Adelphi University Athletics

Dominic Scala, former bullpen coach of the New York Yankees, is entering his 18th year at the helm of the Adelphi University baseball team in 2021, and is currently the longest-tenured coach in the Panthers' athletic department. 

Over the course of nearly two decades at the helm of Adelphi baseball, Scala has amassed almost 400 career victories and has led the Panthers to three conference titles between the Northeast-10 and East Coast Conference, and NCAA berths, including three NCAA Championships. In his 17 years at the helm of the Panthers, Adelphi has entered the conference playoffs 14 times.  

In addition, a total of 10 players he has coached have been drafted into or signed by teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), along with 12 other signing free agent pro contracts.

Scala is the first Northeast-10 coach to win Manager of the Year twice in the ECC and once in the NE10. In 2011, the former Yankee set the record for most wins in a season with 36. The Panthers have also qualified for the Northeast Regionals four times and the finals twice under Scala.

Scala came to Adelphi with an impressive professional and collegiate career. Drafted in the 6th round by the Oakland A's in 1976, he was acquired by the NY Yankees as the Bullpen Catcher from 1978-1981, and promoted to Bullpen Coach from 1981-1986. During his nine-year stint with the Yankees, he was a member of the 1978 World Championship and the 1981 American League Championship teams and worked with such legendary coaches as Yogi Berra, Billy Martin, Gene Michael, Jeff Torborg and the late Dick Howser.

From 1987-1990, he became the Advance Major League Scout and Special Assignment Scout of the Pittsburgh Pirates under Jim Leyland. In addition to maintaining his own baseball camps since 1990, he has served as director of many others, including NY Mets camp and the Dave Winfield camp.

Prior to Adelphi, he served as the third base coach for St. Mary High School, a team that hadn't won a single Catholic league game in its seven years of existence. In 2003, they won three games, including upsetting No. 1 seed Chaminade in the first round of the Catholic High School League playoffs.

A standout-athlete in both football and baseball at St. Francis Prep, Scala was elected to the school's Hall of Fame in its inaugural 2013 class. He went on to play third base at St. John's University from 1972-76. A collegiate third team All-American and two-time ECAC All-Star, his name still appears in the top ten collegiate career record books in nine of 13 offensive categories. A team captain, he batted .420 his senior year, good for 15th in the nation, and was named the team MVP.

Scala has also been instrumental in many large university projects, including the building of William J. Bonomo Memorial Field and its clubhouse, opened in 2018. Scala helped raise funds for the state-of-the-art baseball field which was opened in 2007, and continues to aid in sponsorship and field signage efforts. Scala has also taken on the duty of organizing the annual Fall Cocktail Reception, a trademark event put on by the Adelphi athletic department that has featured high-profile guests such as Willie Randolph, Goose Gossage, David Cone, Bucky Dent, Don Mattingly and Chris Chambliss.

Scala's Year-by-Year Coaching Record
2004 - 19-22 (7-5 NYCAC); NYCAC First Round
2005 - 25-19 (11-4 NYCAC); NYCAC Finalists; NCAA Northeast Regional (0-2)
2006 - 21-23 (12-6 NYCAC); NYCAC Semifinalists
2007 - 35-17 (14-4 ECC); ECC Champions; NCAA Northeast Regional (Third Place)
2008 - 25-25 (10-8 ECC); ECC Semifinalists 
2009 - 34-16 (11-6 ECC); ECC Champions; NCAA East Regional (Second Place) 
2010 - 29-19 (17-10 NE10); NE10 Tournament (0-2)
2011 - 36-14-2 (21-6-1 NE10); NE10 Champions; NCAA East Regional (Second Place) 
2012 - 23-22 (12-17 NE10)
2013 - 23-25-1 (13-16 NE10); NE10 First Round
2014 - 24-23 (14-12 NE10); NE10 Finalists
2015 - 20-21 (11-11 NE10); NE10 Semifinalists
2016 - 25-22 (13-11 NE10); NE10 First Round
2017 - 24-24 (11-12 NE10)
2018 - 26-18-1 (14-9 NE10); NE10 First Round
2019 - 34-9-1 (22-3-1 NE10); NE10 First Round; NCAA East Regional 
2020 - 4-5 (0-0 NE10) *Season shortened due to COVID-19
TOTAL: 17 Seasons; 427-324-5 (.567); 1 NE10 Title; 2 ECC Titles; 1 NE10 Final; 5 NCAA Appearances