Adam Piotrowicz recently concluded his ninth year on the Western Michigan baseball staff in 2022 and third as an associate head coach. He also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator and hitting coach.
At the collegiate level, Piotrowicz has been a part of 11 Conference Regular Season / Tournament Titles, 7 NCAA Regionals and 2 World Series Appearances.
In his 12 years of coaching at the collegiate level, Piotrowicz has helped 13 hitters go on to play at the professional level:
- 2021: Blake Dunn - 15th round (Cincinnati Reds) / Drew Devine – Undrafted Free Agent (Lincoln Saltdogs)
- 2019: Nate Grys – Undrafted Free Agent (Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers) / Jimmy Roche – Undrafted Free Agent (Joliet Slammers)
- 2018: Connor Smith – 30th round (Cleveland Indians)
- 2017: Tanner Allison – 19th round (Atlanta Braves)
- 2016: Mitchell Ho – Undrafted Free Agent (Evansville Otters)
- 2015: Kurt Hoekstra – 21st round (Atlanta Braves) / Brett Sunde – 18th round (Oakland Athletics)
- 2014: Andrew Sohn – 6th round (St. Louis Cardinals) / Karch Kowalczyk – 38th round (LA Dodgers)
- 2013: Tanner Vavra – 30th round (Minnesota Twins)
- 2012: Ricardo Lizcano – Undrafted Free Agent (St. Louis Cardinals)
- 2011: Kyle Gaedele – 6th round (San Diego Padres)
Piotrowicz has earned a stellar reputation on the recruiting trail as WMU’s recent recruiting classes have been some of the best in school history, with four ranking in the top-90 nationally over 300 Division I teams. WMU’s highest ranking of 56th overall came back in 2014.
Under his tutelage, the 2022 Broncos set a single-season program record with 131 doubles, led by Dylan Nevar's 20 two-baggers, which tied for second-most in a season in team history. Nevar was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, as well as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshmen All-American. Connor Charping earned his second straight First Team All-MAC selection and was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Second Team. Cade Sullivan earned a Second Team All-MAC selection, as well as All-MAC Defensive Team honors. WMU also blasted 57 home runs, its most since 2009. The duo of Nevar and Sullivan became the first Western Michigan teammates to hit double-digit homers in the same season since 2001.
In 2021, Charping set a single-season program record with 32 stolen bases on his way to a First Team All-MAC selection. Drew Devine was also named to the First Team All-MAC, while Sean O'Keefe earned Second Team All-MAC honors.
Before the season was cut short by COVID-19, the 2020 Western Michigan team was off to a hot start with 28 doubles in 15 games, while averaging 8.6 runs per contest. WMU had also already swiped 35 bases.
The 2019 Bronco offense posted the team's second-highest batting average since 2012, its most runs per game since 2008 and its first 50+ stolen base season since 2014.
In 2017, the WMU offense was one of the best in the nation, setting a new school record with 591 hits and finished with eight players hitting over .300 for a .308 team batting average. The Broncos finished the regular season No. 18 in the NCAA in batting average and had the highest in program history since 2002. WMU also had its most runs scored (319) since 2008.
During that season, Piotrowicz guided Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Tanner Allison to a breakout season at the plate, as the junior was named to two All-American teams and was a First Team All-MAC selection. Allison hit .356 with 18 doubles, nine home runs, 68 RBIs and had a .574 slugging percentage, with his 68 RBIs setting the WMU single-season record.
Along with Allison in 2017, both Connor Smith and Nick Vogelmeier thrived under Piotrowicz, earning Second Team All-MAC honors.
In 2016, the Bronco offense finished near the top of the MAC, hitting .292 in conference play to secure the program’s first ever MAC Tournament Title. The Broncos secured wins over No. 2 Ball State, No. 3 Miami, No. 6 Central Michigan and No. 1 Kent State in the MAC Championship game.
Under Piotrowicz in 2016, freshman Connor Smith earned Second Team All-MAC honors and was named MAC Freshman of the Year.
In his first season at WMU, Bronco hitters saw an increase in their offensive productivity in 13 different categories from the previous season. Most notably was the 30 percent increase in on-base percentage and slugging percentage from the prior season. The Broncos raised their batting average, home runs, doubles and triples in 2014.
Under Piotrowicz’s tutelage in 2014, Andrew Sohn was named Second Team All-MAC, while senior Theo Piccirilli was named to the All-MAC Tournament team, WMU’s first all-tournament team selection since 1998. During the 2014 season, senior Vinnie Booker set the career hit-by-pitch record, while Jared Kujawa and Sohn finished in the top-10 in the NCAA in triples.
Prior to arriving at WMU, Piotrowicz spent three years at Valparaiso University. Valpo advanced to the Horizon League Championship in each season he was on staff, winning tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, Piotrowicz helped Valpo upset the University of Florida in the 2013 NCAA Tournament for the school’s first regional win since 1966.
In three years with the Crusaders, Piotrowicz guided 14 hitters to All-Horizon League honors, including 2012 Horizon League Most Valuable Player Mark Johnson. Piotrowicz also had a hand in 11 representatives on the Horizon League All-Tournament team.
Prior to Valparaiso, Piotrowicz spent one season at Heidelberg University, leading the Student Princes to the 2010 NCAA DIII World Series and back-to-back Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and conference tournament titles.
Piotrowicz was a standout at Manchester College from 2005-08. As a senior in 2008, he was elected team captain and propelled Manchester to a NCAA DIII Mideast Regional and Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. During his college career, Piotrowicz was an impressive 105-66.
Piotrowicz holds a bachelor of science degree in Business from Manchester and earned a master’s degree in Education from Heidelberg. He and his wife, Heather, currently reside in Portage, Mich., along with their son Hunter.
