Camp Staff

Jeff Hourigan
Associate Head Coach

Jeff Hourigan joined Jim Penders’ staff prior to the 2012 season and is now entering his 15th season as an assistant coach in 2026. Hourigan, who played at UConn for two seasons, returned to Storrs after spending five years as an assistant coach and pitching coach at the University of New Haven. Hourigan is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball.

During Hourigan's time in Storrs, he has mentored the UConn hitters, specifically outfielders, and served as the recruiting coordinator. Since he came aboard, UConn has had 20 position players drafted or signed by MLB clubs. Hourigan has also helped mentored five All-Americans, with David Smith (2023), Erik Stock (2022), Kyler Fedko (2021), Vinny Siena (2015) and LJ Mazzilli (2013) each earning All-America honors during their time in Storrs.

UConn won 38 games in 2025 and won its fifth-straight BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. Ryan Daniels earned BIG EAST Player of the Year while four position players landed All-BIG EAST honors. UConn scored the third most runs (519) in a single-season, stole 139 bases (second most) and hit a program record 97 home runs including 22 for Tyler Minick (2nd most single-season) and Ryan Daniels hit 18. Both Minick and Daniels eclipsed 70 RBI seasons. Daniels was selected in the 11th Round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

During the 2024 season, the Huskies won the NCAA Norman Regional to advance to the program's third Super Regional. Five position players (Korey Morton, Luke Broadhurst, Matt Garbowski, Maddix Dalena and Bryan Padilla) earned All-BIG EAST honors en route to a fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season championship. Korey Morton signed a free agent contract with the Houston Astros after graduating in 2024.

Dominic Freeberger won BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2023 with the Huskies winning their third-straight BIG EAST regular season title and advanced to the program's fifth-straight NCAA Tournament. David Smith earned Second Team College Baseball Foundation All-American status and was drafted in the 14th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Five Huskies landed on the All-BIG EAST team (Freeberger, Smith, Ben Huber, Jake Studley and Luke Broadhurst).

In 2022, the Huskies had five players earn All-Conference status with Stock, Korey Morton and Matt Donlan taking First Team honors while Casey Dana and David Smith landed on the second team. Under Hourigan, the Huskies won both the 2022 BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the Super Regionals for the first time under him. UConn scored the second most runs in a single-season with 528, hit. 300 as a team for the second-straight season, led the nation with 166 doubles, which set a program record, and tied the program record with 83 home runs in a single-season. All those marks helped the Huskies set a program and New England record with 50 wins in a season.

In 2021, Kyler Fedko took home BIG EAST Player of the Year honors while five position players made the BIG EAST All-Conference team (Fedko (First Team), C. Winkel (First Team, Erik Stock (First Team), Pat Winkel (Second Team) and Reggie Crawford (Second Team). En route to winning the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships and the UCon coaching staff earning BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, the UConn offense led the BIG EAST in batting average (.300), runs scored (384), hits (511), slugging (.476), on-base percentage (.386), doubles (106), home runs (62), and total bases (827).

During the 2019 season, the Huskies scored the third most runs in The American with 369. The 2019 offense set a program-record and led The American with 294 walks including Christian Fedko leading the league with 46. John Toppa and Anthony Prato both reached the 200-hit mark for their careers becoming the 20th adn 21st Huskies to accomplish the feat. The Huskies scored 37 runs in the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional, the second most they've scored in a single NCAA Tournament. (2011, 50 Runs). The 7.4 average runs per game was the most UConn has produced in a single NCAA Tournament.

Anthony Prato earned First Team All-Conference status while John Toppa, Mike Woodworth and Christian Fedko landed on the second team. Prato was drafted in the 7th Round by the Minnesota Twins and Mike Woodworth was selected in the 29th Round by the Oakland Athletics

In 2018, four players hit over .300 with Zac Susi (.335), Troy Stefanski (.326), Anthony Prato (.324) and Mike Woodworth (.302) eclipsing the mark. Isaac Feldstein earned First Team All-Conference honors, Susi landed on the second team and Christian Fedko was named the American Conference Rookie Position Player of the Year. In the 2018 MLB Draft, Susi was drafted in the 12th Round  by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

During the 2017 season, junior third baseman Willy Yahn became the 19th Husky to collect 200 hits for his career. The Huskies placed two position players on the All-Conference team with Yahn and Anthony Prato getting second-team All-Conference nods.

In 2016, UConn won its first American Athletic Conference crown with Hourigan leading the UConn offense to the top of the conference in multiple offensive categories. The Huskies ranked first in runs scored (388), doubles (108) and walks (261). Joe DeRoche-Duffin was selected the Conference Player of the Year, while four other position players earned All-Conference honors; Willy Yahn, Bobby Melley, Bryan Daniello and Jack Sundberg. Individually, Willy Yahn was first in The American in hits (88), doubles (20), DeRoche-Duffin's cranked a conference-leading 17 HR's and Bobby Melley and Jack Sundberg tied for the top spot in the conference with 53 runs scored.

In 2015, the UConn posted a slash line of .288/.388/.416 to aid in scoring a conference-leading 6.5 runs per game. The UConn offense sent five to All-Conference teams and Vinny Siena followed Bobby Melley in 2014 to give the Huskies back-to-back NEIBA New England Player of the Year winners. The Huskies also had three hitters (Blake Davey, Joe DeRoche-Duffin and Siena) earn ABCA All-Region honors.  

While working at New Haven for head coach Raphael Cerrato (now head coach at Rhode Island), Hourigan helped guide the Chargers to an East Coast Conference regular season championship (2008), an NCAA Regional berth (2010), and led the pitching staff to an ERA of 2.90 that was the second best mark in the country during the 2010 season.

Prior to his coaching career at New Haven, Hourigan was a student assistant coach for UConn during the 2006 season, working closely with the first basemen and pitchers. He split his collegiate playing career between Clemson and Connecticut, playing for the Tigers during the 2002 and 2003 seasons and was part of the Husky lineup during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 2002, he competed in the College World Series as a part of a Clemson team that finished third nationally. As a senior, Hourigan was named team captain and went on to earn second team All-BIG EAST and team MVP honors. At Clemson, he earned honorable mention Freshman All-American.

Between Clemson and Connecticut, Hourigan played in 185 games and batted .303 for his career. He scored 104 runs, drove in 129 and belted 25 home runs. At UConn alone, he hit .333 with 17 home runs in 90 games. On the mound, he recorded a 10-8 record in 21 starts for the Huskies and struck out 103 batters in 136.1 innings pitched.

Entering college, Hourigan was named the 2001 Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year, while playing at Masuk High School in Monroe. He also helped lead Naugatuck Post 17 to the 2001 American Legion State Championship.

Hourigan and his wife Connie live in Prospect and have two sons, Jeffrey Jr. and Charlie.

Joshua MacDonald
Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Josh MacDonald joined Jim Penders' staff in 2012 and enters his 15th season as Husky pitching coach in 2026. MacDonald is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball.

MacDonald has coached seven All-Americans during his time in Storrs and had an All-American in six of seven completed seasons (Cross ('15), Kay ('16), Russell ('17), Feole & Poulin ('18), Jacob Wallace ('19) and Austin Peterson (2022). (*2020 season shortened due to Covid-19)

Under MacDonald the Huskies have eclipsed 500 strikeouts as a staff the past 10 seasons, including a program record 642 strikeouts in 2022. (*2020 season shortened due to Covid-19).

In 2025, the Huskies won 38 games and won a fifth-straight BIG EAST regular season championship. UConn closer Brady Afthim earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors with nine saves and and a team-low 2.45 ERA. Afthim finished his career with 92 career appearances under MacDonald, ranking second most in program history. Senior Ian Cooke closed his career with 276 strikeouts, also ranking second in UConn history.

In 2025 MLB Draft, Brady Afthim was selected in the 13th Round by the Cincinnati Reds. On August 6, 2025, PJ Poulin made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals.

During the 2024 season, the Huskies captured a NCAA Norman Regional title to advance to the program's third Super Regional. The Huskies earned their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament berth and won their fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season crown. Ian Cooke captured BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year honors, the first since Kay in 2016. Cooke, Brady Afthim and Garrett Coe all garnered All-BIG EAST accolades. Braden Quinn was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 14th Round of the 2024 MLB Draft while Stephen Quigley signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

On August 31, 2024, Ben Casparius made his MLB Debut and eventually pitched in the MLB postseason and World Series for the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

En route to the Huskies winning its third-straight BIG EAST regular season championship and making its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament, Zach Fogell and Stephen Quigley earned All-BIG EAST honors in 2023. Andrew Sears was selected in the 10th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers and Zach Fogell was taken in the 18th Round by the Boston Red Sox.

In 2022, the Huskies pitching staff ranked top-10 in the nation in ERA (6th, 3.78) and strikeouts (10th, 642). Austin Peterson and Pat Gallagher tied for the most wins in the nation with 11. While earning All-American numbers in 2022, Peterson set the UConn single-season strikeout record with 147 strikeouts, ranking third in the country. Ian Cooke also earned Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors for his first season in Storrs. The Huskies placed its entire weekend rotation on the BIG EAST All-Conference team with Pat Gallagher and Austin Peterson on the First Team and Enzo Stefanoni on the second team.

For his accomplishments during the 2022 season, MacDonald was named the 2022 D1Baseball.com Assistant Coach of the Year.

Three UConn pitchers were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft with Reggie Crawford (1st Round), Austin Peterson (9th Round) and Pat Gallagher (11th Round) all selected.

As part of the 2021 BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, MacDonald saw three of his pitchers land on the BIG EAST All-Conference team with Caleb Wurster (First Team), Ben Casparius (Second Team) and Austin Peterson (Second Team) all taking home accolades. Casparius led the BIG EAST and posted the second most strikeouts in a single-season with 127 while Caleb Wurster led the BIG EAST with his nine saves.

Three UConn pitchers were selected in the 2021 MLB Draft with Ben Casparius (5th Round, Dodgers), Caleb Wurster (15th Round, Marlins) and Andrew Marrero (18th Round, Cardinals) all picked.

With a shortened season and abbreviated draft, Nick Krauth was spectacular for the Huskies in 2020, going 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA in four starts. He was headed for an All-American season before the season was cut short. Krauth signed a free agent deal with the Texas Rangers after the MLB Draft.

Jacob Wallace was one of the top closers in the country in 2019 and became a third round pick by the Colorado Rockies in the MLB Draft, the highest draft pick for a UConn reliever in program history. Wallace received numerous All-American accolades with four First Team  and one second team nod. He was one of five pitchers up for National Pitcher of the Year and was a finalist for NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top reliever in college baseball.

Mason Feole closed out his career in 2019 by becoming the program's all-time strikeout leader with 278 strikeouts.

On Sept. 7, 2019, former MacDonald pupil, Anthony Kay, made his Major League debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Two Husky arms received All-American recognition in 2018 with Mason Feole and P.J. Poulin earning ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-America status. Feole became just the second pitcher in UConn history to hit 120 strikeouts in single-season en route to nine victories and a 2.50 ERA. Poulin set the UConn single-season record with 16 saves in 2018 and ranked top-10 nationally in saves. The left hander appeared in 31 games, notched six wins and held a 3.26 ERA.

Poulin was drafted in the 11th Round of the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies while southpaw Tim Cate was picked 65th overall in the Second Round by the Washington Nationals. Cate set the UConn program record for strikeouts with 270 strikeouts in three seasons in Storrs.

The Huskies pitching staff shattered the previous program record for strikeouts in a single-season with 575 strikeouts in 2017, breaking the previous mark of 558 set in 2016. The Huskies finished the season tied for first nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.1). For the first time in school history, two pitchers struck out 100 or more batters in the same season (Tim Cate 102, Wills Montgomerie 116).

For the second-straight season a Husky pitcher won Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Mason Feole took home the honor in 2017. On March 4, the Huskies tied a school record with 20 strikeouts against Stetson. John Russell garnered third team ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American status after breaking the single-season school record with 14 saves. Three pitchers: Wills Montgomerie (6th Round), John Russell (16th) and Doug Domnarski (27th) were selected in the 2017 MLB Draft. 11 pitchers have been signed by major league clubs since the arrival of MacDonald.

MacDonald coached a pair of All-Americans in 2016, highlighted by Anthony Kay's Louisville Slugger Second Team All-America nod. Kay, who was drafted by the New York Mets with the 31st pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, was also tabbed as the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and Most Outstanding Player in The American conference tournament; pitching the UConn to its first American Athletic Conference title. Freshman LHP Tim Cate was tabbed as the league's Rookie Pitcher of the Year and earned on a spot on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America squad. As a staff, UConn established a new single-season program record with 558 strikeouts and picked up the fourth-most wins in single-season history (38).

In 2015, MacDonald led the Husky pitching staff to its first sub-3.00 team ERA since 1977, placing 14th in the country and second in The American with a 2.94 mark. The Huskies were also 14th in the country with a 1.20 WHIP and placed eighth in the nation with 7.53 hits allowed/nine innings. Leading the way was Third Team All-American Carson Cross, who became the 11th pitcher to earn All-America honors in program history before a 14th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2015 MLB Draft. Cross was joined by Anthony Kay to make UConn the only team in The American with two First Team All-Conference performers. Kay became the first selection to the 2015 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the season.

The 2014 Huskies finished 45th nationally with a 3.19 ERA, good for third best in The American Athletic Conference. MacDonald guided senior ace Anthony Marzi to a Third Team All-Conference season, helping Marzi move into the top-five in UConn history in several categories. Under MacDonald's counsel, freshman Andrew Zapata finished seventh in the nation and first in The American with a paltry 5.57 hits allowed per nine innings.

In 2013, the Husky pitching staff boasted a 3.42 earned run average, led by sophomore ace Carson Cross, who finished the year with a 9-4 record and a 2.44 earned run average. Cross was selected in the 24th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 719th overall player taken and the 13th of the round. The Huskies finished the season with a combined 398 strikeouts in 574.0 innings pitched. UConn finished third in the BIG EAST in ERA and ranked 45th out of 296 teams nationally. Marzi and reliever David Mahoney were both named to the All-BIG EAST Tournament team during the Huskies championship run in Clearwater, Fla.

In 2012, the UConn pitching staff ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in earned run average, second in conference-only games, and third in batting average against. Marzi finished third in the league in ERA in conference games, while righty Scott Oberg was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Oberg and fellow righty David Fischer were each chosen in the MLB draft, going in the 15th and 18th rounds, respectively.

MacDonald, a UConn alum, spent two years as the pitching coach with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League from 2010-11and served as an assistant coach in the CCBL All-Star Game for the West Division in 2010. During his time with the club, the Braves won the CCBL championship during 2009 and then won the Western Division championship in 2010. As an integral part of the coaching staff, MacDonald also guided one of his players to become the 2010 CCBL Outstanding Pitcher of the Year.

Prior to his stint with the Bourne Braves, he served as a pitching coach for Long Island University from 2007-2009, where he tutored four pitchers who went on to play professionally. MacDonald finished his collegiate playing career in 2006, after helping the Huskies to a second place finish during the BIG EAST regular season and a then school record 39 wins. At the time, he was third on the all-time pitching appearance list at UConn and is currently ninth after the 2012 season.

MacDonald served as the head baseball coach of the St. Thomas More Prep squad from 2010-2011, along with stints as head junior varsity basketball coach and assistant football coach. He was also a history teacher at St. Thomas More Prep during that time.

"Josh's experience in the Cape developing some of the best collegiate pitchers in the country, along with evaluation and recruiting skills honed at LIU provide a great foundation for what I believe is going to grow into a great coaching career," Penders said. "His loyalty to UConn and passion for teaching are going to be so well received by our student-athletes. I can't wait to work with him again."

MacDonald pitched in 62 games over the course of his career with the Huskies. He posted a 10-8 record out of the bullpen and owned a 4.85 earned run average. MacDonald struck out 86 batters in 154 innings and earned two saves, both in his senior season. He earned the first win in the Jim Penders era at UConn with an 8-3 win over Butler on March 3, 2004. In the summer of 2005, MacDonald was an All-Star in the Valley League and helped his team to a Northern Division Championship.

A 2001 graduate of Notre Dame High School of West Haven and a Milford native, MacDonald was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 47th round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft. At ND, he was a part of the 2000 Class LL State Championship squad and in 2001 was named the New Haven Register All-Area MVP.

MacDonald resides in Colchester with his wife, Stephanie, daughter, Avery and son, David.

Chris Podeszwa
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Chris Podeszwa has been a member of his former UConn teammate Jim Penders' coaching staff since Penders took over as head coach in 2004. Podeszwa's focus is primarily on the instruction of infielders and hitters. Podeszwa is part of the longest tenured coaching staff in Division I baseball.

Podeszwa has helped develop major league talent working with Nick Ahmed, John Andreoli, Mike Olt and George Springer during his time with the Huskies.

Podeswa was inducted into the Waterford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. On November 25, 2016 Podeszwa and seven others represented the sixth induction class.

The Huskies won 38 games during the 2025 campaign and won their fifth-straight BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. Second baseman Ryan Daniels earned BIG EAST Player of the Year while shortstop Rob Rispoli earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors and first baseman Tyler Minick landed on the second team.

UConn earned an at-large bid to its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament during the 2024 season. The Huskies won their fourth-straight BIG EAST regular season championship and advanced to the program's third Super Regional appearance by winning the NCAA Norman Regional

During the 2023 season, he helped the Huskies win 44 games and win their third-straight BIG EAST Championship while advancing to the NCAA Gainesville Regional.  

In 2022, he helped the program set a program record with 50 wins and a trip to the program's second Super Regional after capturing the 2022 NCAA College Park Regional title.

In 2019, Podeszwa helped the program earn its fifth at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and second-straight season. The Huskies have eclipsed 30 wins in 18 of the 21 seasons under Coach Dez (2020 shortened due to Covid) and 11 times in the past 16 seasons have posted 35 wins or more.

Podeszwa helped the Huskies capture their first-ever American Athletic Conference crown in 2016, helping guide the program to a 38-25 overall mark and its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last seven seasons.

The 2014 Huskies finished in the top-100 nationally in on-base percentage, placing fourth in The American with a .364 mark. Podeszwa also helped three hitters (Blake Davey, Max McDowell, Bobby Melley) earn All-Conference nods, while Melley was named 2014 NEIBA New England Player of the Year.

In 2013, the Huskies finished with a .270 team batting average and an impressive .365 on-base percentage. UConn scored 318 runs in 63 games, averaging out to 5.05 runs per game. Podeszwa also guided second baseman LJ Mazzilli to an All-America season before he became a fourth round draft pick of the New York Mets.

Podeszwa was an integral part of the 2011 UConn club that won the program's first-ever BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time.

In 2010, Podeszwa helped the Huskies' set new single-season records in hits, runs scored and RBI, besting the records the club set in 2009. UConn recorded 750 hits, 542 runs scored and 492 RBI in 2010.

After graduating from UConn in 1993, Podeszwa served as an envoy coach for Major League Baseball International in New York and Europe. His responsibilities included preparing the German Junior National Team for the European Championships while organizing coordinated clinics for youth players and coaches.

In 1995, Podeszwa moved to Sweden to play and coach for the Skelleftea Bears Baseball Club in Skelleftea, Sweden. His stay in Scandinavia was highlighted by both of his teams capturing the Swedish National Championship.

In 1996, Podeszwa was hired as the assistant baseball coach at Mitchell College in New London, Conn., and in 1998, he became the assistant baseball coach for the University of Connecticut's Avery Point branch under head coach Roger Bidwell. At Avery Point, Podeszwa helped lead his squads to the NJCAA Region XXI Championship in 1999 and 2000. Avery Point also captured the Northeast Region Championship in 1999 and earned a trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series.

In between summer evaluation and recruiting assignments for the Huskies, Podeszwa continues to serve as an assistant baseball coach for Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He coached 15th seasos with the Red Sox, who won the league championship in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Podeszwa played at UConn from 1990-93. He was part of the 1990 BIG EAST Championship club and played every position for the Huskies except center field. He and Penders were teammates at UConn for three seasons.

Podeszwa, who earned a master's degree in 2003 at Southern Connecticut, is married to UConn alum, Isabella Basile. The couple has three children, Sophia, who ran track at UConn, Connor, who plays baseball at Tufts, and Emilia, who is committed to play softball at Binghamton. They reside in Waterford, Conn.