Michael Mominey
Head Coach
Michael Mominey begins his 16th year of coaching and his ninth season as the Head Baseball Coach for NSU. Mominey also serves as Director of Athletics for Nova Southeastern University. Since joining the NCAA Division II in 2002, the Sharks baseball teams have averaged over 30 wins per season and have been consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally under Coach Mominey. The Nova Southeastern University baseball team finished the 2008 season with a 31-21 record, including a 14-8 record in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks 14-8 record marked the teams best conference record since joining the SSC in 2005.
First Baseman Bryan Cook earned multiple honors, including ABCA/Rawlings All-America Baseball Second Team, ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-American, NCWBA All-South Region First Team Honors, ABCA/Rawlings South Region Player of the Year and 1st Team All-South Region, Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, All-SSC 1st team, DAKTRONICS All-Region 1st Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District this post-season.
In 2007, the Sharks finished the season season with a 36-19 record, marking the teams most victories in a season since joining the NCAA and the most wins in a season over the past 10 years for the baseball program. The 2007 Sharks set multiple program records including a 12-game winning streak and an 18-game home winning streak. NSU began the season 25-4, which stands as the best start in program history, and tied the programs highest national ranking as they rose to as high as 13th in the Collegiate News National Poll.
Junior outfielder Matt Mindick became the fourth NSU baseball All-American (Second Team) since 2002, and the first position player honored. He joins former NSU pitchers Kyle Ruwe (2003-Second Team All-American), Derek Antelo (2005-First Team All-American) and Antony Bello (2006-Third Team All-American).
In 2006, the NSU baseball team posted a program-best 33-19 NCAA mark, including a third-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference with a 14-10 record in league play. The two teams that finished ahead of NSU in the standings were 2006 NCAA DII National Champions the University of Tampa and 2005 NCAA DII National Champions Florida Southern College.
The Sharks established their highest National ranking in program history when they climbed as high as 13th in the Collegiate Baseball News National poll. NSU won nine straight games to finish the regular season, including SSC series sweeps versus Eckerd College and Rollins College.
Left-handed pitcher Antony Bello was selected and signed by the Houston Astros in the 21st round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, becoming the fourth player in program history to be picked in MLBs First-Year Player Draft. The Sharks have had a player selected in the MLB Draft in three of the last four years.
Bello posted a 12-2 record, 2.87 ERA and 70 strikeouts, to lead the staff in 2006. His 12 wins were tops in the SSC and ranked third in the nation in the regular season. He was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-American Third Team, the ABCA/RAWLINGS All-South Region First Team and 2006 All-Sunshine State Conference Baseball First Team.
The 2005 Sharks finished with 32-21 record and were ranked as high as No. 15 in the NCAA Division II Baseball poll. NSU also finished 6th in the final NCAA South Region poll.
Among the many team accomplishments during the 2005 season were victories against NCAA DII National Champions Florida Southern College, winning two-out-of-three games versus No. 4 ranked University of Tampa and wins over No. 13 ranked Tusculum College and No. 17 ranked Rollins College.
NSU Senior RHP Derek Antelo was named a First Team NCAA Division II All-American by the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was also the 2005 NCAA South Region Pitcher of the Year, 2005 Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-South Region and a First Team All-SSC selection. Antelo became the highest NSU player ever drafted, as the Pittsburgh Pirates selected the Sharks ace in the 10th round of the 2005 MLB draft.
The 2004 Sharks finished eighth in the final NCAA Division II South Region poll after facing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, playing a total of 15 ranked opponents, finishing with a 27-29 record.
During the 2003 campaign, Coach Mominey and his staff directed NSU to a No. 22 ranking in the final national poll with a 30-15 mark during the schools first year in NCAA Division II competition. NSU also finished the 2003 season ranked 5th in the final South Region poll, narrowly missing out on a regional bid. NSU was red hot over the second half of the season winning 21 out of their last 26 games overall and closing out the year with a seven-game winning streak.
Another accomplishment, and a first in NSU Athletics history, was achieved in 2003 as pitcher Kyle Ruwe was selected as an NCAA Division II All-American by the RAWLINGS/American Baseball Coaches Association.
Since Coach Mominey has taken over the NSU baseball program, the Sharks have consistently sent players to the next level of playing professional baseball. In addition to Bello and Antelo, two seniors from the 2004 Sharks squad - RHP Giuseppe Norrito (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and C/1B Kyle Bone (Cooper City, Fla.) were picked up in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, respectively.
Two seniors from the 2005 squad, C Steve Smith (Winnipeg Goldeneys) and OF Alex Froloff (Chico Outlaws) also signed professional baseball contracts. Three seniors from the 2003 squad - RHP Vince Vazquez (Richmond Roosters), SS Jason Sullivan (Sioux City Explorers) and RHP Anthony Billisi (Nettuno Indians) - signed professional contracts. A fourth senior from the 2003 squad - RHP Troy Roberson - was previously drafted by the New York Mets.
Following the 2001 campaign, NSU RHP Steve Thomas became the first player in school history to be selected in Major League Baseballs amateur draft, when the Florida Marlins drafted him in the 34th round. Other Sharks who have played professionally include SS Matt Cleveland, (Kansas City Royals), C Luke Albert (Atlanta Braves) and 3B Brian Needle (Richmond Roosters).
Mominey graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor of science degree in Education/Sport Management and from St. Thomas University with a master of science degree in Sports Administration. He served four years as the Director of Athletics and Head Baseball coach at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory. Having a distinguished tenure at Chaminade, Mominey departed with an all-time record of 88-26 and recorded consecutive district championships in 1998 and 1999, along with one conference title in 1998.
The Lions baseball team was consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the state of Florida, receiving a ranking as high as second in 1998, finishing that season with an impressive 27-4 record. Mominey was named district coach of the year four consecutive times by the Florida Coaches Association and was the states runner-up coach of the year in 98. Three of his players were selected in Major League Baseballs amateur draft, including two players who were taken in the top 13 rounds. Current NSU assistant baseball coach Skip Wiley, played for coach Mominey and was selected and signed by the Seattle Mariners in the 13th round in 1998.
As an administrator, Mominey guided the athletic program to be recognized as one of the most competitive programs in the state; seeing their total winning percentage significantly improve all four years and the softball team winning the State Championship in 1998.
Previous to his successes at Chaminade-Madonna, Mominey served as the assistant baseball coach and assistant athletic director at St. Thomas University from 1992-1996. As an assistant, the baseball team won conference, district, and regional championships and added a third-place finish at the 1996 NAIA World Series. The Bobcats compiled a 144-77 record during his four years under head coach Jim Pizzolatto. Eleven players signed professionally in those four years.
A brief stint at Cleveland State University in 1992 gave Mominey Division I coaching experience, as he served as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach under former major league player and scout Kevin Rhomberg. He was responsible for signing 11 players that year.
Prior to relocating to Florida, Mominey was the Assistant to Player Development and Scouting for the Cleveland Indians Baseball Club 1990-92. He worked in the front office of the major league club and was involved in all baseball operations with the Scouting and Player Development departments. Mominey worked for current MLB GMs John Hart (Texas Rangers) and Dan ODowd (Colorado Rockies).
Mominey resides in Davie with his wife Denise and two children Tyler (11) and Alexa (7).
