17 Years • Career Record: 492-306-5 • 1 PSAC Title • 6 NCAA Playoff appearances
John Kochmansky, who led East Stroudsburg University to the 2013 PSAC championship, enters his 18th season as the Warriors' head baseball coach in 2025.
Kochmansky has led the Warriors to six appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament (2011, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024) - including a school record 43 wins during the 2024 season. The Warriors, who hosted an Atlantic Regional pod in 2024 for the first time in program history, were the runner-up of the Atlantic Region in 2022, finished third in 2011, and fourth in 2016.
ESU has qualified for the PSAC Tournament in 10 of the last 17 years (2010-11, 13, 15-17, 19, 22-24), including winning the 2013 title for the Warriors' first PSAC championship since 1971. The Warriors returned to the championship game for the second time in the last three years in 2024, finishing as the runner-up for the second time since 2015 (2022), which was the first of three straight appearances from 2015-17.
ESU has posted six 30-win seasons and two 40-win campaign in 17 years under Kochmansky, and have set the school record for wins five times - 32-22 in 2009, 34-18 during the 2013 PSAC championship season, 38-18 in 2016, 41-20 during their run to Atlantic Super Regional and 43-14 in 2024.
Individually, the Warriors have had seven players selected in the MLB Draft in the last 14 seasons, the third-most in the PSAC.
In July 2018, pitcher Matt Festa became ESU's fifth MLB player in school history and second since 1952 when he was promoted by the Seattle Mariners.
The Warriors have also had seven All-America selections and four regional players of the year since Kochmansky was named head coach in 2008. He was previously an assistant coach from 2005-07.
In 2024, ESU continued to reach new heights under Kochmansky, who was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, as the Warriors set the school record for wins (43), captured their first PSAC East regular season title in school history, finished as the PSAC Tournament runner-up and hosted the NCAA Atlantic Regional for the first time in program history. Additionally. ESU got off to their best 30-game start (27-3) in school history, won a program-record 25 straight games from February 19 to April 8, started a school-best 18-0 in the PSAC East and was ranked in the national polls for large portion of the season.
Highlighted by Brent Francisco being tabbed the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year, the Warriors had four All-PSAC East First Team honorees including Jack Rothenhausler (1B), Shanley Wall (OF), Caden Parker (RP) and Francisco (SP); while Ryan Dewees (SP) and Cameron Hubbard (DH) landed on the Second Team. Francisco went on to become the eighth All-American selection in program history earning First Team recognition by the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA after being named the Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year by those same organizations. Additionally, Parker, Wall and Dewees (NCBWA) earned All-Region honors alongside Francisco, who departed with school records for innings pitched (292.1), strikeouts (326), wins (30) and games started (53) as well as single-season marks for strikeouts (116 – 2022), innings pitched (89.1 – 2022, 2024), games started (16 – 2022) and wins (12 – 2024).
Francisco became the fifth NCAA Division II Statistical Champion under Kochmansky as he led the nation in WHIP (0.78) while the Warriors as a team ranked toed for first in shutouts (12), fifth in ERA (3.63), sixth in WHIP (1.29) and 19th in fielding percentgae (0.973).
ESU continued their sustained success during 2023 as the Warriors finished 36-14 overall for their sixth 30-win season under Kochmanksy. The Warriors, who got off to their best 30-game start (26-4), earned the #2 seed in the East for the PSAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. ESU was featured in the national polls for a majority of the year, ranking as high as No. 4 in the Perfect Game Top 25, No. 7 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Poll and No. 9 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II Top 25.
The Warriors were the NCAA Statistical Champion in earned run average after pitching to a 3.24 mark in 402.1 innings while also ranking among the nations' best in numerous additional categories including 3rd in stolen bases per game (3.68), 4th in fielding percentage (0.979), 4th in stolen bases (184), 10th in WHIP (1.32), 12th in strikeout-to-walk-ratio (2.56), 13th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.23), 14th in shutouts (6), 16th in WL percentage (0.720), 17th in double plays per game (0.84), 20th in sacrifice flies (34), 22nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.3), 24th in double plays (42), 30th in walks (275) and 30th in walks allowed oer nine innings (3.62).
Headlined by PSAC East Pitcher of the Year Chase Nowak, the Warriors earned five All-PSAC East First Team selections including Mike Kelly (OF), Cameron Hubbard (DH), Tom Reisinger (SP), Nick McAuliffe (RP) and Nowak. Nowak was tabbed the NCBWA All-Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and along with Reisinger, earned All-Region recognition from ABCA/Rawlings, D2CCA and NCBWA. On July 10, Reisinger was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
ESU set the single-season program record for stolen bases with 184 and were led Matt Ervolina, who eclipsed the individual single-season mark with 37.
After punching their ticket to the postseason in the final game of the regular season, the 2022 season was arguably the most successful in program history as the Warriors had a second place finish in the PSAC Tournament and were the runner-ups at the NCAA Atlantic Super Regional. ESU set the school record for wins (41) as well as single-season program records for home runs (58), stolen bases (140), innings pitch (502.1), and strikeouts (522).
Led Jack Rothenhausler being named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, ESU had five All-PSAC selections with Brock Kauffman (3B), Ben Piripavel (OF), Brent Francisco (SP) and Chase Nowak (SP) earning first team honors while CJ Peechatka (DH) landed on the second team. Francisco (NCBWA, D2CCA, ABCA/Rawlings), Nowak (NCBWA, D2CCA, ABCA/Rawlings) and Anthony Torreullas (D2CCA) all earned All-Region honors.
Kauffman concluded one of the best careers in program history by leaving with school records in hits (228), RBI (168), doubles (57), extra-base hits (84) and total bases (358). The Blue Ball, Pa. native played the second most games all-time (199), slugged the fourth most home runs (19) and scored the sixth most runs (145). Brainy Rojas wrapped up his career with the school record for walks (134) and times reached base (338), while finishing tied for second in runs scored (162), second for stolen bases (79) and third in games played at 194.
Rothenhausler finished the 2022 season with ESU freshman records for hits (55), doubles (17), home runs (7), RBI (35), runs scored (36), extra base hits (26) and total bases (97).
On April 30, 2022, Kochmanksy notched his 400th career victory with a 3-0 triumph over Lock Haven.
In 2021, redshirt senior pitcher Connor Johnson and redshirt freshman Tim Haverstick were both named to the All-PSAC second-team, marking the 12th consecutive season that ESU received multiple all-conference selections. On April 16, redshirt sophomore Chase Nowak became the ninth pitcher in program history to throw a no-hitter as the Warriors defeated Kutztown.
In the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, the Warriors were 14-1-2 and outscored their opponents 153-33. Cam Voss led a dominant pitching staff as he was named to the Perfect Game DII Top 25 for his performance, with 42 strikeouts, 13 walks, just two hits allowed and a 0.43 ERA in 21.0 innings. Offensively, the Warriors hit .347 with a .459 on-base percentage.
The 2019 team returned to the PSAC tournament and recorded the fifth 30-win season under Kochmansky. ESU received multiple All-PSAC first-team selections for the seventh-consecutive season as sophomore third baseman Brock Kauffman and junior utility Anthony Torreullas garnered the honors. Redshirt senior designated hitter Christian Rishel and sophomore pitcher Nate Fialia were both named to the second team.
In 2018, senior catcher Steven Zimmerman, Jr. set ESU's career home run record (22) and was named first team All-PSAC East for the second straight season, along with sophomore utility (RHP/OF) Carson Freeman, with freshman 3B Brock Kauffman on the second team.
The 2017 team, which made ESU's third straight PSAC Tournament appearance, had four All-PSAC East selections, each of whom were previously selected - utility (LHP/OF) Ian Allen, pitcher Tyler Eckman and Zimmerman on the first team, and first baseman Dylan Tamecki on the second team.
The 2016 season (38-18) was highlighted by PSAC and NCAA DII Tournament berths, with pitcher Matt Festa and outfielder Robert Bennie both gaining PSAC postseason honors, All-America honors and spots in the MLB Draft.
Festa was named PSAC East Co-Pitcher of the Year, set multiple ESU records including victories in a season (11) and career (23), was a consensus All-Region first team selection and was named to the ABCA All-America second team and NCBWA All-America third team. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, the highest draft pick in school history.
Bennie was the PSAC East Athlete of the Year, was named ABCA and NCBWA Atlantic Region Player of the Year, earned ABCA second team and D2CCA third team All-America honors and set or tied four ESU single-season records, including hits (89), runs (67) and total bases (144). He was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 24th round.
Led by Festa and Bennie, ESU had a school-record eight All-PSAC East selections - seven on the first team (Festa, Bennie, Allen, 2B Jay Young, SS Conner Crookham, 3B Drew Hercik and DH Christian Rishel), along with Zimmerman on the second team. Festa, Bennie, Young, Crookham, Hercik and Allen all earned All-Region honors.
The 2015 PSAC runner-up team (31-19) scored 50 runs in five PSAC Tournament games in Butler, the most in the tournament since at least 2003. They posted an 18-11 win vs. Mercyhurst and 13-4 win vs. Slippery Rock to open the tournament, then had an 8-5 win vs. top-10 ranked Seton Hill.
The 2015 team had three All-PSAC East selections in reliever Eckman (school record nine saves) and Tamecki on the first team, and Allen (who also was a top starting pitcher) on the second team.
The 2014 team came up one game shy of returning to the PSAC Tournament to defend its championship, finishing 28-17 overall and 14-14 in the PSAC East. The Warriors missed the postseason on a tiebreaker.
ESU had two All-Americans in the same year for the first time in school history in outfielder Chris Knott and catcher Nico Delerme. Knott was named the Atlantic Region Player of the Year by Daktronics and the ABCA, and Delerme was the DII statistical leader in on-base percentage (.557).
ESU had five first team All-PSAC East selections, its most since 1985, in Knott, Delerme, senior C Eric Forth, sophomore 2B/INF Nick Rabasco and sophomore RHP Brandon Holup.
Knott was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 34th round of the MLB Draft. He graduated with seven school records for doubles (46), triples (16), home runs (19), extra-base hits (81), total bases (344), RBI (146) and games played (189). He led the PSAC (regular season) in five offensive categories in 2014.
Other MLB Draft picks are 2B Joe Bennie (2013, Oakland, 28th round), LHP Jeremy Gigliotti (2011, San Diego, 19th round) and 3B/OF Mark Angelo (2009, Seattle, 44th round). The Warriors previously had just one MLB Draft choice in school history.
In 2013, the Warriors went 4-0 in the PSAC Tournament capped by a 7-1 victory over West Chester for their first title in 42 years. Senior P/1B Brian Ernst was named PSAC Tournament MVP, throwing 8.0 innings on two days rest against the defending national champions.
ESU won its NCAA Tournament opener against host Winston-Salem, 8-6 (10 inn.), for its school-record 34th win of the year. The Warriors broke the record of 32 wins set in 2009, Kochmansky's second season at the helm.
The 2013 championship team was led by six All-PSAC East and four All-Region selections. Bennie, in his only season at ESU after transferring from La Salle, was an All-Region selection at second base and an MLB Draft pick.
Ernst was the first player in PSAC history with 200 career strikeouts and hits, finishing with 201 in each category. He had 88 strikeouts, second-most in school history, in 66.2 innings as a senior and set a school record with 15 strikeouts in a 2-0 win at Millersville on May 3. He was named the NCBWA Division II Pitcher of the Week.
In 2017, Allen became the second Warrior and just the fifth in PSAC history (joining Ernst) with 150 career strikeouts and 150 hits.
Chris Knott was a consensus All-Region first team selection and was named to the NCBWA honorable mention All-America team, before earning consensus All-America honors as a senior in 2014. Knott, Bennie and OF Eric Boyer, who finished his career second in school history in RBI and stolen bases, helped drive the offense.
On the mound, Ryan Lubreski, a transfer from UMass, was 8-1 with a 2.19 ERA. He won his first eight decisions and set a single-season school record with his eighth victory, a 6-2 win over Millersville in the second game of the PSAC Tournament. He was named to the All-PSAC East first team and was a consensus All-Region second team choice.
In 2011, ESU played in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history and first time since 1985. The squad set school records for the longest undefeated start (10-0) and best 20-game start (16-4) in school history, which resulted in the program's first-ever national ranking when ESU was No. 11 in the NCBWA poll on March 22.
The pitching staff, anchored by MLB Draft pick and All-American Jeremy Gigliotti and redshirt sophomore Andy Noga, helped pitch the Warriors into the PSAC Tournament with a doubleheader sweep at Mansfield on May 9. Gigliotti threw a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 2-0 win in the opener and Noga didn't allow an earned run in a 7-1 win in the nightcap.
While the Warriors, short on pitching, went 0-2 in the PSAC Tournament, they received their second-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament and went 2-2 to finish third in the region. ESU edged Seton Hill, 6-5 (11 inn.), in its opening game and crushed Concord, 17-3, in its third game of the tournament. Regional runner-up Mercyhurst had 4-1 and 4-2 victories for the Warriors' two losses in the tournament at the end of a 27-20 season.
Gigliotti led Division II with 4.57 hits allowed per 9 innings and ranked third with a 1.04 ERA. He had a 0.45 ERA, giving up three earned runs in 60.0 innings, entering the regional, had a school record 238 career strikeouts and set the PSAC record with 27.2 consecutive scoreless innings - including the first 25.2 of 2011. He was drafted in the 19th round by the San Diego Padres, the highest MLB Draft choice in school history. Noga led the nation with 0.62 walks per 9 innings, issuing five free passes in 71.2 innings, and had a 2.61 ERA with 58 strikeouts and six complete games.
Kochmansky was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading the Warriors to PSAC Tournament with a blistering late-season run. ESU went 26-20 overall and 15-3 over the final three weeks of the season, including a school record 11-game winning streak.
Left-handed pitcher Christian Saveri was the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year, throwing 69.1 innings with a 3.37 ERA. Ernst, a freshman, was also named second team All-PSAC East, with a 5-3 record and 49 strikeouts on the mound and ESU freshman records with six homers and 19 extra-base hits at the plate.
In 2009, All-American and MLB Draft choice Mark Angelo led a record-setting offense that paced the Warriors to a 32-22 season and a new school record for single-season victories. The Warriors hit .340, slugged 44 home runs and 132 doubles and averaged nearly eight runs per game. Angelo set five single-season records and All-Region outfielder Kevin Thompson broke or shared five career records.
Kochmansky was ESU’s top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons, from 2005 through 2007, before accepting his first collegiate head coaching position. He helped the Warriors to their first PSAC postseason berth in 22 years in 2007, which included a win over No. 1-ranked Kutztown in the PSAC tournament.
Kochmansky’s philosophy for the Warriors baseball program is to bring in quality student-athletes who are prepared to compete both in the classroom and on the diamond.
ESU’s offensive statistics have increased significantly since Kochmansky joined the Warriors 17 years ago, led by 33 players who have been first team All-PSAC East selections - Josh Butler (2006-07), Jacob DeBoer (2006-07), Mike Bortz (2008), Mark Angelo (2009), Kevin Thompson (2009), Brian Ernst (2012), Joe Bennie (2013), Chris Knott (2013-14), Nico Delerme (2014), Eric Forth (2014), Nick Rabasco (2014), Dylan Tamecki (2015, 17), Robert Bennie (2016), Jay Young (2016), Conner Crookham (2016), Drew Hercik (2016), Christian Rishel (2016), Ian Allen (2016-17), Tyler Eckman (2015, 17), Steven Zimmerman, Jr. (2017-18), Carson Freeman (2018), Brock Kauffman (2019, 22), Anthony Torreullas (2019), Ben Piripavel (2022), Brent Francisco (2022, 24), Chase Nowak (2022, 23), Mike Kelly (2023), Tom Reisinger (2023), Nick McAuliffe (2023), Cameron Hubbard (2023), Jack Rothenhausler (2024), Shanley Wall (2024) and Caden Parker (2024).
Standout pitching performances include five PSAC East Pitchers of the Year in Saveri (2010), Gigliotti (2011), Festa (2016), Nowak (2023) and Francisco (2024). Saveri pitched in a school record 65 games with a sub-4.00 ERA, 14 career wins and nine saves. Gigliotti had a 2.55 ERA and 5-2 record with 68 strikeouts in 60.0 innings in 2009, including a run of 31.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He missed most of the 2010 season due to injury and received a medical redshirt to come back for his All-America 2011 season. Festa was exceptional in 2016, going 11-2 with a 2.35 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 88.0 innings over 13 starts. He set single-season records for wins, strikeouts, starts, innings and complete games (9). In 2023, Nowak went 8-4 with a 2.26 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 79.2 innings over 15 starts. Francisco put the finishing touches on a standout career in 2024 as he produced a spectacular 12-1 record, 1.91 ERA and Division II-leading .78 WHIP across 89.1 innings. He registered 84 strikeouts, five complete games, three shutouts, fired 26.0 consecutive scoreless innings from March 29 to April 20 and was named All-America First team by the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA.
Ernst and Lubreski, mentioned earlier, formed an impressive 1-2 tandem during the 2013 PSAC championship season. Holup emerged as a front-line starter in 2014, earning All-PSAC honors as a sophomore. Eckman set the school record for saves (9) in 2015 and threw a complete game in a 13-4 win vs. Slippery Rock in the second game of the PSAC tournament in his second career start. He transformed into one of the PSAC and Atlantic Region's top starting pitchers as a senior in 2017.
DeBoer, who signed a professional contract and played for the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in 2009, played for Kochmansky at both ESU and Pen Argyl High School, where Kochmansky was the head baseball coach from 2000-05. DeBoer set school records for hits (224), total bases (297) and stolen bases (66) during his career with the Warriors.
Kochmansky guided Pen Argyl to five consecutive District 11 playoff appearances and was named the area’s coach of the year by the Easton Express-Times in 2000 and 2004. His teams played in the district semifinal in 2000, the district final in 2003 and won the Colonial League championship in 2004.
Kochmansky was an assistant coach at Lehigh in fall 2007 before taking over the ESU program. He was also an assistant coach at Lafayette College in 1999, and spent two years as a volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech while he pursued his Master’s degree in Health and Physical Education during the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
In 1997, he was an assistant coach for the Wilmington (N.C.) Sharks of the Coastal Plain League, a summer collegiate baseball league.
Kochmansky graduated from the University of Delaware in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education with teacher’s certification. He earned his Master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Virginia Tech in 1996.
While at Delaware, Kochmansky was the Blue Hens’ captain as a senior and led the team with a .426 batting average while compiling a 16-game hitting streak in 1987.
He also played three summers for the Quakertown Blazers of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. He holds the ACBL career record for runs scored, ranks second in hits and third in runs batted in. His career batting average of .386 is fourth in ACBL history, including a .458 mark in 1987.
Kochmansky resides in East Stroudsburg with his wife, Shala, and their son Jake.
John Kochmansky By the Numbers
• 492-306-4 (.616) record in 17 seasons (school record for wins)
• 2013 PSAC championship (ESU's first since 1971)
• 2015, 2022, 2024 PSAC runner-up
• 6 NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• hosted Atlantic Regional #2 in 2024 for first time in program history
• placed 2nd in Atlantic Super Regional in 2022
• placed 3rd in Atlantic Region in 2011
• 10 PSAC Tournament appearances (2010-11, 2013, 2015-17, 2019, 2022-24)
• 1st national ranking in school history in 2011
• 2010, 2024 PSAC East Coach of the Year
• school record 43 wins in 2024 (broke record of 32 wins in 2009, 34 in 2013, 38 in 2016, 41 in 2022)
• six 30-win seasons (32 in 2009; 34 in 2013; 31 in 2015; 38 in 2016; 31 in 2019, 36 in 2023)
• two 40-win seasons (41 in 2022, 43 in 2024)
• longest undefeated start (10-0) to a season in 2011 and 2016
• school record 25-game winning streak in 2024 (broke record of 15 games in 2022)
• best 30-game start in 2024 (27-3)
• 43 first team All-PSAC East selections
• 7 two-time first team selections - SP Brent Francisco - 2022, 2024; SP Chase Nowak - 2022, 2023; INF/3B Brock Kauffman - 2019, 2022; C Steven Zimmerman, Jr. - 2017, 2018; UTIL Ian Allen - 2016, 2017; SP/RP Tyler Eckman - 2015, 2017; OF Chris Knott - 2013, 2014)
• 4 three-time All-PSAC selections (any team) - INF/3B Brock Kauffman - 2018-19, 2022; C Steven Zimmerman - 2016-18; UTIL Ian Allen - 2015-17; UTIL Brian Ernst - 2012, 12-13
• 2 PSAC East Players of the Year - Knott (2014), OF Robert Bennie (2016)
• 5 PSAC East Pitchers of the Year - Christian Saveri (2010), Jeremy Gigliotti (2011), Matt Festa (2016), Chase Nowak (2023), Brent Francisco (2024)
• 2 PSAC East Freshman of the Year - Robert Patete (2012), Jack Rothenhausler (2022)
• 27 All-Region selections - Shanley Wall (2024, OF), Caden Parker (2024, RP), Ryan Dewees (2024, SP), Tom Reisinger (2023, SP), Chase Nowak (2022 and 2023, SP), Brent Francisco (2022 and 2024, SP), Anthony Torreullas (2022, UTIL), Carson Freeman (2018, RHP/OF), Steven Zimmerman, Jr. (2018, C), Ian Allen (2016 and 2017, LHP/OF), Tyler Eckman (2017, SP), Matt Festa (2016, SP), Jay Young (2016, 2B), Conner Crookham (2016, SS), Drew Hercik (2016, 3B), Robert Bennie (2016, OF), Dylan Tamecki (2015, 1B), Chris Knott (2013 and 2014, OF), Nico Delerme (2014, DH), Brandon Holup (2014, SP), Brian Ernst (2012 and 2013, P/1B), Joe Bennie (2013, 2B), Ryan Lubreski (2013, SP), Jeremy Gigliotti (2009 and 2011, SP), Christian Saveri (2010, SP), Mark Angelo (2009, 3B), Kevin Thompson (2009, OF)
• 5 NCAA DII statistical champions - Brent Francisco (2024, WHIP), Cam Voss (2020, fewest hits allowed per 9 innings), Nico Delerme (2014, on-base %), Jeremy Gigliotti (2011, fewest hits allowed per 9 innings), Andy Noga (2011, fewest walks allowed per 9 innings)
• 7 All-America selections - Francisco (2024), Festa (2016), Robert Bennie (2016), Knott (2014), Delerme (2014), Gigliotti (2011) and Angelo (2009)
• 7 MLB Draft choices - Reisinger (2023, 10th round), Festa (2016, 7th round), Robert Bennie (2016, 24th round), Knott (2014, 34th round), Joe Bennie (2013, 28th round), Gigliotti (2011, 19th round) and Angelo (2009, 44th round)
