Ryan Forrest, a seasoned pitching coach whose career has spanned stints at Air Force, Boston College, Maine, Millersville, and Mississippi College, was announced as Princeton’s new head coach in July 2024. The university highlighted his track record of producing major‑league‑ready talent, including Houston Astros draftee Chas McCormick and the 2025 Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.
Reviving a Storied Program
Princeton’s baseball team finished the previous season with a 15‑27 record, a far cry from the program’s glory days. The departure of longtime coach Scott Bradley, who helmed the squad for 28 seasons, left a void that the administration hopes Forrest can fill. Athletic director Tom O’Connell emphasized that Forrest’s appointment marks a strategic shift toward aggressive recruiting and player development.
Forrest inherits a roster that includes Brady Kaufman, the sole first‑team All‑Ivy League selection last year, and several promising pitchers who have already shown flashes of potential. He plans to concentrate on refining pitching mechanics and mental preparation, while delegating offensive and defensive schematics to a trusted staff of assistants.
A Vision That Marries Academics and Athletics
Beyond the diamond, Forrest stresses the importance of academic excellence and the student‑athlete experience. He believes Princeton’s Ivy League reputation and its newly upgraded stadium can attract high‑achieving recruits who want to compete at the highest level both in the classroom and on the field. "Our goal is to contend for Ivy League championships every season," he said during the announcement.
The new head coach also referenced the program’s historical success, noting that Princeton’s last league title came in 2016 and that the team has consistently punched above its weight in the past. With a culture of long‑term coaching stability — Tom O’Connell served 15 years and Bradley coached for nearly three decades — Forrest sees an opportunity to build on that foundation and restore the program to its former competitive stature.