A native of Wayne, New Jersey, and alumnus of St. John’s University with professional baseball experience, Brendan Monaghan is in his fifth season at Rutgers. In his role as Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Monaghan manages a staff of 18 arms and oversees the program's efforts on the recruiting trail.
So far in his tenure, Monaghan has mentored seven different All-Big Ten selections, including two First Team honorees, a freshman All-American in Christian Coppola and seen eight different pitchers sign professional contracts, with seven playing in affiliated ball. Dating back to 2021, every member of the Rutgers starting rotation that has graduated has gone on to play in the professional ranks.
Monaghan was tasked with retooling the Rutgers pitching staff in 2023, having to replace all three weekend starters and closer after all four signed professional contracts in the offseason. The 2023 campaign saw Monaghan develop a freshman All-American and All-Big Ten First Team performer in true freshman Christian Coppola and a pair of All-Big Ten Third Team selections in starter Drew Conover and reliever Ben Gorski.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights ranked second in the Big Ten in 2023 with a 4.55 ERA and their 4.38 ERA over the last two seasons is also second in the conference.
The continued improvement and depth of the Rutgers pitchers played a crucial role in the Scarlet Knights setting a program record with 44 wins in 2022, ar RU improved its team ERA from 5.00 in 2021 to 4.22, which was the second-best mark in the Big Ten and 35th in the country. The Scarlet Knights yielded just 7.76 hits per nine innings, which ranked 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten. Under Monaghan's guidance, the RU pitchers set the program record for strikeouts in a season with 534, shattering the previous mark of 398. Nathan Florence also broke the individual single-season record with 90 strikeouts.
Monaghan coached a trio of All-Big Ten selection in 2022, with closer Dale Stanavich (First Team), starter Jared Kollar (Second) and starter Nathan Florence (Third) receiving honors from the conference. Stanavich was named to the midseason watchlist for the ABCA Stopper of the Year, given annually to the top relief pitcher in the country.
Continuing to work with the RU catchers, Monaghan mentored Nick Cimillo, who was named All-American Third Team by both the coaches and media for his outstanding 2022 season.
In playing a Big Ten-only schedule in 2021, the Scarlet Knights earned their best placement in the standings and highest winning percentage within the league since joining. The pitching staff hurled three shutouts, including the Sunday game at Nebraska to complete a sweep over the league champion, and held opponents to two or less runs nine times. Overall, the group posted program top-10 marks in saves (third), least walks allowed (eighth) and strikeouts (10th). Ben Wereski finished leading the conference with a 0.99 WHIP, only 1.3 walks allowed per nine innings and placed second with a 5.09:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in logging eight quality starts. Friday pitcher Harry Rutkowski reached school career top-10 numbers in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts. Rutkowski (Toronto Blue Jays), Wereski (Lincoln Saltdogs) and Brent Teller (Lancaster Barnstormers) all went from the weekend rotation to professional baseball.
The freshmen class made an immediate impact, earning six Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the most by a Big Ten team since 2013. That included three by Ryan Lasko, who became the first Scarlet Knight to earn an All-America accolade in the Big Ten era with a spot on the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team. In addition, the junior college class ranked 16th nationally entering the year.
Monaghan spent the previous three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Bryant (2017-19). The Bulldogs won the Northeast Conference regular season, had the NEC Pitcher of the Year and finished first or second in the league in ERA and strikeouts all three seasons. The program saw nine pitchers earn All-NEC honors during that span. In addition, four hurlers earned a spot at the next level, with Chris Wright drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 12th round and Steve Theetge signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2019, Jack Patterson being selected in the 32nd round by the Chicago Cubs in 2018 and James Karinchak being taken in the ninth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2017. Karinchak placed sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 in emerging as one of the top relievers in the league.
In 2019, Monaghan oversaw one of the most effective pitching staffs in program history as the Bulldogs struck out a program-record 501 batters. The pitching staff played a key role in Bryant's fourth 40-win season in seven seasons, posting a team ERA of 3.79. Under Monaghan's tutelage, Theetge became the first pitcher in NEC history to win multiple pitcher of the year honors after he put together one of the greatest seasons in Bryant history. He went 9-2 with a 1.75 ERA and 96 strikeouts in a program-record 102.2 innings, becoming all-time winningest pitcher along the way.
Bryant featured three First Team All-NEC pitchers in 2019 as Tyler Mattison and Wright joined Theetge. Wright became one of the most dominant closers in the college baseball under Monaghan's watch, registering 13 saves and 64 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. Theetge and Wright both earned All-America honors, while Theetge became the first pitcher in program history to win an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.
Monaghan took over a pitching staff that did not feature a single senior in 2017 and built it into one of the top staffs in the NEC. The Bulldogs finished second in the NEC in ERA and led the conference in strikeouts. Under his coaching, Theetge was named the NEC Pitcher of the Year. In addition, Theetge was named First Team All-NEC, while Karinchak and Nathan Wrighter were tabbed Second Team All-NEC.
He followed that up by molding one of the most powerful pitching staffs in DI program history in 2018. The group struck out 432 batters, the third-most in DI program history. Bryant finished second in the NEC in ERA and strikeouts, while it led the league with four shutouts. Monaghan's pitching staff was spearheaded by three left-handers. Patterson set a program-record for strikeouts by a lefty, finishing with 101 in 82 innings on his way to pitcher of the year honors. Two more earned All-NEC honors to give Bryant three that campaign.
Monaghan came to Smithfield after spending the 2015-16 season as the pitching coach at George Washington University. He also spent two years as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at UMass Lowell and three years as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater, St. John's.
Monaghan coordinated all aspects of the pitching staff and also oversaw the defensive training of the catchers at George Washington. Under his watch, GW closer Eddie Muhl was named to the ABCA All-East Region Second Team after going 3-1 with 11 saves and a 1.76 ERA in 26 appearances.
Monaghan played a key role in UMass Lowell's transition from Division II to Division I, shaping the recruiting plan, developing practice plans and opponent scouting. He helped the River Hawks win 37 games in his two seasons, including 20 in their first two years as members of the America East. Under his tutelage, Andrew Ryan was named Second Team All-American East and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
In three seasons at St. John's, Monaghan was part of a coaching staff that led the Red Storm to a 2012 Big East regular season and tournament title and two NCAA appearances (2011, 2012). The 2012 team went on to win the Chapel Hill Regional and advance to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history.
A 2007 graduate of St. John's, Monaghan helped the Red Storm to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two Big East regular season championships as a player. He captained the team and was an All-Big East First Team selection as a catcher. Monaghan hit .307 with 20 doubles and 59 RBIs in 125 career games with the Red Storm.
After graduation, Monaghan had a four-year professional career, including three years within the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played for the Bluefield Orioles (Rookie, Appalachian League) and the Delmarva Shorebirds (Class A, South Atlantic League). Monaghan also spent a season playing for the Long Island Ducks in the independent Atlantic League and was named an All-Star.
