WSC Baseball Camps - Wayne State College

WSC Baseball Camps

John Manganaro
Head Coach

2006 & 2007 NSIC Coach of the Year

John Manganaro begins his 19th season with the WSC baseball program and his 16th season as the head baseball coach. As the Wildcat’s skipper, Manganaro has amassed a 421-281-1 record. Since joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference six seasons ago, the Wildcats have gone 147-44 in conference play. Manganaro achieved a milestone win in the 2007 season, picking up his 400th career win in a 9-0 win over Minnesota, Crookston on April 2.

Manganaro guided the Wildcats to a 37-16 mark in 2007. WSC went 25-5 to win the NSIC regular season and host the league's post-season tournament for the fourth straight season. The Wildcats also earned a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Central Regional Baseball Tournament, advancing to NCAA post-season play for the fifth time in the last seven years.

WSC finished the 2006 season with a 37-15-1 record and a 19-1 mark in the NSIC, which ties the NSIC all-time record. The Wildcats won the NSIC title for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in the last six years. Wayne State also hosted the NSIC Tournament for the third straight season, where they were crowned champion all three years. The Wildcats also advanced to the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament for the third straight season and fourth time in six years.

The Wildcats had another record-setting season in 2005. WSC captured the NSIC Tournament championship for a third straight season and set a new school record for wins, going 45-14. The Wildcats also advanced to the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament for the second straight season and third time in five years, finishing third. WSC posted the top regular season mark in the NSIC, going 19-3, to earn the top seed and host the NSIC Tournament for the second straight season.

WSC finished the 2004 season with a then-school record 44 wins (44-18). The Wildcats won the NSIC regular season (19-8) and post-season tournament championship (3-0) and went on to place second in the 2004 NCAA Division II Central Regional Baseball Tournament.

Wayne State College also won the NSIC post-season baseball tournament championship in 2001 and 2003 and placed third at the NCAA Division II Central Regional Baseball Tournament in 2001. In 1998, his team received the Louisville Slugger Independents Award for the top independent in the Central Region.

Under Manganaro’s tutelage, Wildcat players have experienced a great deal of success. His 2001 Wildcat pitching staff combined for a team ERA of 3.68, which ranked them 15th nationally in Division II. Numerous players have received All-Conference and All-Region awards. During his tenure, Manganaro has coached numerous outstanding athletes who have signed professional contracts. Academically Manganaro’s players are always making steps to achieve their goals. In the classroom the team’s GPA is annually at or above 3.0.

Manganaro is building alumni and community support for his program through The Dugout Club, speaking engagements, community service projects and numerous baseball camps. These efforts have paid off with outstanding game attendance and booster support. Manganaro conducts numerous baseball camps in northeast Nebraska during the summer and conducts fall, winter and spring camps at home in Wayne.

Before taking over as the Wildcats head coach, Manganaro served as an assistant at WSC for three seasons, where he was the hitting instructor, catchers and outfielders coach. During that time the Wildcats were noted as a top independent in the Central Region. From 1975 to 1989 Manganaro enjoyed a great deal of success coaching high school and American Legion baseball in northeast Nebraska.

Manganaro is a native of Omaha, Neb. where he graduated from Creighton Prep high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management and master’s degree in sport administration from Wayne State College. In addition to being head coach, Manganaro also teaches in the Health, Human Performance and Sport Division and is the outdoor recreation facilities supervisor at Wayne State College.

Manganaro is married to the former Janice Gardner. Together they have six children, Tony (29), Nick and Ross (25), Marc (22), Kyle (20) and Carly (16).