Joe Sottolano

About Joe Sottolano

Joe Sottolano, hailing from New York, distinguished himself early in his career as one of 36 players nationwide selected to try out for Team USA in 1990. His baseball prowess was further highlighted when he earned the title of Most Outstanding Player (MOP) at the 1988 Division III NCAA Baseball National Championship.

With 23 years of coaching at the Division I level and 14 as a head coach, he has guided over 20 student-athletes to the MLB Amateur Draft and has seen 46 of his players achieve All-American status. Notably, Chris Rowley advanced to the Major Leagues under his mentorship.

His unwavering dedication is rooted in the values he embraced while coaching at West Point: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence.

His journey began at Minisink Valley High School in Orange County, New York, where he was named the 1986 Times Herald Record’s Tri-County Player of the Year. He then showcased his skills as a left-handed pitcher at Ithaca College, leading his team to a national championship as a sophomore and earning the title of the most outstanding player in the Division III World Series.

After graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in PE Teaching and a minor in Health from Ithaca College, Joe initiated his coaching career at Drexel University in Philadelphia, overseeing the pitching staff and the strength and agility programs.

In 1992, Joe brought his fiery passion and commitment to developing student-athletes to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as Assistant Coach until 2000 before being promoted to Head Coach. During this tenure, he played a pivotal role in recruiting and developing leaders of character, significantly exceeding the academy’s recruiting and fundraising goals. His commitment extended beyond coaching to ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations and fostering solid alum relations.