St. Olaf College Men's Baseball

Matt McDonald '89 is in his 32nd season as the head baseball coach at St. Olaf in 2025-26 after taking the reins of the program from the legendary Jim Dimick in 1995. During his time at St. Olaf, McDonald owns a career record of 694-475 (.594), including a 360-229 (.611) mark in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). On April 24, 2021, McDonald became the winningest coach in program history by earning the 588th victory of his career to surpass Dimick, his former head coach and mentor. He earned the 600th victory of his career with a 9-0 game-two win at Saint Mary's on April 9, 2022, making him the 34th active NCAA Division III head coach at the time to reach the milestone. McDonald is a four-time MIAC Coach of the Year (1998, 2000, 2007, 2024) and was named the 2024 D3baseball.com Region 9 Coach of the Year after leading St. Olaf to its 18th MIAC regular-season title - first since 2007 - with a 17-3 mark. The 17-3 record was the joint third-best mark in program history during the regular season and the program's best since 2001. During his tenure, McDonald has led the Oles to three MIAC Playoff titles, five 30-win seasons, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and 22 seasons with at least 20 victories. His 2000 squad won a program-record 36 games and advanced to the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional final.   Under McDonald, St. Olaf finished in the top three in the league in 14 consecutive seasons from 1996-2009. St. Olaf won the four-team MIAC Playoffs in 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2024 and has played for the MIAC title nine times under McDonald's leadership. He has coached seven student-athletes who have earned All-America accolades, six MIAC Players of the Year, and four MIAC Pitchers of the Year. In addition to serving as the head baseball coach, McDonald spent 12 years as St. Olaf's athletic director, chaired the NCAA Division III selection committee, and served in various coaching roles. He was an assistant coach for the football and baseball programs before accepting the head baseball coach position. After becoming the Oles' 15th head coach, and second since 1966, he continued as a football assistant until 2001. He was the head men's golf coach in 2002.   McDonald, a native of Beaver Dam, Wis., played on the 1988 and 1989 MIAC championship baseball teams at St. Olaf under Hall of Fame coach Jim Dimick, captaining the 1989 squad. He was named an All-MIAC and all-region second baseman in 1988 and 1989, and led the MIAC in hitting in 1988. McDonald also played quarterback for three seasons for the Oles' football team.   McDonald and his wife, Barb, reside in Northfield and have two children, Katie and Tommy.   THE OLES UNDER MATT MCDONALD SEASON OVERALL PCT. MIAC PCT. MIAC FINISH / MIAC PLAYOFFS / NCAA TOURNAMENT 1995 25-15 .625 11-9 .550 t-5th 1996 21-12 .636 13-7 .650 t-3rd 1997 29-13 .690 16-4 .800 2nd 1998 21-16 .567 12-8 .600 3rd 1999 26-11 .702 14-6 .700 2nd 2000 36-7 .837 18-2 .900 1st / 3-2 at MIAC Playoffs / 3-2 at NCAA Regional 2001 29-9 .763 18-2 .900 1st / 2-2 at MIAC Playoffs 2002 27-12 .692 17-3 .850 1st / 3-2 at MIAC Playoffs 2003 27-14 .658 16-4 .800 2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 1-2 at NCAA Regional 2004 20-17 .540 13-7 .650 t-3rd / 1-2 at MIAC Playoffs 2005 23-17 .605 13-7 .650 2nd / 0-2 at MIAC Playoffs 2006 30-10 .750 15-5 .750 2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 2-2 at NCAA Regional 2007 32-10 .762 16-4 .800 t-1st / 2-2 at MIAC Playoffs / 1-2 at NCAA Regional 2008 28-12 .700 14-6 .700 2nd / 2-2 MIAC Playoffs  2009 32-14 .696 14-6 .700 2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 3-2 at NCAA Regional 2010 22-18 .550 12-8 .600 t-4th 2011 21-18 .538 9-11 .450 6th 2012 14-25 .358 6-14 .300 11th 2013 20-15 .571 9-9 .500 t-5th 2014 20-20 .500 9-11 .450 t-6th 2015 6-6 .500 - - - 2016 11-26 .297 5-15 .250 11th 2017 16-23 .410 7-13 .350 t-8th 2018 15-21 .417 5-15 .250 10th 2019 27-15 .643 13-7 .650 t-2nd / 1-2 MIAC Playoffs 2020 2-2 .500 - - - 2021 13-9 .591 5-6 .455 6th 2022 16-17 .485 9-11 .450 7th 2023 16-18 .471 11-9 .550 5th 2024 30-14 .682 17-3 .850 1st / MIAC Playoff Runner-Up 2025 23-16 .590 13-7 .650 t-3rd / 1-2 MIAC Playoffs 2026 16-23 .410 10-10 .500 t-5th TOTAL 694-475 .594 360-229 .611 -

Matthew Kulesa '25 is in his first season as an assistant coach for the St. Olaf baseball program in 2025-26 after being hired in August 2025. His responsibilities include coaching the infielders, hitters, and bunters, in-game strategy, recruiting, and program operations. Kulesa joined head coach Matt McDonald's staff following a four-year playing career at St. Olaf from 2022-25. He started 138 of the 144 games he played in as a middle infielder, hitting .306 (145-for-474) with 30 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 66 RBI, 105 runs scored, 60 walks, and 14 stolen bases. Kulesa was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) honoree and finished his career as the program's all-time leader in career hit-by-pitches (34) while also ranking in the top 10 in games started (138) and assists (270). Kulesa graduated from St. Olaf in 2025 after majoring in economics with a concentration in statistics and data science. He was a three-time Academic All-MIAC and three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree.

Joel Gotfredson is the national recruiting coordinator and outfielders coach for the St. Olaf baseball program. Gotfredson, who has been coaching baseball since 1993, served as an assistant coach at both Minneapolis Roosevelt (1993-2000) and Minneapolis Southwest (2000-2015). He started coaching Legion ball in 1995 and has served as head coach for Wold Chamberlin, Minneapolis Southwest, and Excelsior. Gotfredson's baseball philosophy focuses on accountability, respect, character, integrity and honesty on and off the field.