Army West Point Athletics
Tracz Welcomes Sheehan to Coaching Staff
October 17, 2023 | Baseball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point baseball Head Coach Chris Tracz has announced the addition of John Sheehan to the coaching staff.
"We are excited to have John join our Army Baseball Family. His experiences as a player and as a coach will be invaluable in maximizing the potential of our Cadet-athletes. John will build long-lasting relationships within our program, especially with our pitching staff, and we are thrilled to be able to attract him to West Point." – Head Coach Chris Tracz
Sheehan comes to the banks of the Hudson after spending three seasons at the University of Toledo where he was the pitching coach. At Toledo, Sheehan rebuilt the pitching staff from the bottom 20 percent in conference performance to the top 20 percent in conference performance.
Last season, Toledo set a new all-time single-season strikeout record (454). Sheehan recruited former Virginia Tech pitcher Noah Johnson and rebuilt him to a Friday starter.
In the 2022 season, the Rockets finished the season with 33 wins, which was the third most in program history. They were also third in the conference with a 4.87 ERA. They were also second in hits allowed (497). Sheehan developed 2022 MLB (Major League Baseball) draftees and All-MAC performers Kyle Jones and Connor Brandon. He also developed the 2022 Australian Baseball League (ABL) draftee Jordan Power, who won the ABL Rookie Pitcher of the Year.
Prior to Toledo, Sheehan was the Pitching and Strength and Conditioning Coach at LaSalle University from 2020-21. At LaSalle, the Explorers led in conference lowest opponents' batting average (.229). LaSalle also set a season program record in strikeouts with 432. They were also second in the Atlantic 10 in ERA with 3.34, contributing significantly to the winningest record in LaSalle's 74-year baseball history. While with the Explorers, Sheehan developed Freshman All-American Pitcher Frank Elissalt.
From 2018-2020 Sheehan had a stint at Prairie View A&M University (Texas) where he was the Pitching and Strength and Conditioning Coach. At Prairie View A&M, Sheehan reduced the ERA by 14 percent, to 1.27 runs per game, increased strikeouts by 20 percent (12.1% to 15.1% of batters), and had a 24 percent reduction in home runs (.83/game to .63/game)
Sheehan also spent the 2016 season with Salem State University, where he was the Head Pitching Coach and Assistant Hitting and Infield Coach. While at Salem State, Sheehan led a young staff including six freshmen and a senior. Salem State was first in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in ERA (3.23), tied for first in hits allowed, earned runs allowed, and second in walks allowed (2.96 per nine innings).
Prior to coaching, Sheehan played professionally with the Colorado Rockies organization for two seasons. Sheehan played for the Tri-City Dust Devils (Low Class-A) in 2014, in 2015, he played for the Class-A Asheville Tourists and the Modesto Nuts (Advanced Class-A), and in 2016, Sheehan participated in Spring Training, playing in the Cactus League. In his career, Sheehan had a 3.49 ERA, and a 1.18 WHIP.
Sheehan was a four-year starter and reliever at William & Mary. While playing for the Tribe, William & Mary was a 2013 NCAA Division I Regional finalist.
Sheehan graduated from William & Mary in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.
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