EASTON, Pa. – Joe Kinney will make the 2020 season his final campaign as the head coach of the Lafayette baseball program. Kinney, who took over the head coaching reins prior to the 2000 season, has coached 57 All-Patriot League selections.

"This decision is something I have been considering for a while," Kinney said. "I cannot thank Lafayette College enough for providing me and my family with this experience. My wife, Susan, was an employee here for several years and our daughters, Annelise and Alexis, grew up on the Lafayette campus with Annelise graduating from Lafayette in 2019."

"I have had the tremendous good fortune to coach incredible young men who have given their all on the baseball field and in the classroom and who have gone on to be successful in life." Kinney continued. "I consider myself to be lucky to have worked with such talented people during my 21 years here. I'd like to thank my assistant coaches and all of the support staff in the athletic department and across the college who have helped our baseball program on a daily basis."

During his tenure, Kinney has continuously raised the talent level to the point where Lafayette is consistently in contention for a Patriot League title, advancing to the Patriot League semifinals in 2019.

"We are grateful for Joe's contributions to Lafayette and are excited for the upcoming season with Joe at the helm," said Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman. "We are supportive in his endeavor to move forward into the next chapter with his family."

He has proven to be a top-notch recruiter both athletically and academically. Recent seasons have seen three players (Alex Woinski in 2014, Steven Cohen in 2015, Justin Johnson in 2019) achieve Freshman All-America status from Collegiate Baseball while three others (Cory Spera in 2014, Toby Schwartz in 2015 and Michael Coniglio in 2016) were named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Tye Gonser and James Conrad also captured the conference award during Kinney's tenure, winning in 2002 and 2007, respectively. 

Under Kinney, the Leopards have advanced to the Patriot League Tournament in six of the past 11 seasons, including an underdog run to the 2009 championship series. Perhaps the most notable year under Kinney came in 2007 - a season for the record books - as the Leopards recorded a program-best 33 wins, including 17 Patriot League victories, and advanced to the NCAA Regional.

The team's performance that season earned Kinney his first-ever Patriot League Coach of the Year honor. Under Kinney, Lafayette has featured three Patriot League Players of the Year (A.J. Miller '11, Adam Rosenberg '04, Vince D'Angelis '02) and David Bednar '17 was called up to the San Diego Padres in 2019. Kinney also was at the helm in 2004 for the Leopards' first trip to the Patriot League Championship Series and in 2002 for Lafayette's first 20-win season in a decade. Kinney's Leopard teams also have claimed four Liberty Bell Classic titles (2007, 2008, 2018, 2019) at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Kinney has been instrumental in major renovations to Lafayette's baseball facilities. In 2008, the baseball field was renamed Kamine Stadium and in 2004, renovations made to the stadium included the addition of a grandstand with chair-back seats and bleachers, a press box and the expansion and refurbishment of both dugouts. Most recently, Kinney contributed to the design and construction of Morel Field House, an indoor facility shared by the baseball and softball programs. Other improvements in Kinney's tenure include a new scoreboard, outfield fence and warning track, new infield mix and a shelter in the Lafayette bullpen.

The Leopards will return to campus Jan. 19 to get ready for the 2020 season. Lafayette will be led by Johnson and fellow returning All-Patriot League selections Trey Durrah and Ethan Stern. They are slated to officially open Kinney's last season as a collegiate baseball head coach on Feb. 14-16 with a three-game series at High Point University.