Joe Kinney Position: Head Coach Experience: 13th season Alma Mater: Lehigh University, 1988

Contact Coach Kinney
E-Mail: baseball@lafayette.edu
Office: (610) 330-5476

Joe Kinney is in his 13th season as the head coach at Lafayette. Since taking over in 1999, Kinney has continuously raised the talent level to the point where Lafayette is consistently in contention for a Patriot League title.

The Leopards advanced to the Patriot League Tournament in 2009 and 2011, including an underdog run to the 2009 championship series. As the No. 4 seed, they upended Bucknell in the semifinals to earn a date with Army in the finals.

Perhaps the most notable year under Kinney came in 2007 - a season for the record books - as the Leopards recorded a program-best 33 wins, including 17 Patriot League victories, and advanced to the NCAA Regional. The team's performance that season earned Kinney his first-ever Patriot League Coach of the Year honor.

Under Kinney, Lafayette has boasted 45 All-Patriot League selections and three Patriot League Players of the Year (A.J. Miller '11, Adam Rosenberg '04, Vince D'Angelis '02).

Kinney was also at the helm in 2004 for the Leopards' first trip to Patriot League Championship Series and in 2002 for Lafayette's first 20-win season in a decade.

Kinney has been instrumental in major renovations to Lafayette's baseball facilities. In 2008, the baseball field was renamed Kamine Stadium and, in 2004, renovations made to the stadium included the addition of a grandstand with chair-back seats and bleachers, a press box and the expansion and refurbishment of both dugouts. Most recently, Kinney oversaw the construction of Morel Field House, an indoor facility shared by the baseball and softball programs. Other improvements in Kinney's tenure include a new scoreboard, outfield fence and warning track, new infield mix and a shelter in the Lafayette bullpen.

Prior to Lafayette, Kinney was the top assistant at Navy from 1992-99, helping guide the Midshipmen to four Patriot League titles and two NCAA East Regional appearances. His responsibilities included serving as the hitting and defensive coach, facility manager for the baseball complex, equipment manager and director of the Navy Baseball Camp.

Before Navy, Kinney was an assistant coach at Lehigh from 1990-92 where he was the hitting, defense and conditioning coach. While in Bethlehem, he completed his master's degree in Secondary Education. Kinney's time at Lehigh followed a stint at Columbia High School in his hometown of Maplewood, N.J., where he was the junior varsity baseball coach and freshman football coach.

Kinney graduated from Lehigh in 1988 with a degree in Economics. He enjoyed a four-year collegiate playing career with the Mountain Hawks, serving as captain of the 1987 and 1988 squads. Kinney and his wife, the former Susan Pitman, reside on College Hill with their daughters Annelise and Alexis.