June 5, 2018-The winningest coach in Emporia State baseball history, Bob Fornelli, has stepped down to accept the head coaching position at Pittsburg State.

"I'd like to thank Emporia State University for 15 great years," said Fornelli. "The Athletic Department at ESU has meant the world to me. I know they will get the right person in here to continue the Hornet tradition."

The Emporia State alum is the winningest coach in Emporia State history at 599-266 after 15 years in the Hornet dugout with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. He is 905-379 overall and has taken a total of 17 teams to the NCAA Tournament in 22 years as a head coach.

"We really appreciate everything Coach Fornelli has done for Emporia State," said Kent Weiser, ESU Director of Athletics. "In today's world of intercollegiate athletics, we have been fortunate to have had such a great coach, and wonderful man, for so long."

He has re-established Emporia State as a perennial baseball power in the Midwest with 13 trips to the NCAA Tournament, five MIAA regular season championships, two MIAA Tournament titles,  two World Series appearances and a national runner-up finish in his 15 years with the Hornets. He has had over 30 Hornet players sign professional contracts and six players drafted in his 15 years at Emporia State.

"For all the past, present and future E-State baseball players, continue to be the mighty Hornets," said Fornelli.

This past season he led the Hornets to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year with a 34-24 overall record. As the seventh seed in the MIAA Tournament, the Hornets advanced all the way to the title game to earn the at large bid to the Central Regional Tourney.  In the first round they upset the host and #1 seed Southern Arkansas.  They were tied 2-2 going into the ninth inning before falling 4-2 to eventual national champion Augustana in the next game.  For the second straight year the season ended with a loss to Central Oklahoma, 4-1 with all four runs coming on a grand slam for the Bronchos.  Bryce Fischer was a consensus All-American while Seth Holman earned NCBWA All-American honors.

The Hornets went 42-13, 29-6 in the MIAA and won the MIAA Regular Season Championship in 2017. The Hornets played host to the NCAA Division II Central Regional at the Trusler Sports Complex for the third time under Fornelli. The opened the tourney with a 10-8 win over Arkansas-Monticello before falling to eventual regional champion Lindenwood 12-11 in 13 innings. Th Hornets were eliminated by Central Oklahoma 6-5 with a one out walk off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan McBroom earned All-American honors from the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA.

In 2016, Emporia State went 39-19, 27-12 in MIAA play and went 2-2 in the regional. Pitchers Tyler Stubblefield and Garrett Brummett each signed with the Texas Rangers while Dalton Wheat would eventually sign with the Florida Marlins.

The Hornets went 39-16 and advanced to the 2015 MIAA Championship game, forced a second that was eventually canceled due to rain and earned an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Dean Long was the MIAA Player of the Year, earned All-American honors and became the sixth Hornet under Fornelli to be selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Emporia State began their current five year run of NCAA Tournaments in 2014. The Hornets dropped their first game in the MIAA Tournament and then reeled off  four straight wins to capture the title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  They then lost their first game of the regional tournament but fought their way back to the Regional Championship Game before falling 6-3 to Minnesota State.

In 2009 the Hornets made their deepest run in the NCAA tournament ever, making the national championship game in Cary, N.C. before falling to Lynn 2-1. The Hornets won their second straight MIAA Championship and won their second NCAA Regional Championship. Conner Crumbliss earned All-American honors and was named the MIAA Player of the Year.

In 2008 Fornelli had three players earn All-American honors while Keith Hernandez was named the National Player of the Year. Emporia State had a school record 35 game winning streak on their way to an NCAA era best 50 wins and hosted their second Regional in three years. In 2007 the Hornets advanced to the NCAA Central Regional by defeating Central Missouri 7-6 in Warrensburg to win the MIAA post-season tournament.

The 2006 campaign saw the Hornets win the MIAA Regular Season Championship and NCAA Central Region Championship at the Trusler Sports Complex on their way to Emporia State's first NCAA Division II World Series appearance. Fornelli had nine players selected to the All-MIAA teams in 2006 which included First-Team All-American and NCAA Division II "Pitcher of the Year" Gabe Medina. Medina along with catcher John Martin were selected in the 15th and 24th rounds of the 2006 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Fornelli, a 1991 graduate of Emporia State, spent seven years at Ft. Hays State before returning to his alma mater and compiled a 306-113 record. In his last year with the Tigers, they won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and postseason tournament titles. They also hosted the NCAA Division II West Region tournament. Ft. Hays ended the season ranked 15th in D-II, the sixth year Fornelli had the Tigers in the final Top 30 poll. He is the winningest coach in FHSU history and led the Tigers to the RMAC championship four times in his seven years. Fornelli led FHSU to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2000 and was in the NCAA regional tournament six times.

Prior to his time in Hays, Fornelli was the pitching coach at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., from 1991 until 1996. During his tenure the Grizzlies were 195-86 and finished third in the NJCAA World Series in 1994.

Fornelli, a native of Lenexa, Kan., was an honorable mention all-Central States Intercollegiate Conference catcher for the Hornets as a senior after transferring from Butler County CC. He is married to the former Jill Harris of Madison, Kan. The couple has three daughters - Emma, Rylie and Addison.

"All of us appreciate the way Coach Fornelli has led this great program, and owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he has done for Emporia State over the last 15 years," said Weiser. "As we conduct a national search for the next Hornet baseball head coach, assistant coach Seth Wheeler will oversee the daily operation of the program."

Over the last 50 years Emporia State has only had three losing seasons and during one of those seasons they won the MIAA Tournament and hosted the NCAA Regional.  The four coaches in that time have all won at least 58% of their games. The Hornets have gone to 14 NCAA Tournaments, two NCAA World Series and a national championship game appearance in 2009 after advancing to seven NAIA World Series between 1969-1987 with a national championship in 1978 and runner-up finish in 1987.

The Hornets are set to return four position players that started at least 15 games this year along with the opening day starter at shortstop Josh Norlin, who was injured in the first game of the year.  On the mound seven pitchers are eligible to return led by All-MIAA selection Tanner Cairns, who is 18-3 in his career with the Hornets.

THE FORNELLI FILE
Coaching Career at Emporia State
Year    Overall         MIAA
2018    34-24*%^    20-16
2017    42-13$*^     29-6
2016    39-19*^       27-12
2015    39-16*^       23-12
2014    42-19!*^#    26-14
2013    27-22*         24-17
2012    26-22*         19-18
2011    43-12$*^      37-7
2010    42-16*%^     31-9
2009    49-14$*^+&  29-7
2008    50-10$*^      32-4
2007    41-24*!^       24-12
2006    48-13$*^+    25-4
2005    41-20*^        19-11
2004    36-22*^         18-11
At ESU    599-266    383-160
At FHSU    306-113
DII Total      905-379
$MIAA Champions
*MIAA Tournament
%MIAA Tournament Championship Game
!MIAA Tournament Champions
^NCAA Tournament
#NCAA Regional Championship Game
+NCAA Division II World Series
&NCAA Division II Championship Game

Fornelli's Record at Emporia State
vs. current MIAA opponents
Central Missouri    26-50
Central Oklahoma    25-19
Fort Hays State    45-12
Lindenwood    12-8
Missouri Southern    39-17
Missouri Western    38-24
Nebraska-Kearney    16-8
Northeastern State    14-4
Northwest Missouri    42-15
Pittsburg State    45-13
Southwest Baptist    40-8
Washburn    44-22
Total    386-200
Includes post-season and non-conference games

ESU Baseball Coaching History
Coach, Years    Seasons    W-L    %
Bob Fornelli, 2004-18     15    599-266     .692
Brian Embery, 1988-03   16     458-320    .589
Dave Bingham, 1973-87  15     557-226     .711
Jack Smitheran, 1969-72   4     123-61    .668
Larry Cochell, 1967-68      2     54-27     .667
Guy Owen, 1966               1     33-32     .508
Larry Ensminger, 1963-65  4     25-20     .556
Rick Niclai, 1962                1     11-8     .579
Bill Kerr, 1958-1962           5     58-55     .513
Noel McGregor 1957         1     5-6     .455
Chuck Sisson 1956           1     4-4     .500
Joe Pease 1952                1     8-5     .615
John Buckley 1951            1     6-5     .545
Bob Ives 1949-50              2     19-9     .679
No team from 1953-55



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