On Thursday morning, Stony Brook baseball head coach Matt Senk announced he will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2025 season, bringing an end to a legendary 35-year career.
The story was first reported by D1Baseball, and later confirmed in an official statement through Stony Brook Athletics.
“My time at Stony Brook is coming to an end and I am grateful to have led our baseball program at our incredible University for a long time,” Senk said in the press release. “It has been a great run. I want to thank my family for their support and Stony Brook for giving me the opportunity to be the head baseball coach. I am grateful to have worked with some great coaches and staff over the years and I cannot thank them enough for how hard they worked and the impact they had on our program.”
Senk was named to the position he held for over three decades in 1991. His crowning achievement came in 2012, when he led the Seawolves to the College World Series. After a 21-3 record in America East Conference (AE) play, Stony Brook won the Coral Gables Regional with wins over Miami and Central Florida.
The Seawolves then went on to shock the world, upsetting LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional to stamp their ticket to the College World Series. Despite losing both its games in Omaha, Stony Brook’s historic campaign marked the first time that a northeast team reached the College World Series since 1986. After the season, Senk was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association National Coach of the Year. The Seawolves’ 52 total wins in 2012 were the most in the nation.
Although Stony Brook could not find success under Senk since joining the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2023, the program was an AE powerhouse in the 2010s. The team earned five regular season titles (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) and four tournament titles (2010, 2012, 2015, 2019) within the decade. Senk won the AE Coach of the Year award in 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Senk recruited and oversaw the development of shortstop Joe Nathan, the first Seawolf to make it to MLB. After being drafted by the San Francisco Giants, Nathan converted to pitcher. He ranks tenth in league history in saves. Following Nathan, pitchers Nick Tropeano, Tom Koehler and Daniel Zamora, as well as outfielder Travis Jankowski — the latter of which became the first Stony Brook product to win a World Series, doing so with the Texas Rangers in 2023 — have all logged big league time after leaving the Seawolves. In total, 29 Stony Brook players have been drafted to the MLB during Senk’s tenure.
In the Seawolves’ Division I era, Senk is all that they have known. After taking over in 1991, he led the then-Division III Stony Brook Patriots to a 16-9 season. After five years, Senk elevated the program to the Division II ranks, a move that was concurrent with the change to the Seawolves nickname. Stony Brook transitioned to the highest level of collegiate baseball in 2000, and finished 30-11 in its first year under the new designation. Since then, the Seawolves have had a winning record in 17 of the 24 subsequent full campaigns.
“Senk stands as a giant in the coaching profession with a legacy that will stand the test of time,” Shawn Heilbron, Stony Brook’s Director of Athletics, said. “His impact on the game of baseball and Stony Brook University cannot be overstated. This program has been built brick by brick, rising from the foundation of Division III all the way to the pinnacle of Division I and the College World Series. Throughout his entire career, [Senk] has done it all with an elite authenticity and unmatched competitive fire. We are forever indebted to him for all that he has invested in Stony Brook and the young men he has coached over his incredible 35-year career.”
On the heels of a 27-25 season in 2022, the Seawolves made the switch to the CAA following 21 years in the AE. In its new conference, Stony Brook is yet to reach the postseason, and a playoff bid is unlikely this year, as well. The team holds an 8-13 league record with six games still on the docket. The Seawolves currently sit in 10th in the CAA’s standings, with only the top six teams making it to the 2025 CAA Championship.
Nonetheless, this brief lack of success is minimal relative to the fact that under Senk’s leadership, Stony Brook has appeared in six NCAA tournaments. Additionally, he won his 950th career game earlier this season. His overall record currently stands at 967-692 (.583).
“After 35 unforgettable years on campus, I can honestly say that every moment, every game, and every player has shaped who I am far more than any scoreboard could,” Senk said. “I came here to teach the game, but the truth is that I learned just as much from the young men who wore the Stony Brook uniform. I’m deeply grateful for their trust, their passion, and the memories we have built together. It’s been the honor of a lifetime.”
In all likelihood, Senk will coach his final game on May 17th. Then, the Seawolves host Monmouth at Joe Nathan Field.
Meanwhile, Heilbron will begin his search for Stony Brook’s next head coach at the end of the 2025 season.
