University of Hartford Men's Baseball

Steve Malinowski enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Hartford baseball team in 2026 after being named head coach in summer of 2021. Malinowski has spent the last 17 season on the Hawks’ coaching staff, as he was previously an assistant coach for the 10 years prior to being named the head coach. He serves as the Hawks' primary hitting coach, while also working with the team's catchers. In 2025, the Hawks finished 20-22 with a Conference of New England (CNE) record of 9-7 to earn the three seed in the conference tournament. Hartford would win a pair of games in the postseason before bowing out in pod play. The Hawks had five student-athletes named to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III All-Region Teams, while eight were named to the CNE All-Conference Teams. Malinowski was a key piece to Hartford’s historic season in 2018, helping lead the Hawks to the program's first ever America East Regular Season and Tournament Championship, as well as making their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.   Hartford swept the America East Major award in 2018, including senior Nick Campana, who was named America East Player of the year. Campana was the team’s top hitter, thanks in large part to Malinowski, last season, batting  .385 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.   Under Malinowski's watch, Hartford has rewritten its offensive record books. The Hawks’ top five single-season hits records have been set since 2012 and the team proved dominant in 2016. That year the Hawks batted .302 as a club, the second-highest percentage in program history behind only the 1997 squad (.311). Hartford also set a handful of program records in 2016, including hits (559), runs (379), RBIs (332), doubles (103), triples (22) walks (235) and total bases (805). Hartford's hitters have thrived with Malinowski's guidance. Former first baseman David MacKinnon set the single-season hits record (85) in 2016 and broke the career hits record in 2017, finishing with 269 during his time at Hartford. Former catcher Erik Ostberg also flourished under Malinowski, getting selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, after one season as the Hawks’ full-time starter. Prior to Hartford, Malinowski spent four seasons on the coaching staff at UConn alongside former Hawks Head Coach Justin Blood. At UConn, Malinowski was charged with coaching first base and developing the outfielders. In addition, he coordinated the Connecticut Baseball School and several hitting clinics. In that role, he helped the Huskies to their most successful seasons under head coach Jim Penders, including a program-best 48 victories in 2010 and back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 Huskies advanced to the NCAA Super Regional’s for the first time in program history. Prior to his tenure at UConn, Malinowski spent one season as an assistant at Bryant University. Malinowski also served as an assistant coach with the Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) in 2008, while in 2009, he was an assistant with the Manchester Silkworms. Malinowski played two seasons at UConn, appearing in 33 games as a senior and finishing with a .260 batting average. He had three doubles and two home runs, both of which came in the BIG EAST Tournament, and drove in 19 runs that season. He played in 25 games as a junior after transferring from Wake Forest in 2004. At Wake Forest, Malinowski finished his first collegiate game 4-of-5 at the plate with four runs scored, becoming the first freshman in Wake Forest history to tally four hits in his debut. A native of Kensington, Conn., Malinowski graduated from UConn with a degree in coaching and administration in 2007.

Plantamuro enters his first season as assistant coach for the Hartford Baseball team in 2025-2026.  Plantamuro comes to Hartford after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with Keene State College. In his two seasons, the Owls finished with a combined record of 46-39, hitting .289 under his watch. Alongside his work with Keene State, Plantamuro also spent time coaching for the Norwich Sea Unicorns in the Futures League, winning back-to-back FCBL Championships. During his playing career, Plantamuro and his Eastern Connecticut State Unviersity Warriors took home the 2022 DIII National Championship. Alongside the national title, Plantamuro was named the 2022-2023 Francis E. Geissler Male Sports Person of the Year. A native of Bristol, Connecticut, Plantamuro graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2023 with a bachelor's in communications.  

Rebhun enters his first season as assistant coach for the Hartford Baseball team in 2025-2026.  Rebhun comes to Hartford after spending the last season as an assistant coach with Post University. During the 2024-2025 season, the Eagles finished with a record of 26-25, picking up two ranked wins and making it to the CACC tournament.  Alongside his work with Post, Rebhun has also spent time coaching for the Bristol Blues in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). A native of Bristol, Connecticut, Rebhun graduated from Post University in 2024 with a bachelor's in both Sport Management and Business Administration.  

John Slusarz enters his forth year as a member of the Hartford baseball team's coaching staff in 2024-25. Slusarz, who previously spent three seasons as the Hawks' pitching coach from 2012-14, rejoins the staff as an assistant coach. In 2025, the Hawks finished 20-22 with a Conference of New England (CNE) record of 9-7 to earn the three seed in the conference tournament. Hartford would win a pair of games in the postseason before bowing out in pod play. On the mound, Slursarz’s Hawks compiled a 6.29 ERA, with a 1.58 WHIP, holding opponents to a .274 batting average. They struck out  321 batters, a 26% increase from last season, and issued 179 walks. Over 360.2 innings pitched, they secured eight saves and had one complete game. The Hawks had five student-athletes named to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III All-Region Teams, while eight were named to the CNE All-Conference Teams.    During his first stint at Hartford, Slusarz worked with Sean Newcomb, who went on to become the Hawks’ highest draft pick in 2016 when he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels as the 15th overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. With Slusarz’ guidance, Newcomb became the program’s first ABCA All-American and America East Pitcher of the Year honoree in 2014 after he shattered Hartford’s single-season records in ERA (1.25), strikeouts (106) and inning pitched (93.1) that year.    Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft and played four seasons within the minor league system, Slusarz returned to the MLB in 2014 to serve as the pitching coach within the Los Angeles Angels’ minor league system. He spent three years with the organization before returning to Connecticut to become the head varsity baseball coach at Hamden Hall Day School in Hamden, Conn.   A two-year member of the Huskies in 2005 and 2006, Slusarz graduated from UConn in 2011 with a degree in communication sciences.