Ithaca College Baseball is proud to announce the creation of a
Legacy Number, honoring the remarkable career and lasting impact of legendary head coach George Valesente.
Rather than retiring his number, we believe the greatest way to honor Coach Valesente is to keep his legacy alive on the field. Beginning this season, #8 will be worn by one player each year who best embodies the values, leadership, and commitment that Coach Valesente represented throughout his career.
The Legacy Number will be awarded annually through a
team vote, recognizing a player who demonstrates excellence both on and off the field — through work ethic, character, competitiveness, and dedication to the program and their teammates.
Coach Valesente's influence extends far beyond wins and losses. His passion for the game, investment in his players, and commitment to building strong men through baseball helped shape generations of athletes and laid the foundation for the culture we are proud of today.
By allowing the number to be worn each season, we ensure that his impact remains a visible and active part of our program — a constant reminder of the standard he set and the legacy he built.
We are honored to celebrate Coach Valesente in this way and look forward to recognizing a deserving player each year who earns the privilege of wearing
#8!
Coach Valesente served as the head coach of his alma mater for 41 seasons (1979-2019) and guided Ithaca to two national championships in 1980 and 1988. The Bombers won 1136 games under the leadership of Coach Valesente, competed in the NCAA Tournament 35 times, and never had a losing season.
IC earned a total of 31 All-America honors over those 41 years, and dozens of players went on to play professional baseball, either by way of the Major League Baseball Draft or independent leagues.
At the time of his retirement, Coach Valesente ranked eighth in career wins (1206) at the Division III level and 50th among all levels of collegiate baseball.
