Dino Rosato was named East Central University head baseball coach on July 1, 2009.
Over eight seasons, Rosato’s squads have produced 17 all-conference members and over 80 academic honorees.
The 2017 season saw three ECU players earned Great American Conference honors, with Jake MeKeel leading the way with first team honors. MeKeel was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Central Region Second Team. The Tigers were also represented by Kodiak O’Ravez and Conner Stevenson as honorable mention All-GAC selections.
In 2016 ECU advanced to the GAC Championship tournament for the first time, falling in the opening round to arch rival Southeastern in a best-of-three series. Kaleb Matthews earned All-GAC Second Team honors and Kris Molter honorable mention on the way.
The 2015 season saw the Tigers first All-America and Academic All-America recipient in Nick Spini. Spini was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team and was a NCBWA All-America honorable mention. Spini also earned NCBWA and Daktronics All-Central Region honors and was the first Tiger to be named to the All-Great American Conference First Team.
Rosato is a strong believer in academics and how a student-athletes’ future is shaped in the classroom first and on the field second. He emphasizes the total development of a student-athlete’s mental, physical and emotional maturity.
Words like accountability, responsibility and TEAM describe his philosophy. Rosato is a strong believer in academics. He believes every person has the ability to shape their future. It is only through our failures and weaknesses and how we react to the circumstances that will dictate the personal growth that ultimately decides future opportunities for success.
Previously at Bacone College, Rosato led the Warriors to a 29-20 finish in 2009, including a second-place finish and a 10-5 mark in the RRAC regular season. It was his first season as Bacone head coach after serving three years as an assistant at the Muskogee institution. The 2009 squad was led by the RRAC batting champion along with eight other Warriors that garnered ALL-RRAC awards. Three Warriors were named NAIA Academic All-Americans in 2009.
In his three years as an assistant, under head coach Ryan Bay, the Warriors were one of the top teams in the RRAC with an impressive 41-14 record during the 2008 campaign. Upon his arrival at Bacone, the Warriors showed continual improvement in the pitching department by lowering their team ERA each season. In 2008, nine Warriors achieved all-conference honors, two garnered NAIA All-American awards, and three were named NAIA Academic All-Americans. The 2007 season produced seven Warriors who achieved all-conference accolades and 14 received academic all-conference recognition. Two pitchers on the 2007 Bacone squad were ranked nationally in several categories.
Prior to his fall of 2005 arrival at Bacone, Rosato was an assistant on the staff at Ohio Dominican University, under head coach Paul Page. The 2005 Panther squad advanced to the NAIA World Series and finished with a 47-18 record. The 2005 Panthers’ accolades included two NAIA All-Americans.
Rosato also served as an outfield coach and hitting instructor at St. Thomas University, under head coach Manny Mantrana. The Bobcat squads made back-to-back NAIA Region 14 tournament appearances, which included averaging 40 wins per season and producing three NAIA All-Americans.
A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Rosato also served as an assistant at Concordia University, College of St. Scholastica, and the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Rosato is a graduate of St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla., where he earned a baccalaureate degree in liberal arts. Rosato received his master’s degree in education with an emphasis in Sports Management from ECU.
Rosato’s Career Coaching Record
Year School Record
2009 Bacone College 29-20
2010 East Central 10-31
2011 East Central 9-37
2012 East Central 26-23
2013 East Central 11-33
2014 East Central 26-23
2015 East Central 22-19
2016 East Central 17-30
2017 East Central 11-29
Total 161-244 (9 Years)
