IUP Baseball Alumni Feature: Article 1
Kevin McMullan, Associate Head Baseball Coach, University of Virginia
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1988-90)
The world of baseball is enormous, but many times it can seem very miniscule. IUP baseball and football alumnus Kevin McMullan is in that small world. McMullan is currently in his 14th year at the University of Virginia (UVA), serving as the associate head baseball coach for the nationally known Cavaliers. UVA is a member of NCAA Division I and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
In 2012, McMullan was named the top assistant coach in college baseball by Baseball America and was named National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009. That same year, the Cavaliers earned their first ever NCAA College World Series berth. He would help guide UVA to the College World Series again in 2015, but this time the Cavaliers won their first NCAA national championship in program history. McMullan, who enters his 23rd year as a coach, has had over 80 players reach the professional levels.
We now go back to the days of IUP…
McMullan was a two-sport athlete at IUP, playing both baseball and football. He saw much success in both sports, playing on six combined championship teams while at IUP. As a catcher and designated hitter, McMullan played baseball from 1988-90 for head coach Jerry Hand and helped IUP accomplish many feats during his playing career. McMullan was an All-PSAC West selection two of his three years along with earning All-American honors in 1990. He was named MVP of the PSAC Tournament and helped IUP win the PSAC championship twice.
After his college playing days, he spent two seasons in the New York Yankees organization as a professional baseball player before returning to his alma mater to begin his coaching career. He was named the IUP coach 1994-96 before making the jump to the Division I level as an assistant. McMullan saw time at St. Johns, East Carolina and also had a stint as a manager in the Atlanta Braves minor league organization.
In 2007, he was inducted into the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame in both baseball and football, solidifying his athletic career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
I had the opportunity to speak with coach McMullan and conduct the following Q&A session with him:
Anthony Rebyanski: Let's begin with IUP. You were a two-sport athlete during your collegiate career in baseball and football. Being that your father played Division I football at Notre Dame and had a career in NFL, were your initial ambitions to follow in his footsteps in the sport of football?
Kevin McMullan: I loved football and had learned so much from the coaches I had throughout my youth and high school experiences. The funny thing is my dad always pushed me towards baseball. I loved the hard work that football demanded of you, the lifting of the weights and the physical and mental toughness it took to play. Football has allowed me to have a little edge in developing baseball players.
AR: Your name appears throughout IUP baseball's record book in both single season and career records in 15 different categories. As an alumni, tell me how that makes you feel that after 20+ years, your accomplishments are still well known at IUP.
KM: The most important thing I can share with you about records that I am most proud of are the two PSAC Championships I was part of and the great teammates I had the opportunity to play with.
AR: You had the opportunity to play professional baseball in the New York Yankees organization after your IUP career. How would you describe your time in professional baseball? When did you realize that coaching was the path that you were to go down?
KM: I treated my opportunity in professional baseball like people in academics who are trying to get a masters and a PhD. I tried to learn as much baseball as I could. I knew I wanted to coach when I was in high school and always thought when my playing time ran out that this was the best thing I was suited for.
AR: Your journey as a coach started with IUP and has taken you to St. Johns, East Carolina, the Atlanta Braves organization and ultimately now UVA. Having both collegiate and professional experience as both a player and a coach, what made you choose the collegiate level vs. professional ranks?
KM: I really love both experiences and have great relationships with my colleagues in the college game as well as professional baseball. My family is very important to me and is the main reason of why I have stayed in college baseball. The college game has provided a very consistent routine and schedule. Baseball is my family's lifestyle and they are very much a part of our program here at Virginia.
AR: As a young head baseball coach at IUP, what challenges did you face during your first few years in the profession?
KM: I would say my biggest challenge, which was also the best learning experience, was I did not have any experience managing every aspect of a baseball program.
AR: In 2009 you were named the National Assistant Coach of the Year, while the Cavaliers reached the College World Series for the first time in program history. In 2015 you helped UVA win its first NCAA national championship against Vanderbilt. What does the coach of the year recognition mean to you and describe the feeling of seeing that final pitch in the bottom of the 9th in 2015 to win the national championship.
KM: I believe when you receive awards as a coach that it's a direct reflection of the guys you coach with and the players you get to coach. Winning the national championship was confirmation that if you do things the right way and you stay the course, great things can be accomplished.
AR: You were inducted into the IUP Hall of Fame in 2007 as a two-sport athlete. Did you ever expect to be considered for the Hall of Fame and what does that honor mean to you personally?
KM: I never really thought about being in any hall of fame. I know that anytime we as athletes achieve individual recognition that it is a direct reflection of the great teammates we have sacrificed with and coaches who have taught us and prepared us to be successful. Every time I reflect on my time at IUP, the thing that always comes to mind was the relentless passion my teammates and coaches had to be the best.
AR: What is your most memorable IUP baseball playing experience?
KM: Winning 1988 and 1990 PSAC Championships.
AR: What has been your most memorable coaching experience, at any level and any team, to date?
KM: Winning 2015 National Championship at Virginia.
AR: If you could give every athlete one piece of advice, what would you want to tell them?
KM: Be grateful for the opportunity athletics provides you, have no regrets when you lay your head on the pillow at night and please pay it forward.
What they are saying about Coach McMullan:
"Kevin is one of the main reasons for our sustained success at the University of Virginia over the last 13 seasons. He is 100% dedicated to the student-athletes in our program. His every day interaction with our student-athletes and assistance in their development is what separates Kevin from other coaches. He is completely committed to helping our student-athletes reach their maximum potential. Kevin is also widely considered one of the best recruiters and evaluators of talent in the country. I am honored to have worked with him over the last 13 years."
~Brian O'Connor, current UVA head baseball coach
"During my second year as head coach at IUP and knowing Mac played football, I also found out that he played baseball. He came in a little "stiff" due to not playing baseball for a short period of time. He worked his tail off to get back into baseball mode. As a coach, I wanted the best athletes that I could get. Between his strength and leadership ability, Mac was one of those guys. He had great qualities as a player and I am glad that he has done so well at Virginia as a coach."
~Jerry Hand, former IUP head baseball coach
"Mac brought the intensity of an All-American linebacker coupled with an uncanny ability to identify and recruit talent to the IUP baseball program. He also could have been equally successful as a football coach had he decided to go in that directly. I firmly believe that Mac was made to be a coach."
~Frank Condino, former IUP Athletic Director
"Mac was the complete competitor. He was 110% all day, every day. He brought a level of intensity that just made his teammates feel like they could beat anyone. His fiery attitude, along with his extreme dedication made him a winner in each of his two sports at IUP, and I am sure this is why he has been so successful at the University of Virginia."
~Mike Johnson, former IUP baseball teammate
"One of my fondest memories of coach Mac was from running 300's every fall. I would be dog tired but when I would hear Mac yell out "the body will go if the mind tells it to," I was determined to finish strong. That's the type of coach he is and always will be, getting the most out of his players and we all loved playing for him."
~Colin Harrington, UVA Baseball Alumni
