2016 National Champions
2016 South Region Champions
2015 Sunshine State Conference Champions
Pitching Staff Quick Facts
-No. 1 Pitching Staff In SSC In 2016 (3.36 ERA)
-No. 2 Pitching Staff In SSC In 2015 (3.69 ERA)
-13 Pitchers Signed to Professional Contracts In Four Seasons
-Eight Qualifying Pitchers with an ERA Under 3.00
-Nine All-SSC Pitchers
-Pitching Staff Led SSC In K's In 2015 and 2016
Ramsey enters the 2018-19 season, his fifth year as the pitching coach at Nova Southeastern University, after helping to lead the squad to their fourth consecutive NCAA South Regional Tournament appearance in 2018. Devin Conn and Brady Acker became his eighth and ninth All-Conference selections, as Conn was second in both program history (behind only 8-year MLB veteran Mike Fiers) and the SSC that season in strikeouts with 128, and Acker was ninth in the conference with 90 of his own. Following the season, three pitchers reached the professional ranks, bringing the total under his watch to 13 in four years. Conn, who also broke Fiers' NCAA-era single-game strikeout record with 15 against Tampa on March 2, one of seven double-digit strikeouts games during the season, was drafted in the 19th round by the Houston Astros. Joe Strzelecki, who led the team with six saves and entered May with an ERA of just 0.86, was the Miami Marlins' 34th round selection, while fellow reliever Michael Gizzi, who was second on the team with four saves and struck out 35 batters in just 17.1 innings of work, signed with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent.
In 2017, he was in charge of his seventh All-SSC First Team pitcher (Matt Hardy) and after the season saw four more pitchers sign contracts with professional teams: Joe DiBenedetto (29th round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays), Hardy (undrafted free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers), Josh Glick (Windy City Thunderbolts, Frontier League) and Jonny Ortiz (River City Rascals, Frontier League).
Ramsey brought his pitchers to new heights in 2016, leading the staff to the program's first ever NCAA Division II National Championship. Ramsey coached that year's Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year Alex Mateo, as well as the MVP of both the South Regional and National Tournaments in Devin Raftery. Ramsey's staff led the SSC in shutouts (6), saves (19), ERA (3.36), and strikeouts (464), and he also oversaw the only two pitchers in the conference to post a sub-3.00 ERA while qualifying for the ERA title (1 inning pitched per team game played), as well as four of the seven pitchers who did so in at least 30 innings. Ramsey's pitching staff's in 2015 and 2016 are the first to place two starting pitchers on the SSC First Team in back-to-back years since Florida Southern did so in 1993 and 1994. Since the conference has instituted relievers into its postseason awards in 1995, there have been five teams that have featured two First Team starting pitchers and one First Team reliever. Two of those five teams have been under Ramsey's direction, coming in both 2015 and 2016. In addition, Mateo set the program's NCAA-era single-season record for games started (17) and career strikeout record (189(, while Raftery set all-time single-season records for saves (17) and ERA (1.14, 50-inning minimum)
Three pitchers on Ramsey's 2016 staff went on to sign professional contracts: Alex Mateo (22nd round pick by the Miami Marlins), Alex Kline (29th round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies) and Devin Raftery (undrafted free agent with the Houston Astros).
In 2015, Ramsey’s first year as the pitching coach at NSU, the Sharks’ pitching staff led the Sunshine State Conference in strikeouts (419), while ranking second in the conference in ERA (3.69) and opponents average (.256), runners picked off (15), runs allowed (225), walks (115) and home runs allowed (33). Ramsey’s staff consisted of the SSC ERA leader in Zachary Westcott (2.30), SSC innings pitched leader Ryan Castellanos (97.2), SSC strikeout and wins leader Alex Mateo (93, 10) and the leader in games finished Devin Raftery (22). On top of that, Ramsey guided Josh Glick to the lowest ERA in NSU history (0.42), as well as a new school record for fewest overall walks (115).
Three pitchers on Ramsey’s 2015 staff went on to sign professional contracts: Castellanos (25th round pick by the Detroit Tigers), Westcott (Lincoln Saltdogs, American Association) and Roberto Baroniel (Normal Cornbelters, Frontier League).
Coach Brown’s Thoughts On The Hire
"Coach Ramsey comes to us with great experience and background, having played and worked at both the Division I and Junior College level," said Brown. "Having worked under some of the most highly respected coaches in the college game, Rams brings a wealth of knowledge in both pitching and the mental game. I am very excited for him to lead our pitching staff and impact our program on and off the field."
Prior to NSU
Ramsey came to NSU after spending three years with NCAA Division I Long Beach State. There, Ramsey's impact on the pitching staff was instrumental. In his three seasons, the staff never collectively held an ERA over 3.64 in a season. In the previous three seasons, the team had averaged over a 4.00 ERA combined. In 2013, the pitching staff ended the season with an opponent batting average of .238 and an ERA of 2.97, the lowest for the program since 2005.
Ramsey's coaching experience ranges across many levels all over the country. In 2013, Ramsey worked under Scott Pickler coaching the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League, the premier collegiate summer ball league in the nation.
Ramsey went to Long Beach State from Sacramento City College, where he spent five years as an assistant coach. Also, following his time at Sacramento City, Ramsey served as the pitching coach with the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods summer collegiate league.
In his playing career, Ramsey was a closer and relief pitcher for Oral Roberts from 2003-04. A 2004 All-American, Ramsey posted a 7-0 record with 13 saves as a senior, posting a 2.91 ERA. A two-time All-Summit League selection, Ramsey led the Golden Eagles to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He ranks fourth all-time with 18 career saves for Oral Roberts.
Following his collegiate career, Ramsey played for three seasons in the Golden Baseball League with the Long Beach Armada, finishing third in the rookie of the year voting while simultaneously working in the offseason with Sacramento City.
