Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Head Coach
John McCormack completed his 17th year atop Florida Atlantic University baseball as head coach in 2025, and 35th season with the program. He had previously served 11 years as associate head coach and seven years as an assistant coach, beginning in 1991.Â
The Owls finished 37-21 overall and fourth in league play in their second year as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Coach Mac has led FAU to four regular season conference championships (C-USA: 2016 & 2019, SBC: 2010 & 2012) and one postseason conference championship (SBC: 2013). The Owls have qualified for NCAA Regionals six times (2010, '13, '15, '16, '18, '19) in the McCormack era.Â
Since 2009, 13Â Owls have earned All-American honors, and 21 have earned All-Region honors. In addition, FAU won back-to-back C-USA Defensive Player of the Year awards when Tyler Frank and Pedro Pages claimed the honor in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Gabriel Rincones, Jr. became the first Owl to win C-USA Newcomer of the Year in 2022.Â
To this point, a total of 105 FAU players that McCormack has recruited or coached at FAU have continued their professional baseball careers, including Austin Gomber, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Additionally, 33 of the 36 draftees were not drafted out of high school, continuing McCormack’s outstanding track record of developing players after they come to Boca Raton. Â
A big part of FAU’s success has been that passion for the Boca Raton area and the university, allowing the program to attract some of the best players in Florida. Having lived in Boca Raton for more than 30 years, McCormack realizes what a great area South Florida is and what it can provide student-athletes. In many cases, the talent was evident only to McCormack. FAU’s baseball program has been built around the premise that McCormack would find athletes with the desire to win. The coaching staff would develop talent and the players would become better.
McCormack began this trend by playing an essential role in developing FAU’s nationally-recognized program when he acted as recruiting coordinator for 16 seasons. During that time, his efforts brought in nine players that earned All-American honors, six that were named Freshmen All-American and three conference Player of the Year selections. As of 2023, 14 of his former players have played in the major leagues, 18 players were drafted in the first 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball amateur draft and seven players have been drafted in the third round or higher.
McCormack was promoted to associate head coach in 1998, working with long-time FAU coach Kevin Cooney. Together, Cooney and McCormack won 658 games, appeared in seven NCAA regional tournaments, captured a regional championship in 2002 and advanced to the super regional that season. He joined the staff in 1991 after approaching Cooney about assuming the duties of recruiter. He has focused his attention on the pool of talent in the South Florida area. His first FAU recruiting class (1993) finished the season 41-17 and made a trip to the South Regional, where they fell to the eventual national champion.
Other accomplishments under McCormack include tying a national record for consecutive games won (34), and winning the Tuscaloosa Regional by defeating the nation’s No. 3-ranked team, Alabama, in 2002. McCormack was recognized with the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2003.
Before joining FAU, McCormack played for nearby Lynn University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990. At Lynn, McCormack earned All-Conference honors his junior year as a catcher and his senior season as a third baseman. He was named the All-Area Team MVP during his junior season. Prior to Lynn, he attended Indian River Community College and Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton.
Born in New York, McCormack has lived in South Florida for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Katrina, reside in Boca Raton and have two sons, Conor and Shane.
McCormack's Head Coaching Record
| Season | School | Record | Accomplishments |
| 2009 | FAU | 30-26 | |
| 2010 | FAU | 37-24 | Sun Belt Champions, NCAA Regional |
| 2011 | FAU | 32-25 | |
| 2012 | FAU | 32-22 | Sun Belt Champions |
| 2013 | FAU | 42-22 | Sun Belt Tournament Champions, NCAA Regional |
| 2014 | FAU | 28-25 | |
| 2015 | FAU | 42-19 | C-USA Runners-Up, NCAA Regional, No. 12 National Ranking |
| 2016 | FAU | 39-19 | C-USA Champions, NCAA Regional |
| 2017 | FAU | 35-21-1 | C-USAÂ Tournament Semifinals |
| 2018 | FAU | 43-19-1 | C-USA Tournament Runners-Up, NCAA Regional |
| 2019 | FAU | 41-21 | C-USA Champions, NCAA Regional |
| 2020 | FAU | 10-6 | |
| 2021 | FAU | 32-25 | |
| 2022Â Â | FAU | 35-23 | |
| 2023Â Â | FAU | 34-25 | |
| 2024 | FAU | 28-29 | |
| 2025 | FAU | 37-21 | |
| Total | 17 seasons | 577-372-2 | 2010 SBC Coach of the Year, 2019 C-USA Coach of the Year, 2019 ABCA/Diamond Central Region Coach of the Year |
