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John Sheehan recently concluded his second season as an assistant coach at Toledo in 2023.
In addition to being the Rockets’ pitching coach, Sheehan is the program’s stretch and conditioning coach as well and assists in recruiting. He owns his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Precision Nutrition Level 1 coaching certifications and is also Driveline Baseball certified.
Under Sheehan, the pitching staff once again broke the single-season strikeout record (454) in 2023, marking the third straight year it has accomplished that feat.
Individually, Cal McAninch turned in an incredible 2023 season out of the bullpen, earning Second-Team All-MAC distinctions. He ranked second in the MAC and led all qualified relief pitchers with a 3.02 ERA and ranked sixth in the MAC in batting average against (.224). McAninch tied for the team lead with 26 pitching appearances and struck out 48 and walked just 18 while tying for the team lead with three saves.
In Sheehan’s first season with the Rockets in 2022, pitchers Kyle Jones and Connor Brandon led a pitching staff that was one of the best in several years. In addition to breaking the single-season strikeout record (438), Rocket pitchers posted the best team ERA (4.87) since 2015 and had the fewest walks since 2013. Individually, Jones (7th Round, Minnesota Twins) and Brandon (17th Round, New York Mets) were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, the first time since 2010 that Toledo had two players drafted in the same year.
Sheehan came to Toledo after spending the 2021 season as an assistant coach at La Salle. As the team’s pitching coach, he helped the Explorers set a school record with 32 victories and coached Frank Elissalt and Colin Yablonski to All-Atlantic 10 honors. Elissalt was also named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
Under Sheehan’s tutelage, La Salle’s pitching staff stifled conference opponents all season long, ranking first in strikeouts (187), second in ERA (3.80), and second in batting average against (.242) when playing Atlantic 10 foes. Elissalt delivered a 6-4 record with a 3.42 ERA across 13 starts while recording 95 strikeouts, second-most in program history.
Prior to his experience at La Salle, Sheehan was the pitching coach and strength and conditioning coach at Prairie View A&M. During his time at Prairie View, the pitching staff saw its ERA decrease by 1.27 runs per game as well as a 15 percent reduction in walks and a 25 percent reduction in home runs allowed. The Prairie View pitching staff also saw its strikeout total increase by 20 percent.
Sheehan played baseball at the College of William & Mary from 2009-14. He was a two-way player his freshman year, both pitching and hitting before undergoing Tommy John surgery as a sophomore. Sheehan bounced back in his junior season, leading the pitching staff in appearances and opponent batting average. During his senior year, Sheehan was second on the team in wins, innings pitched and ERA.
At the conclusion of his senior year at William & Mary, Sheehan signed a professional contract with the Colorado Rockies. He reached High A while playing for the Modesto Nuts in 2015. At the end of his professional career, Sheehan finished with a 3.49 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
Following his playing career, Sheehan joined the staff at Salem State University in Salem, Mass. as the team's pitching coach. That season, Salem led the MASCAC Conference in ERA and was second in hits allowed.
In 2018, Sheehan joined the staff at Momentum Physical Therapy, where he attained his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Precision Nutrition Level 1 coaching certifications. As a strength and conditioning coach at Momentum Physical Therapy, he helped oversee the rehabilitation protocols of different sports injuries, specifically elbow and shoulder injuries in baseball players.
The Westwood, Mass. native earned his bachelor's degree from The College of William & Mary in 2014, interned at Cressey Sports Performance in 2016.
