Honors and Awards
• 2018 MEC Coach of the Year
• 2014 NCBWA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
• 2014 MEC Coach of the Year
Matt McCarty enters his 12th year as the head baseball coach at Shepherd University after being named as the interim head baseball coach in September 2012 and elevated to head baseball coach in July 2013.
The Rams posted a 25-20 overall mark with an 8-15 record in conference play in 2023. The Rams had 3 players that gained All-PSAC East honors. The trio also gained All-Region honors.
Shepherd recorded an 18-22-1 overall mark with a 10-13-1 record in conference play in 2022. The Rams had 2 players that gained All-PSAC East honors.
The Rams recorded a 22-14-1 overall record with an 18-12-1 mark in conference play in 2021. Four Rams gained All-PSAC East honors with Jared Carr and Adam Miller each earning first team accolades. Carr also garnered NCBWA Honorable Mention All-American honors.
Shepherd posted an 11-7 overall mark in 2020 in a season shortened due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Rams posted a 36-16 overall mark with a 24-6 record in MEC play in 2019. Additionally, Shepherd All-American outfielder Brenton Doyle was selected in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He was the 129th pick and was the first Division II played chosen in the draft.
Shepherd posted a 38-17 overall mark with a 27-5 record in conference play as the MEC North Division champions in 2018. McCarty also led the Rams to their third consecutive NCAA II postseason appearance.
The Rams recorded a 33-24 overall mark with a 24-8 mark in conference play as the MEC North Champions in 2017. Shepherd won the MEC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA II Atlantic Regional Tournament.
Shepherd posted a 39-15 overall mark with a 24-8 record in conference play in 2016. The Rams won the MEC regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA II Atlantic Regional Tournament where they won a pair of regional games for the first time since 2002.
McCarty’s Rams posted a 39-12 mark with a 35-9 record in conference play as the MEC regular season champions in 2015. Shepherd tied the school record for most wins in a season with 39. The Rams posted a record-setting 20-game win streak during the season. McCarty reached the 100-win mark when Shepherd handed Fairmont State a 7-0 setback on May 2.
McCarty led the Rams to a 39-14 overall record in 2014 and was named Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year as Shepherd posted a 35-7 mark in MEC play to capture the inaugural MEC regular season championship. The 39 wins tie the mark for the most wins in program history. Additionally, McCarty garnered NCBWA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year honors after leading the Rams to an appearance in the 2014 Division II Baseball Championship Atlantic Region Tournament as the number two seed.
In his first season at the helm of the program, he led the team to 28-20 overall with a conference record of 21-10. Since taking over the program, McCarty’s vision of elevating the program to nationally known premises is evident by the program’s efforts on the recruiting trail and work ethic that is instilled in the classroom and on the baseball field.
McCarty has been a staple in Shepherd baseball dating back to his playing days for Rams in 2008-09. During his time as a player, assistant coach and head coach, McCarty has played a crucial part of Shepherd’s success. Along with being the program’s head coach, McCarty serves as the pitching coach for a staff that has experienced ample amounts of success in the past years. Since shifting to pitching coach duties in 2012, the team’s ERA has progressively dropped, with a team ERA of 4.49 in 2013 and a 3.51 ERA in 2014. While coaching at Shepherd, McCarty has numerous All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American performers.
McCarty has had 15 players move on to the professional ranks including 2011 first round pick Cory Spangenberg. Over the past few years, the Rams have had three individuals drafted by Major League Baseball clubs (Nathan Minnich (2012) — 8th round Boston Red Sox, Josh McCauley (2013) — 21st Chicago Cubs, Brenton Doyle (2019) — 4th round Colorado Rockies).
McCarty played for the Rams from 2008-09. He earned NCBWA All-American accolades in the 2008 after posting an 8-2 record on the mound with 1.91 ERA and a .353 batting average for the Rams. In 2009, McCarty set a program record for single season strikeouts with 94 in 80 innings of work. McCarty also gained playing experience in the renowned Valley Baseball League with the Front Royal Cardinals.
McCarty has gained valuable coaching experience in collegiate summer leagues. In 2010 McCarty made his first appearance on the coaching scene with the Winchester Royals of the Valley Baseball League, he helped guide the North Adams Steeplecats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2011, and in 2012 he assisted with the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League.
McCarty earned his bachelor’s degree in fitness and exercise science with a minor in athletic coaching from Shepherd in 2010.
