by Nick Luciano, who has served as assistant coach for four seasons, has been promoted to Caldwell University Baseball Head Coach, it was announced today by Mark A. Corino, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. Luciano replaces Hasani Whitfield ’05, who resigned to focus on other opportunities in the baseball industry after six years at the helm of the Cougars.
Luciano brings a wealth of experience to his new role. In addition to helping the Cougars reach the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CACC) North Division Championship Game in his first year on the Cougars sidelines, he has served as third base coach for the past two seasons, including 2023 when the squad earned its most wins in more than a decade. Caldwell compets in the NCAA Division II.
“I am beyond excited to continue the growth this program has made in such a short amount of time under Coach Whitfield,” said Luciano, who becomes the sixth head coach in the program’s 28-year history. “I want to thank him for bringing me in and giving me the opportunity at Caldwell University. I would also like to thank the Athletic Department for making this a smooth transition from assistant coach to head coach. We are ready to get to work and build on the foundation that has been set here.”
Prior to becoming the assistant coach at Caldwell, Luciano spent two years with County College of Morris as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. In 2019, the Titans captured the Garden State Athletic conference title. The program saw multiple All-Region and Conference players with one All-American under the assistance of Coach Luciano. The 2019 Titans would go on to break the majority of their previously held offensive records and being among the national leaders offensively in the NJCAA, posting a team batting average of .323 with 389 runs, 496 hits, 791 total bases, 62 home runs, and .932 OBP in a 49-game span.
Luciano was previously an assistant for Whitehouse Post 284 for two seasons where Post 284 captured two district championships and a New Jersey state final runner-up. He was also the Head Coach of the ABCCL Gamers, a summer collegiate league in New Jersey, for two years, winning the North Division in 2020, his first season at the helm and the ABCCL Championship in 2021.
“Coach Luciano is prepared and ready to continue the growth and success of our program,” added Whitfield. “His journey as a former player into a current coach has been special to watch and experience personally. I look forward to watching him lead this program and more importantly my Alma Mater.”
Luciano played collegiately at Union County College for Jon Lewis, where he would earn All-Region accolades and then transfer to finish his baseball career at Queens College, where he played for former Caldwell Head Baseball Coach Chris Reardon.
