Joe Michaud is in his second season as the primary assistant baseball coach at Shippensburg University in 2018. Michaud serves as the Raider pitching coach and handles additional responsibilities including recruiting and practice instruction.
In 2017, Michaud instructed a group of pitchers whose earned-run average (ERA) improved by more than a full run in his first season on the staff. SU ranked fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in ERA and second in strikeouts after ranking ninth in both categories the year before.
Michaud arrived at Shippensburg after working as the pitching coach at Bates College in 2015-16. He was the primary assistant with the Bobcats and handled all of the day-to-day operations for the pitching staff, including the creation and development of throwing programs.
At Bates, Michaud also assisted with recruiting by playing an active role in official visits while also scouting and working numerous camps and events throughout the Northeast.
Michaud was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 33rd round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft and spent two seasons in professional baseball. He was coached by former MLB pitchers Bob Welch, Craig Lefferts and Scott Emerson while playing for the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Beloit Snappers.
Collegiately, Michaud was a star pitcher for the Bryant (R.I.) Bulldogs. Michaud was a key part of a team that transitioned from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I and yet never had a losing season during his four years with the team.
As a senior in 2013, Michaud went 6-3 and struck out 61 batters in 63 innings on a squad that won the NEC Tournament and played in an NCAA Regional, defeating Arkansas before concluding a 45-18-1 campaign. Michaud pitched five innings in the conference tournament to help force the “if necessary” championship game, allowing an unearned run and one hit while striking out eight.
Overall, in his time with Bryant and in the Athletics organization, Michaud posted a 23-14 record with a 3.95 ERA, striking out 219 batters in 248 innings.
During his time in New England, Michaud worked for three years as a coach and pitching instructor at The Clubhouse, a facility owned and operated by former MLB pitcher Mike Porzio. Michaud provided pitching instruction to players of all ability levels ranging from ages 6-18. He also organized and operated youth camps and clinics.
Michaud, a native of Milford, Conn., graduated from Bryant in 2013 with a business degree and a concentration in marketing.
