July 17, 2008

Rob Ditoma has joined Siena's baseball staff, head coach Tony Rossi made the announcement today. Ditoma served as an assistant coach at Temple University during the 2008 season helping the Owls to 28 wins and a berth in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

"I am extremely excited to announce the addition of Rob Ditoma to our coaching staff," Rossi said. "He has a strong pedigree having worked most recently at Temple and the strong Atlantic 10 Conference."

A 2005 graduate of Mercy College, Ditoma earned his master's degree in physical education from Manhattanville College in 2007. He played four years as the starting second baseman at Mercy as an undergraduate, serving as team captain as a senior. As a junior, he batted .309 and was an All NYCAC selection.

Ditoma's served on the baseball coaching staff at Manhattanville while pursuing his master's degree. He guided the College to the 2007 Skyline Conference Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Ditoma gained additional coaching experience as an assistant in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in the summers of 2006 and 2007, working primarily with the infielders and assisting with recruiting.

As an assistant at Temple this past season, Ditoma instructed the infielders and the catchers as the Owls reached the postseason for the first time in seven years.

"With the addition of several freshmen, development of our hitters will be the cornerstone of this year's club," Rossi said. "Our goal was to bring in a young hardworking hitting coach who will put the time and energy into our young players, and we are confident that we have found that right individual in Rob."

In addition to serving as a chief hitting coach, Ditoma will work with Siena's infielders and have many recruiting responsibilities.

The Saints won 21 of their final 25 games this past season and advanced all the way to the MAAC Championship game. The team lost nine seniors to graduation.