Mike Policastro… Baseball Coach Extraordinaire

Longevity in the coaching world indicates one characteristic: SUCCESS!

Mike Policastro is synonymous with success as he begins his 38^th year as an intercollegiate baseball coach--31 here at Cleveland State.  With well over 1000 coaching wins to his credit, Coach Policastro, with his passion, continues his drive and determination to make a difference in the lives of each one of his student athlete players---be it in the classroom, on the field, or in their walk of life.

In demanding excellence of himself, Policastro passes this attribute onto those he coaches, leads and mentors.  Consistently as a top four or higher finisher in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA), he has coached 250 players who have signed at 4-year schools and 30 who have gone on to play major league baseball. Amongst on field successes, include 350 student athletes, who have achieved All-Academic Honors as recognized by the National Junior Community College Athletic Association and the TCCAA.

Coach Policastro, a member of two Hall of Fames, was inducted most recently into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2023. He was previously recognized with induction, in 2003, into the Tennessee Wesleyan Hall of Fame.

With multiple 'Coach of the Year' honors, Policastro is well known as an expert presenter at camps and clinics across the country as well as a college administrator.  Indeed along with his responsibilities as head baseball coach at Cleveland State, Policastro has been the Athletics Director since 1999 and has built the Athletics program to be one of the best in the country. 

Raised in New Jersey, Mike Policastro earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education, starting at Hiwassee Junior College and finishing at Tennessee Wesleyan College.  At both colleges, he played baseball and was known as a clutch player who had obvious talents that would lead him into the coaching arena.

After completing his college degree in 1983, Policastro's initial head coaching experience was at Tennessee Wesleyan College, starting in 1985, where he was not only a success on the field but also designed and built a new baseball field for the college. Eight years later, in 1993, he accepted the head baseball coach position at Cleveland State and as the saying goes, "the rest is history."

Personally, Mike Policastro is supported by his wonderful wife, Elaine, and three children Chris, Michelle and Kyle.  When he is not coaching or administrating, he is enjoying being a grandfather.