Official home of the Emporia State University Hornets

Legacy Award College World Series Coaches Recognition
 
2024 Inductees:
Larry Cochell, 1967-1969
Larry Cochell came to Emporia in the fall of 1966 and coached Emporia State from 1967-69 and went 72-44 as the head coach of the Hornets. The Hornets went 29-13 in 1969 and made their first trip to the NAIA World Series. Following his time in Emporia, Cochell made coaching stops at Creighton, Cal State LA, Oral Roberts, Northwestern, Cal State Fullerton and Oklahoma. In his 39 years, Cochell won 1,331 games and the 1994 National Championship with Oklahoma.
 
Jack Smitheran, 1970-1973
Jack Smitheran was the head coach at Emporia State from 1970-73 and went 123-61 in his four seasons with the Hornets. Emporia State made a trip to the NAIA College World Series in his first season and were District 10 Champions in each of his first three. Following his tenure with the Hornets, Smitheran coached 31 seasons at UC Riverside, where he won 974 games and two national championships in 1977 and 1982.
 
Dave Bingham, 1974-1987, Player 1969-1971
In 14 seasons as Emporia State University’s baseball coach, Dave Bingham set the standard by which all others are compared.  Bingham’s coaching career began in 1971 at ESU.  He left to play briefly for the Washington Senators before returning to Emporia in 1972.  Bingham was named head coach after the 1973 season.  Bingham compiled a record of 557-270-2 from 1974-87.  Included were eight CSIC championships, 11 District 10 titles, five Area III crowns and the 1978 NAIA National Championship.  He was selected as District 10 Coach of the Year 11 times, Area III Coach of the Year six times, and was named as NAIA Coach of the Year three times in 1976, 1984, and 1986.  Bingham has received international acclaim, having served as an assistant coach for the United States baseball teams in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1987.  His 1984 service included a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.  He was head coach of the U.S. baseball team in 1984 when they captured the bronze medal at the World Baseball Championships. Bingham left ESU following the 1987 season to become the head coach at the University of Kansas.
 
Bob Fornelli, Coach 2003-2018, Player 1987-1989
Bob Fornelli spent time as both a player and a coach for the Hornets. Fornelli played three seasons for Emporia State from 1987-89 and was named Honorable Mention All-CSIC as a senior. After graduation he was pitching coach at Butler County CC (1991-1996), head coach at Ft. Hays State (1997-2003), and then became the head coach at Emporia State (2004-2018). In his 15 seasons at the helm, Fornelli tallied 558 wins, ten NCAA Tournament appearances, two World Series trips with a national runner-up finish in 2009. After Emporia State he became head coach at Pittsburg State. Overall his career record of 1011-445. He has been recognized as the RMAC coach of the year twice (1997 and 2000). In 2000, he was the West Region coach of the year.