Head Coach John Russo

John Russo is in his sixth season on the Hofstra Baseball staff in 2014 and is the 14th head coach in program history. Russo was named head coach of the Hofstra Baseball program on May 6, 2012, after serving as interim head coach since January 2012.

In his two seasons at the helm of the Pride program, Russo has coached the team to a 60-49 record and has seen four players signed by Major League Baseball teams, including two that were drafted. Senior Danny Poma was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in the 10th-round of the 2012 MLB Draft, while junior Bryan Verbitsky was a third round selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2013 Draft. In addition, junior Matt Reistetter and 2012 graduate Kevin Flynn signed with the Washington Nationals organization as free agents in 2013.

Hofstra won 26 games in 2013, tying for the third most victories in program history. The Pride pitching staff set a new team record for strikeouts with 365 and junior Brett Schreiber's 2.48 ERA set a new single season benchmark.

In 2012 Russo led the team to a school record 34 wins and the #2 seed in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship with a 20-10 conference mark. 

Assistant Coach Chris Johns

Chris Johns is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Hofstra Pride baseball program. Johns will be in charge of the pitching staff as well as assist recruiting, after coming to Hofstra following three seasons at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In his first season, Johns assisted coaching pitchers and saw the Pride staff set a school record with 345 strikeouts. Junior relief pitcher Brett Schreiber also set a new school record with a 2.48 ERA.

During his tenure at Iowa Western, Johns served as varsity pitching coach and head junior varsity coach. In 2010 and 2012 he was part of a Reivers team that won the NJCAA Division I National Championship, while in 2011 the team finished third at the Junior College World Series. The 2011 squad also posted the lowest ERA in the nation, a school record 3.09.

As pitching coach, Johns was responsible for daily practice structure, arm care workouts, throwing programs and video review. He also assisted in the day-to-day operations of the Iowa Western program, including recruiting, travel coordination, field work, throwing batting practice and overseeing summer camp planning. In addition, his duties as JV coach included recruiting a team, practice planning and scheduling.

In his three seasons at Iowa Western Johns coached seven pitchers to All-Region XI honors, including two that won Pitcher of the Year accolades. He has also had 17 pitchers move on to four-year institutions.

Volunteer Assistant Coach Rob Cafiero

Rob Cafiero, a former collegiate standout at Villanova and seven-year professional baseball player, begins his first season on the Hofstra Pride staff in 2013-14. Cafiero comes to Hofstra after four years as an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, New York.

Cafiero was the starting first baseman for four years (1999-2002) at Villanova, earning third team All-America honors from Baseball America and Freshman All-America accolades from Louisville Slugger in 1999. A Big East All-Rookie Team selection, Cafiero led the conference with 72 RBIs as a freshman. He would also earn All-Big East honors following his senior season and graduated as the Wildcats’ all-time leader in RBIs (196), doubles (61) and games played (202).

Drafted in the 32nd round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002, Cafiero went on to play seven years of professional baseball with Class-A Batavia and then the Pennsylvania Road Warriors and Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.

Cafiero started his coaching career as the bench coach for the Ducks in 2008 and as manager for the 2009 Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League champion Westhampton Aviators. Since 2010 he has served as the manager of the Southampton Breakers in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. He guided the Breakers to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and to their first league title in 2012.