With the cancellation of all spring sports due to COVID-19, the Fighting Tiger Athletic Department would like to take this opportunity to start a new weekly feature called "Meet our Coaches" to introduce you to a member of our SUNY Cobleskill coaching staff.  
 
In this week's segment of "Meet our Coaches", we are featuring baseball head coach Lance Ratchford! 
 
Coach Lance Ratchford was gearing up for a promising second season as head coach and an exciting 2020 campaign after a successful 2019 season.  His team had the best start in program history with an 8-5 record before the tragic COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 season to be cancelled.

In his first season at the helm, Ratchford brought the Tigers to new heights.  He quickly made his mark and created a new era and vision for the baseball program.  The team finished 16-22 overall with a 9-9 conference record, which was a complete turnaround from their 3-28 record in 2018.  Their improvement went down in the record books as one of the best turnarounds in the NCAA, no matter the division.

Not only did they have one of the best turnarounds in the country under Coach Ratchford, but for the first time in program history the SUNY Cobleskill baseball team qualified for the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship Tournament. 

His second baseman Joseph Ciatto was named the NEAC Rookie-of-the-Year and to the All-NEAC Second Team.  Ratchford was named the runner up for NEAC Coach of the Year, which is an award voted on by the coaches.

Ratchford puts a priority on having student-athletes who aren't just great baseball players, but who can excel in the classroom as well.  His outfielder Jayson Maxwell was named the SUNY Cobleskill's 2019 Male Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year and three of his players were named NEAC Scholar-Athletes.  Also, two of his players were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma honor society for student-athletes.

His baseball journey before Cobleskill saw him make stops at Keystone College, Oneonta State and Marist College.  Ratchford came to Cobleskill from Marist College where he was the program's assistant coach from 2016-2018 and played an instrumental part in three straight postseason runs.  

During his time at Marist, he had nine players named to an All-MAAC team, 37 players named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and one Louisville Slugger All-American.  One of his players was selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.  He also helped Marist win the 2017 MAAC Championship which earned a birth to the NCAA Division I Tournament. 

Before Marist, he served as an assistant coach at the State University of New York at Oneonta for five years. During his time there, he had seven Red Dragon players named All-SUNYAC, 23 players were named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team with six being named to the SUNYAC Commissioners List.

Ratchford has enjoyed NCAA success at all levels, but he also enjoyed major success in the Cape Cod Baseball League.  During his two summer in the Cape Cod League, he coached over 50 MLB draft picks including 6 first round draft picks.  He coached the number 2 overall pick in 2016 MLB Draft, who would later on make his depute for the Cincinnati Reds. He coached another First Round Draft pick in 2016 who went on to make his professional depute for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As a baseball player, he excelled at Keystone College. He won three straight conference championships and made a trip to the NCAA College World Series as a senior in 2011. 

Coach Ratchford resides in Oneonta, N.Y. with his wife Leah and their one year old daughter, Nola.

Get to know Coach! 
 
When and how did you first get involved with coaching?
I was a December graduate at Keystone College and was back home applying for every minor league front office job under the sun and just wasn't getting anywhere because of the lack of experience. Coaching wasn't even on my radar.  Got a call from my summer ball coach that I had played for that had recently been named the Interim Head Coach at SUNY Oneonta and he was looking for an Assistant Coach to handle the Hitters and the Offense and I took it.  Ended up being the decision of a lifetime. 
 
What inspired you to become a collegiate Baseball coach?
I feel that I have a lot to offer when it comes to the college athlete because of my experience as a player.  I was blessed enough to have played for some really good college programs and coaches and I was able to play in a College World Series and a couple of NCAA tournaments.  Building and being part of championship cultures is all I know and I'm bringing it to my players every day.
 
What's your favorite part about working with the student-athletes at Cobleskill?
My favorite part of working with our student athletes here is definitely being able to work with such a diverse student body.  Our team and program is full of players from different cultures and backgrounds and it makes our dynamic so special.  We have the student athletes from down state and into the N.Y. Metro area and we also have the student athletes from the Upstate and Western N.Y. area.  Our out-of-state numbers are high as well with players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massachusetts.
 
Who has had the greatest impact or has been the most influential on your career?
Was lucky enough to play for 2 of the best coaches around: Joe Hughes at Oneonta High School, one of the best coaches in the history of NY High School Baseball.  The Other is Jamie Shevchik from Keystone College, I believe is the best Head Coach in the NCAA.  I'm still in touch with both of them and our relationship has grown into lifelong friendships.
 
In your own opinion, what would you call your greatest accomplishment in your coaching career?
I'm sorry, I have two. At Marist in 2017 winning the MAAC Championship and earning a berth to the NCAA Division 1 Tourney and getting to play against the eventual National Champion Florida Gators in the Swap in Gainesville FL.  Something I'll always remember.

The second is watching two of my former Cape Cod league players make their Major League Baseball deputes last season.  I have been lucky enough to coach in the Cape for 2 summers.  Nick Senzel who was the number 2 overall pick in 2016 MLB Draft out of the university of Tennessee. He made his depute for the Cincinnati Reds. Will Smith from the University of Louisville who was also a First Round Draft pick in 2016 made his depute for the L.A. Dodgers.  Both were an absolute joy to coach in Brewster, M.A.  I've coached over 50 MLB picks and 6 first round draft picks in those 2 summers, so hopefully we have a couple more MLB deputes to come.
 
What is your favorite memory as a Fighting Tiger so far?
Getting on the bus at Wells after clinching a playoff berth to the NEAC Tournament and being able to see the look on our guys faces.  I'll never forget the look of accomplishment and joy they had.  From where the program was to become a postseason team in my first year as Head Coach is something I'll always remember. 
 
What is one of your favorite quotes and why?
"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot" - Kobe Bryant

Kobe was the ultimate champion and he attacked his craft harder than anyone has ever done it.  He's was a winner and this quote tells that story. 
 
If you had your own late-night talk show, who would you have as your first guest and who would play your intro music? 
My first guest would be Derek Jeter.  I would love to talk baseball and pick his brain.  Intro music would be played by Drake, for sure.
 
What's your favorite place you've ever visited?
Me and my wife went to Saint Martin in the Caribbean on our honeymoon. I have never seen water so blue.
 
Favorite athlete of all-time and favorite team?
Favorite athlete of all time Kobe Bryant.  Favorite team of all time is the NY Yankees.
 
What's a fun fact that people might not know about you?
My family and I are big restaurant people.  We like to try new food and eat at different places.  We eat out as a family every weekend.