Thomas College Men's Baseball

Rob Dippner was named Head Coach of the Club Baseball program in May 2024 and also serves as a full-time assistant coach for the NCAA varsity team. In 2026 he was named the Head JV Baseball Coach. He holds dual responsibilities as the program’s recruiting coordinator and hitting coach while also working directly with catchers. Dippner is certified through Driveline Foundations of Hitting and Rapsodo Hitting, supporting his data-driven approach to offensive development. Prior to joining Thomas College, Dippner spent four years coaching at Mt. Blue High School, including two seasons as head coach from 2022 to 2024. Before his time in Maine, he served as an assistant coach at Conestoga Valley High. School in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2019 and at Lancaster Catholic High School in 2020. Dippner has remained active in the youth and travel baseball scene since 2015, coaching and operating teams at multiple levels. He is the owner and operator of Maine Sports Factory in Wilton, Maine, and also serves as Director of the Maine Prospects Baseball Club. A native of Pennsylvania, Dippner was a standout catcher at Garden Spot High School, earning First Team All-Star honors in 1997 and 1998. He now resides in Maine with his wife, Kristina, and their three children: Hayden, Jackson, and Lea.

King joined the Terrier Coaching Staff in 1996.  King faced the difficult task of resurrecting a baseball program that had been absent from the College for 10 years. Under Coach King's guidance, the Terriers doubled their win total for three consecutive seasons. After winning only two games in 1997, the Terriers won four games in 1998, eight games in 1999 and 17 games during the 2000 season. Following the 1999 and 2000 seasons, Coach King was named the Maine Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. After only five seasons, King led the Terriers to the NAIA New England Championship. From 2001 to 2005 he led the Terriers to four consecutive appearances in the conference championship, winning three out of four. The most recent conference championship came in 2004 when the Terriers won the 2004 NAC title. King also won his 100th game during the 2005 season. In 2006, 2011, and 2012 King was named the NAC Coach of the Year.  In 2006 he led the Terriers to a 7-5 conference record and the fourth seed in the playoffs.  In 2011 he led the Terriers to a 9-7 conference record and the third seed in the playoffs. In 2012 the squad had the best record in the programs history, going 25-17 overall, while garnering a 19-5 conference record and going on a 15 game winning streak during the season. King also earned is 200th career victory during the 2012 campaign.  While at UMaine, King played for legendary coach Dr. John Winkin, earning three letters. During his senior year, he was a member of the 1991 Black Bear team that finished the season with a 48-18 record and was ranked 17th in the country. Upon graduation, King pursued his master's and served as an assistant coach at UMaine for three seasons. For four summers, King served as the head coach for the Hyannis Mets of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball league, leading them to a playoff appearance in 2003. King also served as an assistant coach with the Harwich Mariners in 1994, then returning to the club in 2011 where he was a part of the 2011 Cape Cod League championship team, and where he continues to in that role currently in the summer months. He also was the assistant coach at the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 1995, the Cotuit Ketleers in 2003 and the Bangor Blue Ox Professional Baseball Club in 1997. King has been an instructor at a number of sports clinics, including the Thomas Baseball Camp, the University of Maine Baseball Camp, the American Collegiate Baseball Academy and the Dale Plummer Professional Baseball Experience. A native of Benton, Maine, King graduated from the University of Maine in 1991, with a bachelor's in secondary education. In 1993, King earned his master's from the University of Maine in health, physical education and recreation and completed his doctorate at the United States Sports Academy in 2011. King also serves Associate Professor of Sport Management at Thomas College.    From 2010-2012, NAC programs comprised the East Division of the North Eastern Athletic Conference.

A standout former Terrier and celebrated Hall of Famer, Matt Pavlis returns to Thomas College bringing a legacy of excellence and leadership. A four-year starter in the outfield (2004–2007), Pavlis consistently hit above .300 each season and holds Thomas College’s career batting average record. In his freshman year he earned NAC Co-Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Tournament Team after helping the Terriers secure the NAC Championship in 2004. He later earned First-Team All-Conference honors in 2006 and 2007 and is one of only two players in program history with 100 career hits, runs, and RBI. As a senior captain, Pavlis embodied the leadership and work ethic he now brings to his coaching role. Off the field, he earned his degree in Criminal Justice and has served both as a police officer in Portland and as a member of the New Hampshire National Guard. Pavlis combines his competitive experience, leadership qualities, and intimate knowledge of Thomas baseball culture to mentor student-athletes in both performance and character development.

Jason Bartlett, a Belfast, Maine native and Terrier alum, enjoyed a standout career at Thomas College from 2022 through 2025. As a junior in 2024, Bartlett started all 33 games he played, leading the team with a .411 batting average, tallying 39 hits, eight doubles, and two home runs, all while maintaining an impressive .954 fielding percentage, in route to a NAC 1st-Team All Conference selection and MCBSA 2nd-Team All State selection. He preceded his breakout season with a consistent sophomore year in 2023 (.271 batting average, 20 RBIs, .952 fielding percentage) and a solid freshman year (.333 batting average, three doubles, seven RBIs) as a first-year contributor. Bartlett earned NAC East First Team All-Conference honors, was named NAC Player of the Week on April 15, 2024, and twice earned a spot on the NAC All-Academic Team (2023, 2024). A playmaker known for clutch performances — including a walk-off single to secure a comeback win over Lyndon State in April 2024— Bartlett now brings his competitive intensity, infield expertise, and academic discipline to Thomas College's coaching staff.

Joshua Guptel was named Pitching Coach in July 2025 and brings a data-driven, biomechanically sound approach to the Thomas College baseball program. With extensive experience across high school, collegiate, and developmental summer leagues, Coach Guptel is known for blending modern technology with time-tested fundamentals to maximize player performance. His coaching philosophy centers on individualized development, arm care, and consistent mechanics, all grounded in the latest research and tech platforms such as Trackman, Rapsodo, Mustard, Synergy, and PitchKount. He uses these tools not only for in-game planning but also to drive off-season programming and long-term development strategies. Coach Guptel has served in pitching roles with programs such as St. Joseph’s College of Maine (Bullpen Coach), Sanford Mainers of the NECBL (Pitching Coach), and York High School (Pitching Coach). He was also selected as a guest Spring Training coach for the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals through the MLB’s RBI program. At Thomas, Coach Guptel oversees all aspects of pitcher development, including biomechanical analysis, video breakdown, scouting reports, arm care routines, and in-game management. His commitment to modern, evidence-based coaching aligns with the program’s vision of building competitive student-athletes on and off the field.