Matt McDonald '89 is in his 32nd season as the head baseball coach at St. Olaf in 2025-26 after taking the reins of the program from the legendary Jim Dimick in 1995.
During his time at St. Olaf, McDonald owns a career record of 694-475 (.594), including a 360-229 (.611) mark in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). On April 24, 2021, McDonald became the winningest coach in program history by earning the 588th victory of his career to surpass Dimick, his former head coach and mentor. He earned the 600th victory of his career with a 9-0 game-two win at Saint Mary's on April 9, 2022, making him the 34th active NCAA Division III head coach at the time to reach the milestone.
McDonald is a four-time MIAC Coach of the Year (1998, 2000, 2007, 2024) and was named the 2024 D3baseball.com Region 9 Coach of the Year after leading St. Olaf to its 18th MIAC regular-season title - first since 2007 - with a 17-3 mark. The 17-3 record was the joint third-best mark in program history during the regular season and the program's best since 2001.
During his tenure, McDonald has led the Oles to three MIAC Playoff titles, five 30-win seasons, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and 22 seasons with at least 20 victories. His 2000 squad won a program-record 36 games and advanced to the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional final.
Under McDonald, St. Olaf finished in the top three in the league in 14 consecutive seasons from 1996-2009. St. Olaf won the four-team MIAC Playoffs in 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2024 and has played for the MIAC title nine times under McDonald's leadership. He has coached seven student-athletes who have earned All-America accolades, six MIAC Players of the Year, and four MIAC Pitchers of the Year.
In addition to serving as the head baseball coach, McDonald spent 12 years as St. Olaf's athletic director, chaired the NCAA Division III selection committee, and served in various coaching roles. He was an assistant coach for the football and baseball programs before accepting the head baseball coach position. After becoming the Oles' 15th head coach, and second since 1966, he continued as a football assistant until 2001. He was the head men's golf coach in 2002.
McDonald, a native of Beaver Dam, Wis., played on the 1988 and 1989 MIAC championship baseball teams at St. Olaf under Hall of Fame coach Jim Dimick, captaining the 1989 squad. He was named an All-MIAC and all-region second baseman in 1988 and 1989, and led the MIAC in hitting in 1988. McDonald also played quarterback for three seasons for the Oles' football team.
McDonald and his wife, Barb, reside in Northfield and have two children, Katie and Tommy.
| THE OLES UNDER MATT MCDONALD |
| SEASON |
OVERALL |
PCT. |
MIAC |
PCT. |
MIAC FINISH / MIAC PLAYOFFS / NCAA TOURNAMENT |
| 1995 |
25-15 |
.625 |
11-9 |
.550 |
t-5th |
| 1996 |
21-12 |
.636 |
13-7 |
.650 |
t-3rd |
| 1997 |
29-13 |
.690 |
16-4 |
.800 |
2nd |
| 1998 |
21-16 |
.567 |
12-8 |
.600 |
3rd |
| 1999 |
26-11 |
.702 |
14-6 |
.700 |
2nd |
| 2000 |
36-7 |
.837 |
18-2 |
.900 |
1st / 3-2 at MIAC Playoffs / 3-2 at NCAA Regional |
| 2001 |
29-9 |
.763 |
18-2 |
.900 |
1st / 2-2 at MIAC Playoffs |
| 2002 |
27-12 |
.692 |
17-3 |
.850 |
1st / 3-2 at MIAC Playoffs |
| 2003 |
27-14 |
.658 |
16-4 |
.800 |
2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 1-2 at NCAA Regional |
| 2004 |
20-17 |
.540 |
13-7 |
.650 |
t-3rd / 1-2 at MIAC Playoffs |
| 2005 |
23-17 |
.605 |
13-7 |
.650 |
2nd / 0-2 at MIAC Playoffs |
| 2006 |
30-10 |
.750 |
15-5 |
.750 |
2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 2-2 at NCAA Regional |
| 2007 |
32-10 |
.762 |
16-4 |
.800 |
t-1st / 2-2 at MIAC Playoffs / 1-2 at NCAA Regional |
| 2008 |
28-12 |
.700 |
14-6 |
.700 |
2nd / 2-2 MIAC Playoffs |
| 2009 |
32-14 |
.696 |
14-6 |
.700 |
2nd / MIAC Playoffs Champions / 3-2 at NCAA Regional |
| 2010 |
22-18 |
.550 |
12-8 |
.600 |
t-4th |
| 2011 |
21-18 |
.538 |
9-11 |
.450 |
6th |
| 2012 |
14-25 |
.358 |
6-14 |
.300 |
11th |
| 2013 |
20-15 |
.571 |
9-9 |
.500 |
t-5th |
| 2014 |
20-20 |
.500 |
9-11 |
.450 |
t-6th |
| 2015 |
6-6 |
.500 |
- |
- |
- |
| 2016 |
11-26 |
.297 |
5-15 |
.250 |
11th |
| 2017 |
16-23 |
.410 |
7-13 |
.350 |
t-8th |
| 2018 |
15-21 |
.417 |
5-15 |
.250 |
10th |
| 2019 |
27-15 |
.643 |
13-7 |
.650 |
t-2nd / 1-2 MIAC Playoffs |
| 2020 |
2-2 |
.500 |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
13-9 |
.591 |
5-6 |
.455 |
6th |
| 2022 |
16-17 |
.485 |
9-11 |
.450 |
7th |
| 2023 |
16-18 |
.471 |
11-9 |
.550 |
5th |
| 2024 |
30-14 |
.682 |
17-3 |
.850 |
1st / MIAC Playoff Runner-Up |
| 2025 |
23-16 |
.590 |
13-7 |
.650 |
t-3rd / 1-2 MIAC Playoffs |
| 2026 |
16-23 |
.410 |
10-10 |
.500 |
t-5th |
| TOTAL |
694-475 |
.594 |
360-229 |
.611 |
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