Bob Fornelli just completed his 15th year as head coach at Emporia State and has won over 900 games in 22 years of coaching at the NCAA Division II level.
The Emporia State alum is the winningest coach in Emporia State history at at 599-2666 after 15 years in the Hornet dugout. He is 905-379 overall in 22 years as a head coach at the four year level.
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.
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 again lost their first game of the 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 ESU, 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 BCCC. He is married to the former Jill Harris of Madison, Kan. The couple has three daughters - Emma, Rylie and Addison.
The FORNELLI File
Coaching Career at Emporia State
Year         Overall       MIAA
2018Â Â Â 34-24*%^Â Â Â 20-16
2017Â Â Â 42-13$*^ Â Â Â 29-6
2016Â Â Â 39-19*^Â Â Â Â Â 27-12
2015Â Â Â 39-16*^Â Â Â Â Â 23-12
2014Â Â Â 42-19!*^#Â Â Â 26-14
2013Â Â Â 27-22*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 24-17
2012Â Â Â 26-22*Â Â Â Â Â Â 19-18
2011Â Â Â 43-12$^Â Â Â Â Â 37-7
2010Â Â Â 42-16%*^Â Â Â 31-9
2009Â Â Â 49-14$^@& 29-7
2008Â Â Â 50-10$^Â Â Â Â Â 32-4
2007Â Â Â 41-24!^Â Â Â Â Â Â 24-12
2006Â Â Â 48-13$^@+ 25-4
2005Â Â Â 41-20*^Â Â Â Â Â 19-11
2004Â Â Â 36-22*^Â Â Â Â Â 18-11
At ESUÂ Â Â 599-266Â Â 383-160
At FHSUÂ Â Â 306-113
DII Total     905-379
$MIAA Champions
*MIAA Tournament
%MIAA Tournament Championship Game
!MIAA Tournament Champions
^NCAA Tournament
#NCAA Regional Championship Game
@NCAA Regional Champions
&NCAA Division II Championship Game
+NCAA Division II World Series
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
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