Head Coach Matt McDonald



 
  Head Coach  
  19th Season in 2012-13  
  Overall Record: 463-250 (.649)  
MIAC Record: 250-110 (.695)
NCAA Appearances: 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009
MIAC Regular Season Champions: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007
MIAC Tournament Champions: 2003, 2006, 2009
Hometown: Beaver Dam,Wis.
Alma Mater: St. Olaf '89
E-mail: mcdonamc@stolaf.edu
Office Phone: 507-786-3638
 


THE McDONALD FILE
1989: Graduated from St. Olaf... Led the MIAC in batting his junior year... Was a member of two MIAC Championship teams... Played football for three seasons.
1990-93: Was an assistant baseball and football coach at St. Olaf.
1994: Named head baseball coach at St. Olaf.
1995: Team goes 25-15 in his first season.
1996: Team finishes third in MIAC with a 13-7 conference record.
1997: Team goes 29-13 overall and 16-4 in league play for a second place finish... Pitcher Colin Brackeen is a 14th-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays.
1999: Oles are 26-11 and 14-6 in MIAC play... First year Brian Sprout is named the MIAC's player of the year.
2000: Named MIAC's and Midwest Region coach of the year... Team ranked in the top five for most of the season, and as high as third... St. Olaf has a school-record 36-7 season, winning MIAC title with an 18-2 mark in conference play... Oles advance to NCAA Division III Midwest Region Final... Sprout earns second straight MIAC player of the year honor... Seven Oles earn All-MIAC honors.
2001: Oles win second straight MIAC title, going 18-2 in league play... Sprout earns third straight league MVP award... St. Olaf finishes 29-9 overall.
2002: Team captures third straight MIAC championship, going 17-3 in MIAC games... Sophomore Charlie Ruud is MIAC's pitcher of the year... Brian Sprout signed by Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the Northern League... Catcher Dan LaManna is signed by Winnipeg Goldeyes.
2003: St. Olaf goes 27-14 and 16-4 in MIAC play to finish second... Team reaches NCAA's with a MIAC Tournament Championship... Mike Ludwig is a 37th-round draft selection of Los Angeles Dodgers... Sprout's contract purchased by Dodgers in November.
2006: Team reaches NCAA Tournament for third time in career via MIAC Tournament Championship... Oles win 30 games for second time in career.
2007: Named MIAC's Coach of the Year after team wins MIAC regular season title... Oles reach NCAA Tournament... Team wins 32 games, marking the second straight 30-win season... OF Andrew Schmeising is an 11th-round pick of Minnesota Twins.
2009: Oles win MIAC tournament and reach NCAA Midwest Region final for second time in career.
2010: Team finishes fourth in the MIAC, marking the 15th straight season in the top four in the league.
2011: Ben Hughes is a 10th-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies.
St. Olaf skipper Matt McDonald, who is also the school's athletic director, has led his St. Olaf baseball team to at least 30 wins in three of the last seven seasons. The team has reached the NCAA tournament five times under McDonald, including 2006, 2007 and 2009. McDonald, who won the MIAC's coach of the year in 2007 for the third time in his career, has led St. Olaf to 21-win seasons in his first 18 seasons.

The Oles have gone to all but three of the MIAC's four-team postseason tournament since the event's inception in 2000. St. Olaf won the event in 2003, 2006 and 2009 and has been in the championship in seven of the 12 seasons.

Besides 2006, 2007 and 2009, St. Olaf had another 30-win spring under McDonald. The 2000 squad, led by three-time MIAC MVP Brian Sprout '02, won a school record 36 games and advanced to the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Final.

Before becoming St. Olaf's athletic director, McDonald chaired the NCAA Division III selection committee and has served in various coaching roles at St. Olaf. He was a football and baseball assistant prior to accepting the head baseball job. After becoming the Oles' 15th head coach, and second since 1966, he continued as a football assistant until 2001. He was the head men's golf coach in 2002.

McDonald, a native of Beaver Dam, Wis., played on the 1988 and 1989 MIAC Championship teams at St. Olaf under Hall of Fame coach Jim Dimick, captaining the 1989 squad. He was named All-MIAC and all-region second baseman in 1988 and 1989, and led the MIAC in hitting in 1988. McDonald also played football, where he was a quarterback for three seasons.

McDonald and his wife Barb reside in Northfield and have two children, Katie and Tommy.


The Oles Under Matt McDonald
Season Overall Pct. MIAC Pct. MIAC Place (Tourn)
1995 25-15 .625 11-9 .550 5th
1996 21-12 .636 13-7 .650 3rd
1997 29-13 .690 16-4 .800 2nd
1998 21-16 .567 12-8 .600 3rd
1999 26-11 .702 14-6 .700 2nd
2000 36-7 .837 18-2 .900 1st (2nd) *NCAAs
2001 29-9 .763 18-2 .900 1st (2nd)
2002 27-12 .692 17-3 .850 1st (2nd)
2003 27-14 .658 16-4 .800 2nd (1st) *NCAAs
2004 20-17 .541 13-7 .650 3rd (3rd)
2005 23-17 .575 13-7 .650 2nd (4th)
2006 30-10 .750 15-5 .750 2nd (1st) *NCAAs
2007 32-10 .762 16-4 .800 1st (2nd) *NCAAs
2008 28-12 .700 16-4 .800 2nd (2nd)
2009 32-14 .696 15-5 .750 2nd (1st) *NCAAs
2010 22-18 .550 12-8 .600 4th
2011 21-18 .550 9-11 .600 6th
2012 14-25 .358 6-14 .300 11th
Total 463-250 .649 250-110 .695 ---