University of Toledo Athletics

    Entering his 16th season at the helm of the Toledo baseball program, Cory Mee has built a baseball program that consistently competes for the Mid-American Conference championship, develops players that move on to professional baseball and most importantly, achieves high marks academically. Mee has done this by focusing on the development of each individual player in his program, instilling a tireless work ethic, and sharing his energy, enthusiasm and passion for the game of baseball.

    In the last nine seasons, Toledo finished in the top half of the MAC West division seven times, including a MAC West title in 2012, and second-place finishes in 2009, 2010 and 2015. In 2018, UT finished fifth in the MAC, the first year the conference went without divisions since 1998. The Rockets have qualified for the MAC Tournament 10 times under Mee, and hold a 129-108 (.544) MAC record over the past nine seasons.

    Under Mee’s guidance, Toledo is one of just three teams in the MAC to qualify for the conference tournament nine of the last 10 seasons. The Rockets have won 14 tournament games in that stretch and advanced to the championship game in 2009. His 349 career wins and 191 MAC victories are second-most among all head coaches in Toledo baseball history. 

     In 2018, the Rockets advanced to the MAC Tournament after completing a series sweep of rival Bowling Green to end the regular season. Individually, Mee coached junior Ross Adolph to an All-American season (third team, ABCA/Rawlings) and freshman John Servello to a freshman All-America campaign (Collegiate Baseball). Servello was also named MAC Freshman of the Year, while Adolph and senior Sam Shutes were named first team All-MAC. Adolph was also named to the MAC's All-Defensive Team. Academically, eight Rockets earned Academic All-MAC recognitions.

     In 2010, Mee was named MAC Coach of the Year after leading UT to a record of 34-22, the program’s first 30-win season since 1999, as well as a 19-8 record in conference play. The 2010 squad was the most prolific offensive team UT has ever fielded, setting school records in hits, double, runs scored, RBIs, and slugging percentage. The .328 batting average is second-highest in school history. 

      Mee’s teams have made a lasting mark on the Toledo record books, setting 13 team records since his arrival. Individually, his players have set single-season records for hits, doubles, triples, RBIs, stolen bases, and total bases. 

    Player development has always been the priority for Mee and his staff. During his tenure, 21 Rockets have earned All-MAC honors on 30 occasions. This includes two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Deion Tansel, who earned that honor in both 2015 and 2016. Tansel was the first two-time winner of the award in MAC history. Current Rocket AJ Montoya was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2015 joining Mitch Maier (2000) as the only other Rocket to win that award.

    UT has also had five players garner All-Mideast Region accolades: Joe Corfman (2010), Sean Dobson (2004), Tyler Grogg (2013), Ben Hammer (2013), and Matt Kuna (2012). Corfman was inducted into the Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame in 2017. In addition, Mee has coached 24 players during his time at Toledo who have played professionally, including former Rocket Jared Hoying, who played for the Texas Rangers from 2016-17. 2017 marked the 10th consecutive year that a Rocket has signed a professional contract.

     Mee has always emphasized academics, an area where his players have excelled. Since his arrival, the Rockets have achieved a 3.0 team GPA or higher in 24 of 28 semesters. This includes a program-record 3.449 GPA in the fall of 2016. During Mee’s tenure, 38 different Toledo players have been selected Academic All-MAC on 64 occasions. In addition, six players have garnered first-team Academic All-District recognition on nine occasions, including Ben Hammer, who was the first player in school history to be a three-time Academic All-District recipient (2011-13). Individually, Scott Boley and Ben Hammer earned spots on the second team of the Academic All-America Baseball Team in 2007 and 2013, respectively.

     A native of Hilton, N.Y., Mee came to Toledo after serving as an assistant coach at Michigan State from 2000-03. Prior to his stay in East Lansing, Mich., he served as an assistant coach for six seasons at Notre Dame (1993, ‘95-99).  In South Bend, Mee worked under Paul Mainieri, who is the current head coach at LSU and one of the most respected and successful coaches in the country.

    A four-year starter at Notre Dame from 1989-92 and a captain his senior year, Mee saw time at third base, catcher and second base during his Fighting Irish career. He graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and was named first-team Academic All-America. 

    After graduation, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played minor league baseball for the Yakima Bears in the Northwest League. In 1993, he returned to his alma mater as a volunteer assistant, helping the Fighting Irish reach the NCAA Regionals.  He then spent one year at the Rochester Institute of Technology as an assistant coach before accepting a full-time coaching position at Notre Dame. 
    Mee and his wife Susan have two daughters, Reilly and McKenna, and one son, Grady.

Mee's Head Coaching Ledger