University of Delaware Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Pitching Coach
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Dan Sweeney enters his third season as Delaware’s pitching coach in 2027.
In his first two seasons with the Blue Hens, Sweeney has helped establish a culture focused on developing pitchers and preparing them to compete at the highest levels. Fifteen pitchers made their Division I debuts during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, while Sweeney’s player-development success has also translated to the professional ranks. Right-hander Nate Knowles was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Carter Lovasz was selected in the eighth round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, and Cory Wall posted a 3.46 ERA at the Double-A level with Atlanta in 2025.
Sweeney came to Delaware following three seasons as the pitching coach at William & Mary from 2022–24, where his staffs consistently ranked among the best in the CAA and nationally in several statistical categories. In his first season, he helped the Tribe lower their team ERA from 5.88 to 4.34, which ranked 38th nationally, while reducing WHIP from 1.65 to 1.43. Freshman right-hander Carter Lovasz earned Freshman All-America honors following the season.
William & Mary continued its pitching success in 2023, lowering its ERA to 4.17, which ranked ninth in the nation and second in the CAA. The Tribe held opponents to a .252 batting average and recorded 470 strikeouts, while the staff’s 8.45 strikeouts per nine innings ranked third in program history. In 2024, William & Mary finished with a 4.75 ERA, good for 34th nationally, while allowing just 8.75 hits per nine innings, which ranked 42nd in Division I. The Tribe also led the CAA with 564 strikeouts, ranking 20th nationally. That season, Knowles was named CAA Pitcher of the Year before being selected in the MLB Draft.
Prior to William & Mary, Sweeney returned to his alma mater, East Tennessee State University, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2021 and Director of Baseball Operations in 2020. A former right-handed pitcher for the Buccaneers, Sweeney played for current Florida State pitching coach Micah Posey. As a senior in 2019, Sweeney went 6-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 78 innings. He finished his ETSU career with a 4.30 ERA.
Sweeney earned his degree from East Tennessee State and resides in Delaware with his wife, Erin, and their daughter, Wren.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Delaware and its baseball program. I am fired up to get to work with Coach Mams and the pitching staff”.
