ITHACA, N.Y. - The American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC announced the 2023 Regional Coaches of the Year in all collegiate and high school divisions on June 27, and for the second consecutive season, Ithaca College head coach David Valesente was named Coach of the Year for Region 3.

In 2023, the Bombers posted an overall record of 31-16 and reached the NCAA Division III Super Regional once again, while finishing the year ranked No. 18 in the D3baseball.com Top 25 Poll. IC swept the Liberty League Tournament for the second straight year, this time as the No. 4 seed, and dominated the NCAA Cortland Regional with three victories over nationally ranked teams – then No. 14 Eastern Connecticut (11-2) and then No. 22 Cortland (5-3 and 15-0).

Valesente and his staff mentored numerous players to postseason honors, including an ABCA Second Team All-American recognition to Garrett Callaghan. Kyle Lambert also reset his single season strikeout record, fanning 101 on the season, as he would go on to be named College Sports Communicators Third Team Academic All-American.

The ABCA/ATEC Regional and National Coaches of the Year are selected by members of the ABCA All-America & Coach of the Year committees in all nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division and high school.

Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 40 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.