In just three seasons, Mik Aoki has brought the Boston College baseball program into the national forefront after leading the Eagles to their first NCAA Regional appearance in 42 years in 2009. Not only that, but BC nearly knocked off the No. 1 national seed Texas in an NCAA-record 25 inning game that would have propelled it to the finals of the Austin Regional - which would have given the Eagles a great chance at reaching their first Super Regional in program history. Aoki's 2009 squad qualified for its first ACC Championship and made a statement there as well. Entering the tournament needing at least one win to ensure its spot in an NCAA Regional, BC lost the first game to No. 7 Florida State. The Eagles responded emphatically, beating No. 13 Georgia Tech and No. 16 Miami in the next two games by a combined score of 17-4 to get their bid to Austin. BC's 34-26 record was its best since 2005 and its 13-15 mark in the ACC was the most wins since joining the conference in 2006. The Eagles were tabbed the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association's Team of the Year for their performance. The Eagles were also a major presence in the 2009 MLB Draft as catcher Tony Sanchez was selected fourth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the highest pick ever for the baseball program and only the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan has been selected higher (third) in a draft. Pitcher Mike Belfiore was then taken in Comp Round A (45th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks, making the pair the two highest draft picks taken in the same draft from BC. Barry Butera and JB MacDonald were both drafted on the second day by the Houston Astros. Aoki has coached 22 MLB draft picks and four free agent signees since his arrival at The Heights in 2004. Three of those draft picks have been first round selections in Belfiore, Chris Lambert and Sanchez. In addition, 13 of those 22 picks have been pitchers and two (Lambert, Joe Martinez) have reached the Major League level. Aoki has mentored five All-ACC performers in his three seasons as head coach. Four Eagles earned all-conference honors last season, the most since joining the ACC. Aoki has also produced six All-New England selections, four All-ACC Academic Team members and two All-Americans. In June of 2006, Aoki was named head baseball coach by Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo. Aoki replaced Peter Hughes, who resigned to accept the head coaching position at Virginia Tech. Prior to being named head coach, Aoki, a Plymouth, Mass. native, spent three seasons as a pitching coach for the Eagles. In 2004, he oversaw a staff that had five pitchers sign professional contracts at season's end. Prior to his arrival in Chestnut Hill, Aoki spent five years as Columbia University's head coach, leading the Lions to an 87-140 mark during that span. His teams won 20 or more games in each of his last three seasons. Before the Aoki era, the Lions had not posted a 20-win season since 1987. Before assuming his duties at Columbia, Aoki spent four years (1995-98) as assistant coach at Dartmouth (N.H.) College. In that position, he focused his efforts on the team's infielders and hitters, while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. Aoki began his coaching career in 1992 as head coach at Manchester (Conn.) Community College. After one season, he became assistant coach at Ohio University. During his two years in Athens, Ohio, Aoki earned a master's degree in athletic administration. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Aoki was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Davidson College. He was a second baseman, third baseman and catcher and still ranks among the school's career leaders in slugging percentage (.547, eighth) and batting average (.335, ninth). In his senior season (1990), he finished with a team-leading .365 batting average. He stroked 20 doubles in his final season which still stands as the second-most in a single year. He also cracked 13 home runs in 1988 which ranks fifth in a single season at Davidson. Two of those homers were grand slams - only six other players in Davidson history have hit two grand slams in a season. Aoki played one summer of professional baseball in the Netherlands following his graduation. He played for the HCAW Tigers of the Dutch Major League. Mik and his wife, Sue, have three children with their son, Kai, and daughters Bryn and Reese, who was born December 26. They reside in Framingham, Mass. |
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