. Senior Ian Cooke closed his career with 276 strikeouts, also ranking second in UConn history. In 2025 MLB Draft, Brady Afthim was selected in the 13th Round by the Cincinnati Reds. On August 6, 2025, PJ Poulin made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals. During the 2024 season, the Huskies captured a NCAA Norman Regional title to advance to the program's third Super Regional. The Huskies earned their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament berth and won their fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season crown. Ian Cooke captured