Duke Strikes Gold: Wake Forest Pitching Guru Corey Muscara Hired as Next Head Baseball Coach
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke Baseball is entering a bold new era.
In a move that’s already making waves across the college baseball world, Duke has officially hired Wake Forest pitching coach Corey Muscara as its new head coach. Known as one of the most innovative pitching minds in the nation, Muscara steps into the role as the 26th head coach in Duke baseball history, bringing elite coaching chops, relentless energy, and a proven track record of success at every stop.
🎯 The Perfect Fit at the Perfect Time
Muscara’s hire comes on the heels of former head coach Chris Pollard’s departure to the University of Virginia, where he took not only his coaching staff but several of Duke’s key players. In a time of transition — and potential vulnerability — Duke made a statement: They’re not rebuilding. They’re reloading.
Duke didn’t just find a coach. They found a developer of talent, a relentless recruiter, and a leader with vision.
🔥 Muscara’s Pitching Pedigree Is Unmatched
Over the past four seasons, Muscara transformed Wake Forest into a pitching powerhouse. Under his guidance, the Demon Deacons averaged 43 wins per season, led the nation in ERA (2.83), strikeouts per nine (12.1), and K/BB ratio (4.26) in 2023, and sent multiple pitchers into the MLB early-round draft conversation.
His most notable pupils?
- Rhett Lowder – 2023 MLB first-round pick
- Chase Burns – 2024 pitching phenom, now with the Cincinnati Reds
Even as Wake Forest retooled in 2024, they still ranked second nationally in strikeouts per nine — a testament to Muscara’s ability to develop depth and sustain dominance.
Prior to Wake, Muscara left a mark at Maryland, St. John’s, and Southern New Hampshire, where his name consistently popped up in conversations about elite development and recruiting prowess. From helping Maryland land a top-7 recruiting class in 2020 to guiding St. John’s to nine MLB draft picks, Muscara has built a reputation that’s hard to match.
🚨 Taking Over a Team in Transition
Muscara inherits a Duke program that went 41–21 and hosted its first-ever Super Regional in 2024, but has seen its roster rattled by offseason departures:
- AJ Gracia, a potential 2026 first-rounder, has followed Pollard to Virginia
- Sam Harris, Noah Murray, Kyle Johnson, and Macon Winslow are also gone
- Others like Gabe Nard, Andrew Healy, and Owen Proksch remain in the transfer portal
But don’t count out Muscara just yet.
He’s well-known for being an aggressive recruiter and already has access to a massive transfer portal pool, as well as decommitted recruits looking for a new home. His name alone could flip the narrative — and fast.
💬 Muscara Ready to Lead
“I am incredibly honored to lead the Blue Devils’ baseball program,” Muscara said in a university release. “I’m eager to get to work with our student-athletes and to represent Duke with pride.”
If there’s one thing that stands out about Muscara, it’s his fire. His energy is infectious. He’s the type of coach players gravitate toward — intense in the dugout, passionate in the clubhouse, and always ready to elevate the program.
🏆 What’s Next for Duke Baseball?
With Muscara now at the helm, Duke has a chance to not just maintain its recent success — but build on it. The combination of his elite pitching acumen and Duke’s rising stature in the ACC makes for a potentially lethal formula.
This hire isn’t about surviving a coaching change. It’s about chasing greatness.
Bottom Line: Corey Muscara isn’t just a great hire. He’s the right hire at the right time. And in a few short years, we might be talking about this move as the moment Duke Baseball leveled up.
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