Baseball Names Don Maines New Head Coach

9/7/05 -- Don Maines, who amassed nearly 300 career victories at Drexel University, was named the 12th head baseball coach in Long Island University history as announced by the athletic department today. He replaces the program’s all-time winningest coach, Frank Giannone, who retired at the conclusion of the 2005 season.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the LIU athletic department family," Maines said. "I look forward to working with the student-athletes and continuing a tradition of academic and athletic excellence.”

Maines takes over following an established career at Drexel. He led the Dragons for 14 seasons, registering 298 victories and the all-time highest winning percentage. Prior to his arrival at the Philadelphia school, Drexel had posted just two winning seasons in 15 years. Maines quickly turned the Dragons into contenders, leading them to three America East championship games (1993, 1995, 1996) and a school-record 35 victories in 1995.

During his time at Drexel, Maines directed three freshman All-Americans, four All-Americans and five professional baseball players. Drexel dropped baseball as a varsity sport following the 2003 season.

Maines began his coaching career in 1987 as an assistant at his alma mater, East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He served as an assistant coach at Princeton University for one season (1988-89), supervising its recruiting efforts.

The North Plainfield, N.J. native inherits an LIU team which last season finished 13-25 overall, 9-15 in the Northeast Conference. The Blackbirds return 19 letterwinners in the Spring.

"Our program returns some tremendous talent and I am eager to prepare the team to compete in the NEC this spring,” Maines adds. "I believe we can do some great things with this program and establish it, again, as a powerhouse in this region."

Maines graduated from East Stroudsburg in 1982 with a B.S. in health and Physical Education and completed his M.Ed. from there in 1988.