DeLAND, Fla. – Stetson baseball head coach Shane Gierke announced that veteran collegiate coach Nick Restaino will remain with the Hatters, joining Cameron Coons as a returning member of Gierke's inaugural coaching staff.
Restaino, who joined Stetson ahead of the 2025 season, will work with the Hatters' outfielders while bringing more than three decades of collegiate coaching, recruiting, player development and program management experience to the staff. His extensive résumé includes 12 seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach at Fordham and Sacred Heart.
"We're excited to welcome Nick, his wife, Blanca, daughter, Emily, and son, Chris, back to DeLand," said Gierke. "Nick's experience as a head coach at this level means a great deal to me. His knowledge of the game and ability to develop players will have a tremendous impact on our program."
Restaino and Gierke worked together at Stetson during the 2025 season, helping the Hatters capture the ASUN Tournament championship, establish a program record with a 24-6 conference mark, record their second consecutive 40-win season and advance to the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.
Stetson opened NCAA Regional play with an 11-2 victory over NC State and scored 28 runs across three games in Tallahassee. Restaino's return, along with Coons, provides continuity from that championship staff as Gierke begins his tenure leading the Hatters.
"I'm honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue my career here at Stetson and to be reunited with Coach Gierke," said Restaino. "I'm excited to get to work alongside the staff and our student-athletes as we continue building toward the future of Stetson Baseball."
Prior to arriving in DeLand, Restaino built an extensive coaching career that began at Lehman College before stops at Manhattan College and his alma mater, Fordham University. He spent seven seasons as an assistant at Fordham, eventually rising to recruiting coordinator and associate head coach while helping transform the Rams into one of the Atlantic 10 Conference's top programs.
Restaino was named Fordham's interim head coach in August 2004 and made an immediate impact, guiding the Rams to a 34-21 record and earning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 2005. The interim designation was removed following the season, and he remained at the helm through 2011.
During his tenure as head coach, Fordham recorded four 30-win seasons and made four Atlantic 10 Tournament appearances. His teams also produced numerous professional players, highlighted by Major League pitcher Nick Martinez, who later represented Team USA at the Olympics and started the gold medal game.
Following his time at Fordham, Restaino joined the coaching staff at Southern Connecticut State in 2014 before moving to Sacred Heart in 2015. After initially serving as an assistant, he was elevated to head coach and led the Pioneers through the 2022 season.
Across 12 seasons as a Division I head coach at Fordham and Sacred Heart, Restaino amassed 273 victories and guided his programs to six conference tournament appearances. His career includes 14 All-Conference selections, seven ECAC All-Stars and seven Louisville Slugger All-Americans, along with four victories over nationally ranked opponents, including Miami and Virginia.
Throughout his coaching career, Restaino has helped develop more than 20 players who signed professional contracts, including Major Leaguers Nick Martinez, Jason Foley and Zack Short. Other professional players coached by Restaino include Cory Riordan, Tom Davis, Javier Martinez, John Mollicone, Chris Pike, Brent Teller and Bobby Kingsbury.
Restaino's career accomplishments also include four NCAA APR National Recognition Awards, the 2008 NCAA stolen base statistical championship and a runner-up finish in the 2007 Atlantic 10 Tournament. In 2023, he received the Ralph DiLullo Award from the New York Professional Scouts Association.
A 1993 graduate of Fordham, Restaino enters his third season in DeLand and will bring his extensive experience to the Hatters' outfield unit as a member of Gierke's inaugural staff.
RESTAINO AT A GLANCE
- 30+ Years: More than three decades of collegiate coaching, recruiting and program management experience
- 273 Division I Wins: Amassed 273 victories across 12 seasons as a head coach at Fordham and Sacred Heart
- 6 Conference Tournaments: Guided his teams to four Atlantic 10 and two Northeast Conference Tournament appearances
- Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year: Earned the honor after leading Fordham to a 34-21 record in 2005
- 20+ Professionals: Helped develop more than 20 players who went on to sign professional contracts
- Major League Development: Coached future MLB players Nick Martinez, Jason Foley and Zack Short
- Championship Continuity: Member of Stetson's 2025 ASUN Championship and NCAA Regional staff
- Academic Success: Four NCAA APR National Recognition Awards
- 2023 Ralph DiLullo Award: Honored by the New York Professional Scouts Association
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"
Nick Restaino is one of those rare baseball people whose professionalism is matched by his character. In all the years I've known and worked with Nick, I've always admired the way he carries himself, the respect he has for the game and, most importantly, the respect he shows the people around him. His knowledge and experience speak for themselves, but what has always stood out to me is his authenticity. Nick is someone you trust, someone you enjoy working alongside and someone who makes the people around him better. I'm proud to call him a colleague and, even more so, a friend."
— Eduardo Perez
ESPN Baseball Analyst and Former Major League Player"I have known Nick as a person and a baseball man for the past couple of decades. He knows his stuff on and off the field, someone who understands how to lead, how to teach, how to communicate and how to enjoy life. I wish Nick and the entire staff a very successful season."
— Bobby Valentine
Former Major League Player and Manager
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About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
