Wagner College Director of Athletics
Walt Hameline announced the promotion of
Craig Noto as Wagner's 14th head baseball coach on May 25, 2021.
Noto, no stranger to the Northeast Conference (NEC), helped guide the Seahawks to three straight league tournament appearances in 2017-19 in his role as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
In 2018, Wagner ranked among the top three in eight conference statistical categories. The Seahawks finished second in the league in hits (505), total bases (751), and stolen bases (61). The Green & White also ranked third in the following categories: slugging percentage (.401), on-base percentage (.363), runs scored (318), RBIs (284), and walks (239).
In 2023, Noto led the Seahawks back to the NEC Tournament for the first time since 2019 and the first time during his tenure as head coach. The team had a 13-win improvement from 2021 and saw four players earn all-conference honors (two first-team, two second-team). The Seahawks led the NEC in hits (602) in 2023.
This is Noto's first head coaching position at the Division I level. Noto has served as the head coach of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the Northwoods League since 2015, where he has accumulated 249 wins and a winning percentage of .621, the best winning percentage among all Northwoods League members.
In 2020, Noto moved past four coaches to become the seventh winningest coach in Northwoods League history. The Rafters finished the season with a 35-11 record. In 2019, he led the team to its fifth division title and third postseason appearance.
Before arriving on Grymes Hill, Noto spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with Long Island University. On the field, he recruited and coached 14 All-NEC selections to go along with six All-Region honorees. He was instrumental in the development of James Jones, who became the program's first MLB player when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Noto worked for the Bergen Beach Youth Organization before his tenures with LIU and the Rapids Rafters. He was an assistant, head coach, and recruiting coordinator for the organization from 1993 to 2005. During his time, he coached/recruited over 120 MLB draft picks, 27 of which reached the majors and six who were on active 2016 MLB rosters.
Noto has strong ties to Staten Island. He attended St. Peter's Boys High School and returned to the school as the assistant coach from 1993-96 and again in 2001. Noto spent two seasons at St. Joseph by the Sea High School under Gordon Rugg Sr. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from John Jay College while playing for legendary New York City coach Louie DeMartino.
