Mike Petrowski - Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach - Baseball Coaches

Mike Petrowski

Title:
Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach
Email:
m.petrowski@unf.edu

Mike Petrowski joined the North Florida baseball staff as pitching coach in August of 2023 after a successful stint at Rider.

Mike Petrowski At a Glance
Arrives from Rider where he helped it to two NCAA Tournaments

Set the Rider program team single season strikeouts record twice (432, 423)
Helped produce ABCA All-American closer Dan Kirwin who finished 2nd in the nation in saves in 2023
Knocked off No. 9 Duke, No. 10 Coastal Carolina
Also defeated 2022 national runner-up Oklahoma
2023 Rider pitching staff was 22nd in Division I in ERA (4.39) and 2nd in successful pickoffs (20)

Mike Petrowski and the Broncs set a program record for wins in 2023 while winning a dramatic opening round regional contest against the Chanticleers.

Petrowski joined his alma mater as the pitching coach in 2019, helping the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference program to two conference titles. That wasn’ the only title that Petrowski won at Rider as he helped the program to the 2008 MAAC Championship before graduating in 2009.

Rider set the program team strikeouts record in consecutive seasons under Petrowski, with the Broncs spinning 432 and 423 respectively. Closer Dan Kirwin was a big reason for that success as the hurler finished second in the nation in saves and earned third team American Baseball Coaches Association All-American honors.
Rider knocked off No. 9 Duke in the regular season as well as No. 10 Coastal Carolina in their home regional. The Broncs also earned a win against 2022 national runner-up Oklahoma.

Additionally, a total of 21 draft picks, three major leagues and seven current minor leaguers have come up under Petrowski’s direction throughout his career.

“I am extremely excited to have Mike joining us here at UNF,” head coach Joe Mercadante said. “Mike has done a tremendous job at Rider over the past four seasons, going to the NCAA Tournament twice and setting the school single season strikeout record twice. He is highly regarded as a great developer of his pitching staffs from top to bottom. He knows what it takes to get to an NCAA Regional and most importantly, he prioritizes the student-athletes and his relationships with his players. I know Mike will do a great job with our players and we look forward to seeing the impact he will have with our team this fall.”

“I’m really excited to help get UNF to NCAA regionals and beyond,” Petrowski said. “With Joe and the staff's coaching pedigree and postseason success, this was a no brainer for me. I want to win and win at the highest level. When you have regional experience two out of the last three years, you create a drive to back every year. The support from the president, AD and on down seems second to none and I’m appreciative of UNF for giving me this opportunity.”

The pitching coach held a variety of positions throughout the Garden State, working at the high school, collegiate summer league and junior college levels. He worked as the pitching and assistant coach at Hamilton West and Nottingham High Schools and also as the head coach at Rowan College at Burlington County. At RCBC, Petrowski and the team paced all of NJCAA Division II in team ERA with a 2.86 mark.