Nick Mingione has been honored as the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, marking the second time in his eight-year tenure that he has received this accolade. The award, voted on by SEC head coaches, also saw Mingione recognized as both SEC and National Coach of the Year in 2017.
Mingione led a Kentucky squad initially projected to finish near the bottom of the SEC Eastern Division to a remarkable conference championship, just the second in the program’s 83-year history of SEC competition. Mingione, who was an assistant coach on the 2006 championship team, has now guided the Wildcats to new heights.
2024 Regular Season Highlights:
- SEC Records: Kentucky set a school record with 22 SEC victories and 11 SEC road victories.
- Strong Starts: UK achieved a 9-1 start in SEC play for the second consecutive year, becoming the first team in 32 years to do so. Their 15-1 start to conference play was the best in school history.
Team Statistics in SEC Play:
- Batting Average: Led the league in SEC-only batting average.
- Fielding Percentage: Third in SEC-only fielding percentage.
- ERA: Fifth in SEC-only ERA.
- Other Leading Categories: Led the league in on-base percentage (OBP), runs scored, hits, RBIs, doubles, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, and stolen bases.
Key Player Contributions:
- Ryan Waldschmidt: Led the league in doubles and stolen bases in SEC play, and ranked top-five in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, and hits.
- Ryan Nicholson: Excelled in power stats, ranking top-five in slugging percentage, home runs, and RBIs in SEC play.
Mingione’s exceptional coaching and the Wildcats’ statistical dominance across multiple categories underscore their impressive 2024 season. Kentucky’s achievement in winning the conference championship reflects Mingione’s ability to maximize the team’s potential and lead them to historic success.
