2018 NCAA Division I baseball season


The 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I level, began in February 2018. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament and 2018 College World Series. The College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held annually in Omaha, Nebraska at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, ended on June 28, 2018.

Realignment and format changes

The 2018 season was also the last for two other teams in their then-current conferences. Both teams moved between the same two conferences, but in opposite directions.
Finally, one other Division I team changed its institutional and athletic identities immediately after the 2017–18 season. Indiana University and Purdue University dissolved Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne on July 1, 2018. IPFW's academic programs in health sciences transferred to the IU system as Indiana University Fort Wayne; all remaining academic programs were transferred to the Purdue system as Purdue University Fort Wayne. From 2018–19, the former IPFW athletic program represents only PFW, and its Summit League membership was assumed by PFW. Shortly before the dissolution took effect, but after the school's baseball season had finished, the athletic program announced that it would henceforth be known as the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.

NCAA Tournament

For the first time, the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament seeded the top 16 teams, rather than only the top 8 teams as had been the practice since 1999. This ensures that the regional featuring the top-seeded team is paired with the regional hosted by the 16th-seeded team, where in the past Super Regionals were paired generally along geographical lines.

Ballpark changes

Conference standings

Conference winners and tournaments

Of the 31 Division I athletic conferences that sponsor baseball, 29 end their regular seasons with a single-elimination tournament or a double elimination tournament. The teams in each conference that win their regular season title are given the number one seed in each tournament. Two conferences, the Big West and Pac-12, do not hold a conference tournament. The winners of these tournaments, plus the Big West and Pac-12 regular-season champions, receive automatic invitations to the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.
ConferenceRegular
Season Winner		Conference
Player of the Year		Conference
Pitcher of the Year		Conference
Coach of the Year		Conference
Tournament		Tournament
Venue • City		Tournament
Winner
America East ConferenceHartfordNick Campana, HartfordNicholas Dombkowski, HartfordJustin Blood, Hartford2018 America East Conference Baseball TournamentMahaney Diamond • Orono, MEHartford
American Athletic ConferenceBryant Packard, Aaron Fletcher, HoustonTodd Whitting, Houston2018 American Athletic Conference Baseball TournamentSpectrum Field • Clearwater, FLEast Carolina
Atlantic 10 ConferenceIsaiah Pasteur, Miller Hogan, Saint LouisDarin Hendrickson, Saint Louis2018 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball TournamentTucker Field at Barcroft Park • Arlington, VASaint Louis
Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic - Clemson
Coastal - North Carolina		Joey Bart, Brian Brown, NC StateMike Fox, NC State2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball TournamentDurham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC
Atlantic Sun ConferenceBrooks Wilson, StetsonLogan Gilbert, StetsonSteve Trimper, Stetson2018 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball TournamentHarmon Stadium • Jacksonville, FLStetson
Big 12 ConferenceTexasKody Clemens, TexasCody Bradford, David Pierce, Texas2018 Big 12 Conference Baseball TournamentChickasaw Bricktown Ballpark • Oklahoma City, OKBaylor
Big East ConferenceJohn Valente, St. John'sRicky DeVito, Ed Blankmeyer, St. John's2018 Big East Conference Baseball TournamentPrasco Park • Mason, OHSt. John's
Big South ConferenceAustin Zente, Allan Winans, CampbellJustin Haire, Campbell2018 Big South Conference Baseball TournamentLiberty Baseball Stadium • Lynchburg, VACampbell
Big Ten ConferenceBren Spillane, IllinoisPatrick Fredrickson, MinnesotaJohn Anderson, Minnesota2018 Big Ten Conference Baseball TournamentTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEMinnesota
Big West ConferenceCal State FullertonAlex McKenna, Colton Eastman, Cal State FullertonRick Vanderhook, Cal State FullertonNo tournament, regular season champion earns auto bidCal State Fullerton
Colonial Athletic AssociationCharlie McConnell, NortheasternJohn Rooney, Mike Glavine, Northeastern2018 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball TournamentEagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VA
Conference USALuke Reynolds, Southern MissNick Sandlin, Southern MissScott Berry, Southern Miss2018 Conference USA Baseball TournamentMGM Park • Biloxi, MSSouthern Miss
Horizon LeagueGabe Snyder, Wright StateRyan Campbell,
Charlie Cerny, UIC 		Jeff Mercer, Wright State2018 Horizon League Baseball TournamentHosted by regular-season championWright State
Ivy LeagueDustin Shirley, Noah Zavolas, Brett Boretti, 2018 Ivy League Baseball Championship SeriesCampus sitesColumbia
Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceGreg Cullen, J. P. Stevenson, John Delaney, 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball TournamentRichmond County Bank Ballpark • Staten Island, NYCanisius
Mid-American ConferenceRudy Rott, Joey Murray, Kent StateJeff Duncan, Kent State2018 Mid-American Conference Baseball TournamentSprenger Stadium • Avon, OHKent State
Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNorthern -
Southern - 		Corey Joyce, Anthony Maldonado, Sherman Reed, Coppin State2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball TournamentJackie Robinson Ballpark • Daytona Beach, FLNorth Carolina A&T
Missouri Valley ConferenceDevlin Granberg, Trevor Conn, Dallas BaptistKeith Guttin, Missouri State2018 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball TournamentHorner Ballpark • Dallas, TXMissouri State
Mountain West ConferenceGrant Fennell, NevadaGarrett Hill, San Diego State & Andrew Mitchel, San Jose StateT. J. Bruce, Nevada2018 Mountain West Conference Baseball TournamentTony Gwynn Stadium • San Diego, CASan Diego State
Northeast ConferenceRyan Ward, Jack Patterson, BryantJim Carone, Wagner2018 Northeast Conference Baseball TournamentDodd Stadium • Norwich, CT
Ohio Valley ConferenceKevin Strohschein, Tennessee TechTravis Moths, Tennessee TechMatt Bragga, Tennessee Tech2018 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball TournamentChoccolocco Park • Oxford, AL
Pac–12 ConferenceAndrew Vaughn, Luke Heimlich, Oregon StateDavid Esquer, StanfordNo tournament, regular season champion earns auto bidStanford
Patriot League/Jon Rosoff, ArmyConnor Van Hoose, Paul Kostacopoulos, Navy2018 Patriot League Baseball TournamentCampus sitesArmy
Southeastern ConferenceEast - Florida
West - Ole Miss/Arkansas		Jonathan India, FloridaBrady Singer, FloridaKevin O'Sullivan, Florida2018 Southeastern Conference Baseball TournamentHoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, ALOle Miss
Southern ConferenceAndrew Moritz, UNC GreensboroMatt Frisbee, UNC GreensboroLink Jarrett, UNC Greensboro2018 Southern Conference Baseball TournamentFluor Field • Greenville, SC
Southland ConferenceDavid Fry, Tyler Gray, Bobby Barbier, Northwestern State2018 Southland Conference Baseball TournamentConstellation Field • Sugar Land, TXNorthwestern State
Southwestern Athletic ConferenceEast -
West - 		Kamren Dukes, Texas SouthernAaron Solis, Texas SouthernJose Vazquez, Alabama State2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball TournamentWesley Barrow Stadium • New Orleans, LATexas Southern
Summit LeagueNoah Cummings, Oral RobertsMiguel Ausua, Oral RobertsRyan Folmar, Oral Roberts2018 Summit League Baseball TournamentJ. L. Johnson Stadium • Tulsa, OKOral Roberts
Sun Belt ConferenceEast - Coastal Carolina
West - Louisiana		Joey Denison, Colten Schmidt, LouisianaGary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball TournamentM. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LACoastal Carolina
West Coast ConferenceJordan Qsar, PepperdineJonathan Pendergast, PepperdineRick Hirtensteiner, Pepperdine2018 West Coast Conference Baseball TournamentBanner Island Ballpark • Stockton, CA
Western Athletic ConferenceQuin Cotton, Grand CanyonJonathan Groff, Andy Stankiewicz, Grand Canyon2018 Western Athletic Conference Baseball TournamentHohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZNew Mexico State

College World Series

The 2018 College World Series began on June 16 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Coaching changes

This table lists programs that changed head coaches at any point from the first day of the 2018 season until the day before the first day of the 2019 season.
TeamFormer
coach		Interim
coach		New
coach		Reason
Abilene ChristianBritt BonneauRick McCartyBonneau resigned from Abeline Christian on May 19 after 22 seasons. On June 12, the Wildcats hired former Dallas Baptist pitching coach McCarty for the head coaching job.
Alabama A&MMitch HillManny LoraHill resigned from Alabama A&M on June 25 after 5 seasons for the head coaching job at Martin Methodist College of the NAIA. Pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Lora was promoted to head coach of the Bulldogs on August 23.
Central MichiganSteve JaskaJordan BischelJaska announced his retirement after 16 seasons at Central Michigan on June 2. On June 28, the Chippewas hired Bischel from Division II Northwood.
DavidsonDick CookeRucker TaylorCooke announced on February 12 that he will step down following the 2018 season with associate head coach Rucker succeeding him.
Fairleigh DickinsonGary PuccioJustin McKayPuccio announced his retirement after 8 seasons at FDU and 27 seasons overall, effective May 15. Assistant coach McKay will serve as the interim head coach of the Knights for the 2019 season.
Illinois StateBo DurkacSteve HolmDurkac was fired on May 29 after 4 seasons at Illinois State, finishing 82-134 overall and 27-55 in conference play. On June 22, the Redbirds hired Purdue pitching coach Holm for the head coaching job.
IndianaChris LemonisJeff MercerLemonis left after 4 seasons at Indiana to take the Mississippi State job. The school hired Wright State head coach Jeff Mercer on July 2.
IonaPat CareyPaul PanikOn May 15 it was announced that Pat Carey will not return to the team for the 2019 season after thirteen years with the school. The school hired Albany assistant Paul Panik on June 25.
Kansas StateBrad HillPete HughesBrad Hill Announced that on May 8 after fifteen seasons that he will step down affective at the end of the season. He became the team's all time most successful coach and won the 2013 Big 12 Conference title and hosted a super regional that year. On June 8, the Wildcats hired former Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma head coach Pete Hughes.
Miami Jim MorrisGino DiMareMorris announced in June 2014 that he would retire after the 2018 season, and that DiMare would take over as head coach at that time.
Middle TennesseeJim McGuireJim TomanMcGuire was fired on May 21 after 6 seasons at Middle Tennessee. On June 20, the Blue Raiders hired Charleston associate head coach and former Liberty head coach Toman for the job.
Mississippi StateAndy CannizaroGary HendersonChris LemonisCannizaro resigned on February 22, only three games into the Bulldogs' season, after he was found to be involved in an extramarital affair with a woman working in MSU's athletic department. Former Kentucky head coach and current MSU pitching coach Henderson was named as interim replacement. MSU announced the hiring of Indiana head coach Chris Lemonis on June 26.
Murray StateKevin MoulderDan SkirkaMurray State announced on May 25 that Moulder would not return next season, ending his 4-year tenure at the school. On July 2, the school hired former Racer assistant coach Skirka to be the new head coach.
Oregon StatePat CaseyPat BaileyCasey announced his retirement on September 6 after 24 seasons at Oregon State and 30 seasons overall, winning 900 games with the Beavers and 3 NCAA championships. Associate head coach Bailey will serve as the interim head coach of the team for the 2019 season.
PittsburghJoe JordanoMike BellJordano resigned from Pittsburgh on June 22 after 21 seasons at the helm. On July 10, former Florida State pitching coach Bell was named head coach of the Panthers.
RiceWayne GrahamMatt BraggaGraham, who was the oldest head coach in Division I baseball at age 82, announced on April 25 that his contract was not being renewed and that the 2018 season would be the last of his 27-year head coaching tenure at Rice. The Owls hired Tennessee Tech head coach Bragga after the season.
Tennessee TechMatt BraggaJustin HolmesBragga left after 15 seasons at Tennessee Tech to take the Rice job. The school promoted assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Justin Holmes on June 21.
UC IrvineMike GillespieBen OrloffMike Gillespie announced his retirement from the UC Irvine baseball team after eleven seasons with the school his successor Ben Orloff was named his replacement beginning in the 2019 season. He became the most successful coach in College baseball history with 1108 wins.
Wright StateJeff MercerAlex SogardMercer left after 2 seasons at Wright State to take the Indiana job. The school promoted assistant coach Alex Sogard on July 6.