Baseball
Nick Magnifico
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- nicholas.magnifico@siu.edu
- Phone:
- 618-453-7646
- Alma Mater:
- Missouri State, 2011
Nick Magnifico served as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the Saluki Baseball team for one season (2020). Magnifico joined Lance Rhodes's inaugural staff and left after one year for a similar position at South Alabama.
In Magnifico's only season at SIU, the Salukis had an outstanding offensive season. SIU led the MVC in batting average, hits, walks, doubles, on-base percentage, and stolen bases. The Salukis ranked among the national leaders in stolen bases (fourth), walks (14th), doubles (16th), and hits (17th).
Defensively, SIU was also outstanding in 2020, leading the MVC in fielding percentage and double plays. The Salukis turned 18 double plays in 18 games, which ranked ninth nationally. SIU committed only 12 errors in 18 games, and its .982 fielding percentage led the MVC and ranked 15th nationally.
After the 2020 season, SIU was named the MVC's most surprising team by D1Baseball. Magnifico coached Ian Walters, who was one of the nation's best hitters in 2020, ranking second in the country in hits. Walters led the MVC in hits, doubles, stolen bases, assists and on-base percentage. In 18 games, Walters reached base in all 18, hit in 17, and had an active 15-game hitting streak when the season ended. He reached base at least twice in 16 of 18 games.
Magnifico also coached Evan Martin, who was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the program's first outfielder to earn Freshman All-America honors since 2007.
Magnifico also led SIU's recruiting efforts that resulted in the nation's No. 10 ranked junior college recruiting class by Baseball America.
In Magnifico's first season at Corpus Christi, he helped lead the Islanders to their first winning record in five years. After TAMCC was at least 10 games under .500 in both 2016 and 2017, Magnifico helped the Islanders to back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2018 and 2019. In his first season, Magnifico's offense led the Southland Conference in batting average, runs, hits and RBIs. Five of his offensive players earned All-Conference honors, which led the league. In addition to TAMCC leading the league in team hitting, Itchy Burts took home the league's individual batting title.
Coaching at Central Missouri in 2017, Magnifico's offense led the league in total bases, slugging, OBP and stolen bases. In a 32-win season, Central Missouri hit .313 with 106 doubles, 25 triples, and 53 home runs while averaging 7.6 runs per game. Seven of his players earned All-Conference honors, which led the league.
Magnifico began his collegiate coaching career at Heartland Community College in 2016. HCC went 43-15 and won a conference championship behind a powerful offense that ranked in the top-10 nationally in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. The team featured two MLB Draft picks, two All-Americans and four All-Conference players coached by Magnifico.
A native of Lexington, Missouri, Magnifico played collegiately at John Wood Community College as a shortstop and team captain before transferring to Missouri State, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2011.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT NICK MAGNIFICO
"I have come to know Nick over the last two years during our time competing against each other and on the recruiting trail. I was able to see first-hand his skills to build a team and get talented student-athletes onto the field. In a not-so-easy place to recruit, his ability to create relationships with players and coaches is a true testament to his work ethic and qualities as a coach. Nick would be a great addition to any program, and Southern Illinois got a truly outstanding individual and quality coach. Recruiting is the No. 1 priority for any program. With Nick on the road recruiting, the Salukis are in good hands as a program." - Ryan Aguayo, recruiting coordinator at UTSA
In Magnifico's only season at SIU, the Salukis had an outstanding offensive season. SIU led the MVC in batting average, hits, walks, doubles, on-base percentage, and stolen bases. The Salukis ranked among the national leaders in stolen bases (fourth), walks (14th), doubles (16th), and hits (17th).
Defensively, SIU was also outstanding in 2020, leading the MVC in fielding percentage and double plays. The Salukis turned 18 double plays in 18 games, which ranked ninth nationally. SIU committed only 12 errors in 18 games, and its .982 fielding percentage led the MVC and ranked 15th nationally.
After the 2020 season, SIU was named the MVC's most surprising team by D1Baseball. Magnifico coached Ian Walters, who was one of the nation's best hitters in 2020, ranking second in the country in hits. Walters led the MVC in hits, doubles, stolen bases, assists and on-base percentage. In 18 games, Walters reached base in all 18, hit in 17, and had an active 15-game hitting streak when the season ended. He reached base at least twice in 16 of 18 games.
Magnifico also coached Evan Martin, who was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the program's first outfielder to earn Freshman All-America honors since 2007.
Magnifico also led SIU's recruiting efforts that resulted in the nation's No. 10 ranked junior college recruiting class by Baseball America.
In Magnifico's first season at Corpus Christi, he helped lead the Islanders to their first winning record in five years. After TAMCC was at least 10 games under .500 in both 2016 and 2017, Magnifico helped the Islanders to back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2018 and 2019. In his first season, Magnifico's offense led the Southland Conference in batting average, runs, hits and RBIs. Five of his offensive players earned All-Conference honors, which led the league. In addition to TAMCC leading the league in team hitting, Itchy Burts took home the league's individual batting title.
Coaching at Central Missouri in 2017, Magnifico's offense led the league in total bases, slugging, OBP and stolen bases. In a 32-win season, Central Missouri hit .313 with 106 doubles, 25 triples, and 53 home runs while averaging 7.6 runs per game. Seven of his players earned All-Conference honors, which led the league.
Magnifico began his collegiate coaching career at Heartland Community College in 2016. HCC went 43-15 and won a conference championship behind a powerful offense that ranked in the top-10 nationally in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. The team featured two MLB Draft picks, two All-Americans and four All-Conference players coached by Magnifico.
A native of Lexington, Missouri, Magnifico played collegiately at John Wood Community College as a shortstop and team captain before transferring to Missouri State, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2011.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT NICK MAGNIFICO
“We talk a lot about the right fit, and Nick is exactly that for Saluki Baseball. He has strong recruiting ties and has recruited at an extremely high level not only regionally, but nationally. He had tremendous success at Heartland Community College and the Central Missouri before helping Texas A&M Corpus Christi improve their win total by 14 wins in a very short amount of time. Along with being a great recruiter, Nick has played a huge part in developing some high-scoring offenses, and I look forward to seeing him develop and mold our hitters here at SIU.” - Lance Rhodes, Saluki Baseball head coach
"Mags is an extremely hard working coach who spends endless hours on the road recruiting. Somehow, he still finds time to grind out coaching with his players. He is, without a doubt, one of the up-and-coming young coaches in the country. The commitment he's made to the game is why he is one of the best. Our industry will continue to grow in the right direction with coaches like Mags in it." - Matt Riser, Southeast Louisiana head coach
"I have come to know Nick over the last two years during our time competing against each other and on the recruiting trail. I was able to see first-hand his skills to build a team and get talented student-athletes onto the field. In a not-so-easy place to recruit, his ability to create relationships with players and coaches is a true testament to his work ethic and qualities as a coach. Nick would be a great addition to any program, and Southern Illinois got a truly outstanding individual and quality coach. Recruiting is the No. 1 priority for any program. With Nick on the road recruiting, the Salukis are in good hands as a program." - Ryan Aguayo, recruiting coordinator at UTSA
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