Dan Pepicelli Named Clemson Baseball Assistant Coach

Oct. 5, 2009

Clemson, SC – Clemson Head Coach Kyle Bunn, who accepted a position on the Alabama coaching staff on September 9, 2009.

Pepicelli (pronounced peh-pih-SEH-lee) spent the past nine seasons (2001-09) as the head coach at Saint John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. Pepicelli, who also served as pitching coach during his tenure with the Cardinal program, led it to a 200-136-1 (.595) record. In the program’s first 13 seasons, it had just three winning seasons. But in Pepicelli’s nine seasons with the Cardinals, he directed them to seven winning seasons and one .500 campaign. In each of his last seven seasons with the Cardinals, he directed them to the postseason, including their first Division III Championship berth in 2007. The Cardinals also won ECAC Upstate Championship titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2009.

“We are very pleased to announce Dan Pepicelli as our new pitching coach,” said Leggett, who will enter his 17th season as head coach at Clemson in 2010. “I think his knowledge of pitching along with his experience as a head coach and pitching coach will be an asset to our staff. His teams and pitching staffs have been very successful and are well-respected. His knowledge of fundamentals, communication skills, and work-ethic are qualities that drew me to him.

“I think he will forge a great relationship with our players and I know he will be able to draw out the best in them. I have every bit of confidence that Coach Pepicelli will be able to assist in taking our pitchers to the next level.”

In 2009, he coached the Empire 8 Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year and Rookie-of-the-Year. Leo Fusilli was named player-of-the-year after hitting .455 with three homers and 38 RBIs, while Teagen Barresi was named rookie-of-the-year after batting .384 with six homers and 39 RBIs.

Pepicelli, who also served as an assistant athletic director at Saint John Fisher, received national attention for his team’s act of sportsmanship in 2008. In the ninth inning against visiting SUNY Oswego in the ECAC Championship, a line-drive foul ball struck a Laker coach in the temple as he was coaching third base. Despite the fact that the Cardinals were trailing 9-5, Pepicelli and the team elected to concede the game, effectively ending any chance at back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Saint John Fisher was honored by the Committee on Sportsmanship & Ethical Conduct with the NCAA’s All-Divisions Sportsmanship Award for its courageous decision.

Prior to his tenure at Saint John Fisher, Pepicelli was the head coach at Hartwick College in 1999 and 2000 after serving as an assistant coach at Hartwick from 1996-98.

The 1990 graduate of SUNY Cortland, who earned a degree in economics/management science, was an all-region and all-conference selection during his playing days. In 1986 and 1987, he played at Mohawk Valley (NY) Community College, where he was an all-region selection. After serving as a volunteer assistant at Mohawk Valley Community College in 1988, he transferred to SUNY Cortland, where he played in 1989. Pepicelli then played at SUNY College at Oneonta in 1990, where he was an all-conference pick.

Pepicelli is a certified strength & conditioning specialist (CSCS) and is a member of the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Pepicelli is married to the former Robyn Malloy, who has served as an assistant coach with the Syracuse women’s soccer program since 2005. He was born Daniel James Pepicelli on May 18, 1967 in Schenectady, NY.