Episode 164: Steady Leadership with Coach Rich Maloney

Some call it grit. Some call it moxie or perseverance. When it comes to the game of baseball, and in becoming a living example to other coaches and players, perhaps the best word to describe Rich Maloney is “steady.” In this episode, Mike sits down with one of the coaching greats in all of college baseball to talk about life and leadership, and the platform God provides each of us to live on mission and impact others.

Ball State Head Baseball Coach Rich Maloney has compiled a career record of 917-600-1 (through 2022 season), winning six MAC Conference Regular Season Championships with the Cardinals. Additionally, he has earned MAC Coach of the Year honors four times in his tenure. From 2003-2012 Maloney served as Head Baseball Coach for the University of Michigan, winning three Big Ten Championships, four NCAA Regional appearances, and an NCAA Regional Championship in 2007. He was also a two-time Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year.

In his coaching career, Maloney has coached 65 players who were drafted by Major League teams, including six first-round selections (all at Ball State). Maloney has been honored with FCA Baseball's Jerry Kindall Award in January 2017, and was selected as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division I representative on the executive committee. He served six years as the Division I Chair for the ABCA and served as the President of the ABCA in 2018.

Playing Career:

Maloney was a Third Team All-American as a senior shortstop at Western Michigan … three-year letterwinner at WMU (1984-86) and a two-time captain … two-time All-MAC first-team selection and was twice named to the all-district squad … Western's team MVP while hitting .362 as a junior in 1985 … twice named the top defensive player on the team (1984, '86) … set the WMU career record for runs scored (124) as a senior … inducted into WMU's Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2004. He was a 13th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1986 and spent six seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization, earning all-star status in the Appalachian League for the Pulaski Braves and in the South Atlantic League for the Sumter Braves. Maloney played for former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little and for current Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker. He retired from pro baseball following the 1991 season at Greenville (AA).