Ithaca College Athletics

John Cole was a major contributor to one of the most successful four-year stretches in baseball history, as the Bombers compiled an overall record of 121-42 from 1983-86. Ithaca reached the World Series twice and was the national runner-up in 1986, and the 1985 squad posted the most victories in school history with 38, which stood until 2013.

Cole played in 136 of those contests and finished his career with a .379 batting average with 172 hits, 112 runs scored, 103 RBI, 33 doubles and 12 home runs. He ranks ninth in school history in batting average.

In his senior season, Cole led the team in batting average at .387 and was one of four players on that team with 60 or more hits. Cole signed a professional contract with the Boise Hawks of the Class A Northwest League following graduation.

He would go on to coach at the Division I and Division III levels for nearly 30 years from 1986 to 2015.