IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
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Rob Zinsmeister reigns as one of the premier offensive threats in IUP baseball history. A glance at the school’s record book confirms as much.
A four-year starter as an infielder under coach Jeff Ditch, Zinsmeister ranks second in career runs (193), hits (231), doubles (47), total bases (371) and stolen bases (75), third in triples (21) and fifth in RBIs (124). His total of 17 home runs is ninth-best in IUP history. He posted a career batting average of .333.
Zinsmeister’s name can also be found on IUP’s all-time top 10 list in numerous single-season categories. He ranks fourth in stolen bases with 25 in 2012 and fifth in runs with 57 that season; is tied for fifth in triples (7) and stolen bases (20), both in 2013; is sixth with 108 total bases in 2012; and seventh with 106 total bases a year later.
After celebrating a PIAA baseball title as a member of the North Penn Knights in 2009, Zinsmeister played for another championship squad as an IUP freshman. The Crimson Hawks took top honors in the PSAC West en route to a 31-24 record. IUP won 105 games in Zinsmeister’s four years in uniform.
He earned Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association first-team all-region honors as a shortstop in 2012 and second-team American Baseball Coaches Association and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association honors. Zinsmeister also earned a berth on the Capital One Academic All-America third team. He was an All-PSAC first-team selection in 2012 as a shortstop and in 2013 as a second baseman.
Zinsmeister played independent professional baseball after wrapping up his stellar IUP career. He spent parts of two seasons with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League.
A 2013 graduate of IUP with a degree in mathematics, Zinsmeister is employed as an operations manager by Danella Rental System Inc. in Plymouth Meeting. He and his wife, Keely, reside in King of Prussia with their son, Avery, 2.
Personal Reflection:
Maybe it was because my parents’ backyard basin perfectly resembled a baseball diamond or maybe it was because of all my dad’s slow-pitch softball games that my mom took me to, but whatever it was, baseball has had my heart since as long as I can remember.
With that being said, I am humbly honored to be inducted into the 2025 IUP Hall of Fame class along with the other inductees past and present.
Thank you to my teammates, my coaches, my family and everyone that has assisted me throughout my baseball career.
As teammates go, some of them are still my best friends. I tend to think the relationship that continues outside of baseball ends up being more important than the actual baseball relationship. I still remember coming for my visit to IUP when I was being recruited and the thing that stuck with me the most; one of the main reasons I decided to come to IUP was that over half the baseball team came up to me and introduced themselves.
This type of culture was one I appreciated thanks to Coach Jeff Ditch. Coach Ditch’s impact on my life was more than just baseball, and I am truly appreciative of the relationship we had. I wish he could be here today.
Circling back to the two most influential people in my life: my parents. Thanks isn’t enough. I am beyond blessed for the support I’ve had from both of them in both success and failure.
Furthermore, I am proud of the experiences I had and the people I met at IUP that have shaped me into the person I am today.
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