Rutgers hires McRae as pitching coach and associate head coach

Longtime college coach Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.) has been hired by Rutgers to be their new pitching coach/associate head coach.

July 17, 2024

Official Rutgers University Athletics News Release

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball head coach Steve Owens announced the hiring of Mike McRae as the program's pitching coach and associate head coach on Wednesday.

McRae is an established veteran of college baseball who brings over 25 years of Division I experience to the Scarlet Knights, having most recently served as the head coach at William & Mary from 2022 to 2024.

"Mike is an outstanding baseball coach who has recruited talented players and developed winning programs for many years," Owens said. "He will be responsible for all aspects of our pitching staff where he has had tremendous success. We are excited about his addition to our coaching staff and look forward to the impact he will have on our players."

"I am extremely excited to join a high-level staff at an amazing institution of higher learning, as Rutgers enters the first year in the new Big Ten," McRae said. "I cannot wait to serve a great group of players and be transformational in their quest to improve."

In his time in Williamsburg, McRae led the Tribe to three straight winning seasons and three consecutive appearances in the CAA Tournament. William & Mary's pitching staff posted an ERA of 4.39 during his tenure, which ranked second in the CAA in that timespan. In each of his three seasons, a Tribe player received a player of the year honour from the conference, highlighted by 2024 CAA Pitcher of the Year Nate Knowles, who posted an 8-3 record with a 2.48 ERA, 112 strikeouts and a .178 batting average against in 80 innings of work.

Prior to his stint at William & Mary, McRae served as the pitching coach at VCU from 2018 to 2021. With the Rams, McRae helped the program win the A-10 Tournament championship in 2021 and mentored six pitchers who went on to play in MLB organizations. VCU posted a team ERA under 4.00 in three of McRae's four seasons as pitching coach.

Before VCU, McRae had a decorated 13-year career as the head coach at Canisius. where he was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 2008, 2010 and 2014. Prior to his arrival, the Golden Griffins won just four games apiece from 2002 to 2004. He went on to lead Canisius to 11 straight appearances in the MAAC tournament, three regular season titles and two tournament championships with two NCAA Regional appearances.

McRae's first head coaching job came at Niagara, where he led the Purple Eagles to a 14-win improvement from year one to year two, finishing with back-to-back appearances in the MAAC Tournament and a 41-36 record in conference. He earned MAAC Coach of the Year in 2003.

McRae began his Division I coaching career as an assistant at Niagara in 1996, working with the Purple Eagles for two seasons before taking a job as an assistant at Winthrop in 1998. He then served an assistant for the three seasons at Maine from 1999-2001 before taking the head job at Niagara.

In addition to his collegiate experience, McRae coached the Canadian Youth National Team at the 1996 and 1997 World Championships. He served as a guest coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training in 1997. He also coached Team USA's 16U program in 2019.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ont., McRae graduated from Colby College in 1991, where he played baseball and hockey for the Mules. He also received a master's degree from Niagara in 1993. McRae has a daughter, Madison, and a son, Mason.