POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Chris Tracz is stepping down from his position as head coach of the Marist baseball team. Tracz has accepted the head coaching job at Army West Point.
 
"The opportunity to play, coach, and serve Marist for over 20 years has been so special," Tracz said. "Marist was truly transformational for me and my family. We will always be connected to Marist, now as alumni. I appreciate the support and opportunity that Tim Murray and the administrators extended 13 years ago, and allowed me to be the caretaker of a great program here at Marist."
 
Tracz had a 21-year association with the Marist baseball program and served as head coach for the past 13 years. He is the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year and guided the Red Foxes to the MAAC championship in 2017. Tracz won his 300^th career game as head coach on April 3, 2022 and had a record of 316-282-2 (.528 winning percentage) in his tenure. This includes a mark of 171-116 (.596) in MAAC play, and the Red Foxes have gone 79-41 (.658) in the MAAC since 2017.
 
"I want to thank Chris for his passion and hard work as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and tremendous leadership as a head coach for the past two decades with our baseball program!" Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "His Hall of Fame playing career and outstanding tenure as our head coach have left an incredible mark on our program.
 
"Chris and his wife Katie from our Class of 2005 have been a big part of the Marist community and we wish Chris nothing but great success leading the Army West Point baseball program."
 
Since Tracz took over as head coach in 2010, Marist has had nine selections in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. One was Kevin McCarthy, who was selected by the Kansas City Royals in 2013 and played in the Major Leagues for the Royals from 2016-20. Ricky Pacione, who played for Tracz from 2010-11, has served as a bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Guardians since 2014.
 
Tracz had previously served as the Red Foxes' pitching coach from 2006-08, which followed an outstanding playing career from 2001-05. The greatest pitcher in program history, Tracz remains the program's all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, starts, and complete games 17 years after his graduation.
 
Tracz was a part of four MAAC championship teams, with three as a player (2001, 2002, 2005) and one as head coach (2017).
 
A national search for Tracz's successor will begin immediately.