U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Men's Baseball

In 2007, Michael Notebaert, a distinguished graduate of Ithaca College, joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) as an Assistant Baseball Coach, Instructor, and Athletics Operations Manager. He was promoted to Head Baseball Coach in 2009 and completed his Master of Business Administration in Leadership and Management from Dowling College in 2010. The 2026 season marks his 21st year with the program and his 19th season as Head Coach. In March 2013, Notebaert expanded his responsibilities when he was appointed Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Events. In this role, he oversaw facility scheduling and operations, ensures athletic venues remain well-maintained and up to date, and provided leadership in project management and event operations. As Head Coach, Notebaert has established himself as the winningest coach in USMMA baseball history. Under his leadership, the Mariners have made 14 appearances in the Landmark and Skyline Conference Tournaments, advancing to six conference championship games (2009, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2026). One of the most significant achievements of his tenure came in 2021 when he guided the Mariners to their first conference championship and NCAA Regional appearance. The team advanced to the regional semifinals, finishing just two victories shy of a berth in the NCAA Division III College World Series. Notebaert has led the program to three regular-season conference championships, including a share of the Landmark Conference title in 2013 and outright Skyline Conference championships in 2021 and 2025. His teams have recorded 20 or more victories in eleven seasons, highlighted by a program-record 28 wins in 2018, 2019, and 2025. His commitment to player development has produced some of the most accomplished student-athletes in Academy history. Under his guidance, USMMA has produced the program’s only two Conference Players of the Year (2013 and 2023), three Conference Pitchers of the Year (2018, 2019, and 2021), and two Conference Academic Players of the Year (2018 and 2019). His players have also earned eleven All-America selections between D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), two CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, 27 ABCA All-Region selections, 23 D3Baseball.com All-Region selections, 17 ECAC All-Region honors, and 66 All-Conference recognitions. Notebaert’s accomplishments have been recognized throughout the collegiate baseball community. He was named the D3Baseball.com New York Region Coach of the Year in 2021 and has earned Conference Coach of the Year honors four times, receiving the award in the Landmark Conference in 2009 and 2013 and in the Skyline Conference in 2021 and 2025. He is also a three-time recipient of the Academy’s prestigious Bill Omeltchenko Coach of the Year Award (2009, 2012, and 2021). Beyond competitive success, Notebaert has emphasized academic excellence within the program. Under his leadership, the Mariners have earned the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award nine times and have received the Academy’s Dean’s Award for the highest team GPA on three occasions (2011, 2016, and 2018). Notebaert resides in East Meadow, New York, with his wife, Veronica, and their children, Andrew and Natalie.

Lou Bernardi joined the USMMA baseball coaching staff ahead of the 2019 season. Bernardi serves as the Mariners' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator and has served in an array of collegiate coaching positions over the past few years. "I am extremely excited to be adding Coach Bernardi to the staff," said Notebaert. "He is a tremendous coach that has helped every program he has worked with elevate their levels of success.  I'm looking forward to having him here and helping us continue to build our tradition and continue to raise our expectations."  A former player at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Bernardi pitched for four years at the Division I level, compiling over 160 innings in over 60 appearances throughout his career. After college, he went on to play at the independent professional level in the Golden League for the St. George Roadrunners, where he played for former Los Angeles Dodger All-Star Mike Marshall and Benny Castillo. He also played for the New York Federals in the New York State League and coached the Federals in the Can-Am Exhibition Season.  Bernardi most recently served as the pitching coach at Iona College for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. During his time at Iona, he helped lead his pitching staff and the Gaels to a playoff berth and an appearance in the 2017 MAAC Championship. His pitching staff led the MAAC in several statistical categories throughout his tenure, including standout pitcher Jared Finkel, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round.  Prior to working with the Gaels, Bernardi spent one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for LIU Post.  His first stint in college coaching was at his alma mater, NYIT, where he was an assistant coach responsible for coaching third base at the division I level in the Great West Conference.  Bernardi then went on to fellow Skyline Conference institution SUNY Old Westbury, where in 2015 he helped lead the Panthers to an NCAA Regional and Skyline Conference championship. During his three-year stint at OW, his pitching staff earned two Skyline Pitcher of the Year awards, selections to both First and Second Team All-Skyline and numerous Pitcher of the Week honors. Six of his players went on to sign professional contracts, highlighted by Tim Ingram who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 31st round.  Throughout the summer months, Bernardi has served as head coach for some of the country's best players in some of the nation's top collegiate summer leagues – the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and the prestigious Northwoods Baseball League. To date he has coached and worked with over 60 players that have went on to sign a professional contract at the affiliated or independent levels.  Off the field, he has been a guest instructor for numerous camps, clinics, and academy's, as well as being asked to speak at various events on his pitching philosophy's.  Bernardi has also been a contributor to InsidePitch Magazine, and is a former board member for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation which connects Major League Baseball to the U.S. Military and their families. He currently serves as an advisor on the baseball development committee for the Italian American Baseball Foundation. He is an active member in both the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and in the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (APBPA).  "I very much look forward to the opportunity to be associated with such a prestigious Service Academy," said Bernardi. "I am thrilled to have the privilege to be a part of this athletic department and excited to be coaching our Midshipmen on the baseball field and see them grow as leaders in the future. I want to thank Coach Notebaert and the Academy for their trust and confidence in me to coach these men at the highest level. I hope to contribute to this program in a positive manner, as well as represent the Academy, baseball program and our alumni in the top class fashion they deserve."  Bernardi, a 2011 graduate of NYIT with a degree in criminal justice, is a lifelong resident of New Hyde Park, N.Y., where he currently lives.