Craig Moro – Head Coach
3rd season (2006-07)
With an impressive 42 wins in only two seasons, Coach Craig Moro, the inaugural coach of Notre Dame College’s baseball program, prepares for his third season in the American Mid-East Conference.
In 2005, the Falcons were two games shy of making the playoffs, a remarkable feat for a first year program.
Despite the youthfulness of the team in the 2005 and 2006 seasons, these Falcons not only battled many well-established programs, but were victorious. In 2005, it only took two games for Moro’s new program to gain a victory when the team defeated Gannon University. The Falcons’ first upset in 2005 was their 1-0 victory over nationally ranked, 6th in the country, Ashland University. During the rest of the season and the 2006 season, Moro’s team continued to upset other programs such as St. Vincent University (defending AMC and Regional champs), John Carroll University, Malone College, Concordia University, Eastern Nazarene College, and New Jersey City University.
After only two seasons, Moro has produced two NAIA All-Region IX players ( Matt Kidd and Todd Lehmer), two NAIA All-American Honorable Mention players (Matt Kidd and Todd Lehmer), five First and Second Team AMC players (Jack Sito, Matt Kidd, Anthony James, Eric Schmitz , and Todd Lehmer), six AMC Honorable Mention players ( Marlon Sommerville, Ryan Lewis, Johnny Rhoads, Dustin Taulbee, Mike Novak, and Chis Balmert), and one Daktronics-NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete (Josh Hayes).
During these two seasons the head man (Moro) instructed the pitchers and catchers. From year one to year two the team ERA was extremely cut to a 5.50. Notre Dame’s Matt Kidd lead the country in total innings pitched regular season with 91.1 and had an ERA of 2.56. Moro has had 1 All-American, 1 All – Conference, and 2 Honorable Mention pitchers with in the start up of a young new staff. Along with the staff Anthony James was recognized as best defensive catcher and Second Team All AMC player.
It is no secret that Moro’s early success can be attributed to his long list of credentials as well as his all work no play attitude.
Before Moro stepped foot onto Falcon territory, he began his coaching career in 1998 at Bay Village High School, Moro’s alma mater, as the pitching and catching coach.
In 1999, he was hired as the head baseball coach of Lake Ridge Academy where he became the winningest coach for the school.
After two years, Moro was asked to assist the Oberlin College baseball team where he worked with the pitchers, catchers, and outfielders along with acting as the strength and conditioning coach for the team. While coaching at Oberlin, Moro was highly involved with the Erie Shores Collegiate Baseball League. Until 2006, he was the head coach of the Vermillion Veterans.
For the past nine years, Moro has been extremely involved in the baseball community giving private lessons to and putting on clinics for young athletes of all ages.
In addition to his coaching experience, Moro’s achievements as an athlete are extensive as well.
In 1993, Moro began his Mount Union College career as a two-sport athlete. Playing for the first National Championship team, Moro contributed to the football program as a quarter back for two years.
As a collegiate baseball player, Moro’s Mount Union Baseball Team made the OAC playoffs three-out-of the four years of his career. As a catcher, Moro threw out over 55% of his runners, hit .417 in ’97, and also received the OAC - Bob Murphy Award in ’97.
After graduation, he continued playing baseball independently with Independent baseball ( FBL)..
As a member of ABCA-( American Baseball Coaches Association) and the Coordinator of the NAIA Committee Character of Champions at Notre Dame College, Coach Moro is highly involved in the Cleveland community. Within the past two years, Moro and Falcon baseball players have presented youth clinics for the Greater Cleveland YMCA, local schools, and recreational-youth baseball programs. Moro has been a guest speaker for many baseball youth programs all across Cleveland to speak about “character, coaching, and baseball”.
Moro has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and physical education and is finishing a master’s degree in sports psychology. |
