United States Merchant Marine Academy

In 2007, Michael Notebaert, a distinguished graduate of Ithaca College, joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) as an Assistant Baseball Coach, Instructor, and Athletics Operations Manager. He was promoted to Head Baseball Coach in 2009 and completed his Master of Business Administration in Leadership and Management from Dowling College in 2010. The 2026 season marks his 21st year with the program and his 19th season as Head Coach.
 
In March 2013, Notebaert expanded his responsibilities when he was appointed Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Events. In this role, he oversaw facility scheduling and operations, ensures athletic venues remain well-maintained and up to date, and provided leadership in project management and event operations.
 
As Head Coach, Notebaert has established himself as the winningest coach in USMMA baseball history. Under his leadership, the Mariners have made 14 appearances in the Landmark and Skyline Conference Tournaments, advancing to six conference championship games (2009, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2026).
 
One of the most significant achievements of his tenure came in 2021 when he guided the Mariners to their first conference championship and NCAA Regional appearance. The team advanced to the regional semifinals, finishing just two victories shy of a berth in the NCAA Division III College World Series.
 
Notebaert has led the program to three regular-season conference championships, including a share of the Landmark Conference title in 2013 and outright Skyline Conference championships in 2021 and 2025. His teams have recorded 20 or more victories in eleven seasons, highlighted by a program-record 28 wins in 2018, 2019, and 2025.
His commitment to player development has produced some of the most accomplished student-athletes in Academy history. Under his guidance, USMMA has produced the program’s only two Conference Players of the Year (2013 and 2023), three Conference Pitchers of the Year (2018, 2019, and 2021), and two Conference Academic Players of the Year (2018 and 2019). His players have also earned eight All-America selections, two CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, 27 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region selections, 23 D3Baseball.com All-Region selections, 17 ECAC All-Region honors, and 66 All-Conference recognitions.
 
Notebaert’s accomplishments have been recognized throughout the collegiate baseball community. He was named the D3Baseball.com New York Region Coach of the Year in 2021 and has earned Conference Coach of the Year honors four times, receiving the award in the Landmark Conference in 2009 and 2013 and in the Skyline Conference in 2021 and 2025. He is also a three-time recipient of the Academy’s prestigious Bill Omeltchenko Coach of the Year Award (2009, 2012, and 2021).
 
Beyond competitive success, Notebaert has emphasized academic excellence within the program. Under his leadership, the Mariners have earned the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award nine times and have received the Academy’s Dean’s Award for the highest team GPA on three occasions (2011, 2016, and 2018).
 
Notebaert resides in East Meadow, New York, with his wife, Veronica, and their children, Andrew and Natalie.