University Park, Pa. -- Joe Hindelang, head baseball coach at Penn State for the past 14 years, has announced that he will retire as the Nittany Lions' head coach, effective Aug. 25, to be closer to his fiancé, Margot Putukian, and his son, Joel, in the Philadelphia region.
Assistant coach Jon Ramsey will remain on staff and continue to assist in the day-to-day operations of the program.
"I want to thank the entire Penn State University family and surrounding community for their consistent support of me, my staff and our baseball program over the years," Hindelang said. "My 14 years at the helm here have not only been quite challenging, but also very rewarding and gratifying. Those of us in the athletic family here are very proud of what baseball has accomplished both locally and nationally. Specifically, a special thank you goes to each player who I have recruited and coached. However, it is leaving the current players that is the most difficult part of my decision. I will always closely follow the continued success of Penn State baseball. For now, I wish everyone good luck and health."
Hindelang informed Director of Athletics Tim Curley of his decision yesterday (July 15). Curley said a nationwide search for a new coach would begin immediately.
"I appreciate what Joe has done for the baseball program," Curley said. "He has taken the program to another level since entering the Big Ten Conference in 1992. I have a great deal of respect for Joe and the job that he has done here. His teams have always played hard and represented Penn State with class and dignity. We wish Joe the best of luck and continued success as he begins a new phase of his life."
While retiring from coaching at this time, Hindelang plans to continue working in the field of education in the Philadelphia Public Schools System.
Hindelang was named the 12th head coach in program history on Sept. 5, 1990, following the retirement of Shorty Stoner. Hindelang posted a 389-355-2 record at Penn State, including a 177-185 mark in Big Ten regular-season play.
Hindelang, who led the Nittany Lions to a 28-29 overall mark and 17-15 conference record in 2004, reached two milestones during the 2004 campaign. He won his 600th career game on April 18 at Minnesota.
One week later, senior Aaron Tressler tossed a one-hitter to complete a doubleheader sweep of Iowa to give Hindelang his 381st win at Penn State. That victory pushed Hindelang past Joe Bedenk as the all-time winningest coach in program history.
Hindelang has compiled a career record of 610-555-4 during 27 seasons with Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Lafayette College and Penn State.
His teams have made the Big Ten Tournament six times, including four of the last five years and five of the last seven. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten regular season title in 1996. But the highlight of Hindelang's tenure at Penn State was the 2000 season when he led the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Super Regional. Penn State recorded a school-record 45 victories and had four players taken in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft that season.
Hindelang is a 1967 graduate of Temple, where he earned three letters in baseball and two in basketball before being drafted by the New York Yankees.
Hindelang's retirement creates a second vacancy on the Penn State coaching staff. Former assistant Randy Ford left the program earlier this summer to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, Western Michigan.