Tony Conley is a newer content contributor and show host for Michigan Business Network. To wrap up his seventy-fifth episode, Tony has a three-segment conversation about Michigan State University baseball, the coach, his career, his legendary family, competing against warm weather schools, and how to navigate success in college baseball.
He welcomes Jake Boss Jr. who was appointed the 16th head coach in Michigan State baseball history on July 1, 2008, and has quickly become one of the most successful coaches in the program’s 130-year history.
Listen to Jake and Tony's conversation by clicking on the PodCast playlist below!
In their conversation Tony covered several topics with Scott including:
Big 10 baseball, his overall career, learning under a father who many consider a legend, challenges of being BIG 10 or northern colleges in baseball competing against warmer weather schools, along with NIL challenges and more for today's sport.
Jake Boss Jr. was appointed the 16th head coach in Michigan State baseball history on July 1, 2008, and has quickly become one of the most successful coaches in the program’s 130-year history.
In 16 seasons at MSU, Boss has compiled a 440-381 (.536) record. His 440 wins are not only the most over a 16-year span in program history, but he also become the third Michigan State baseball coach to reach 400 Victories for MSU, earning his 400th win in the Spartans' 7-1 Victory for MSU over Ohio State on April 7, 2023 at Jackson Field in Lansing. Boss joined John H. Kobs (576 wins; 1935-63) and Danny Litwhiler (489 wins; 1964-82) as the only Spartan baseball head coaches with 400 wins at Michigan State.
Five of the 10 winningest seasons in MSU history have come under Boss’ direction. He has guided the Spartans to 30-win seasons in eight of the last 14 completed seasons, as well as the Big Ten regular-season championship in 2011 and the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
Overall, Boss collected career win No. 400 on April 24, 2022 in the Spartans' 11-7 Victory for MSU at Northwestern, and has a 465-415 (.528) record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach, with 440 wins in his 16 seasons at MSU (2009-pres.), and 25 wins in his lone season at Eastern Michigan (2008).
During Boss’ tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 38 selections in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in seven of the last 12 years. Three Spartans were drafted in 2023, marking the first time that MSU had three draft selections in the same draft since 2019, with Mitch Jebb (2nd round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Brock Vradenburg (3rd round, Miami Marlins) and Bryan Broecker (13th round, Tampa Bay Rays).
The three Spartans selected in the first 13 rounds in the most since 2016 when three MSU players were selected in the first 10 rounds. Jebb's second-round selection and Vradenburg's third-round selection marked the first time that two Spartans were selected in the first three rounds of the June Amateur MLB Draft since 1969 when Rick Miller and Harry Kendrick were both chosen in the second round.
One Michigan State player was selected in the 2021 draft: Mason Erla (17th round, Los Angeles Angels). Three Spartans were selected in the 2019 draft: Mitchell Tyranski (12th round, Los Angeles Dodgers), pitcher Indigo Diaz (27th round, Atlanta Braves) and infielder Marty Bechina (32nd round, Oakland Athletics). One MSU player was selected in the 2018 draft: Riley McCauley (14th round, Chicago Cubs), after four Spartans were selected the 2017 draft: Alex Troop (ninth round, Washington), Brandon Hughes (16th round, Chicago Cubs), Nathan Witt (17th round, Los Angeles Dodgers) and Joe Mockbee (29th round, Chicago White Sox). Michigan State had four juniors selected in the 2016 draft: Cam Vieaux (sixth round, Pittsburgh), Jordan Zimmerman (seventh round, Los Angeles Angles), Dakota Mekkes (10th round, Chicago Cubs) and Matt Byars (24th round, Minnesota). The 2015 draft saw a school-record eight players taken: Cam Gibson (fifth round, Detroit), Ryan Krill (ninth round, New York Yankees), Anthony Misiewicz (18th round, Seattle), Cam Vieaux (19th round, Detroit), Jeff Kinley (28th round, Miami), Mick VanVossen (28th round, Washington), Blaise Salter (31st round, Detroit) and Mark Weist (37th round, San Francisco).
Under Boss’ watch at MSU, players have earned All-Big Ten honors 63 times, including 14 First Team honorees. Most recently, three Michigan State players earned Big Ten accolades in 2024, as senior outfielder Jack Frank earned First Team All-Big Ten recognition, while sophomore pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was tabbed to the Second Team All-Big Ten list. Senior infielder Dillon Kark was named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
A total of six Spartans garnered Big Ten recognition in 2023, as junior infielder Brock Vradenburg collected First Team All-Big Ten honors, while senior relief pitcher Wyatt Rush, junior infielder Trent Farquhar and redshirt-sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker were named to Second Team All-Big Ten. Junior infielder Mitch Jebb was tabbed to the Third Team All-Big Ten list, while pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Rush was also named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Five Michigan State players were honored in 2022, as sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and graduate senior relief pitcher Kyle Bischoff both garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker and freshman pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak were both tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Senior utility player Zach Iverson was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree. In 2021, four Spartans were recognized as outfielder Zaid Walker was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list, while infielder Mitch Jebb and pitcher Nick Powers were both named to the All-Freshman Team, and infielder Andrew Morrow was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree. No awards were presented after the 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Spartans had three all-Big Ten honorees in 2018, as freshmen Mason Erla and Zach Iverson were both named to the All-Freshman Team, with Erla earning the honors at pitcher and Iverson being tabbed to the list as both a third baseman and utility player. The 2017 season saw second baseman Dan Durkin, center fielder Brandon Hughes, designated hitter Chad Roskelly and pitcher Alex Troop all tabbed to the All-Big Ten second team list, while outfielder Bryce Kelley was named to the all-freshman team. In 2011, a school-record eight Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors. The six first-team All-Big Ten selections in 2011 were the most in program history and featured Player of the Year Jeff Holm, Pitcher of the Year Kurt Wunderlich and Big Ten batting champion Brandon Eckerle.
The Spartans have had equal success in the classroom, as MSU baseball has earned a total of 225 Academic All-Big Ten honors, with 19 players garnering recognition in 2024, along with 78 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars since the first year of presenting them in 2009, with six players honored in 2024. MSU has led the B1G in each of the last four seasons.
Additionally, MSU baseball student-athletes have earned with 19 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and four Academic All-American accolades, one Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and one MSU President’s Award.
In 2023, Brock Vradenburg was also named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® First-Team baseball team and also earned Athletic All-American accolades, becoming only the second MSU Baseball student-athlete to earn both Athletic and Academic All-American Honors in the same season. He was the first since 1974 when Dale Frietch also earned Third-Team Athletic All-American accolades and First-Team Academic All-American honors.
Under Coach Boss as Spartan head coach, Michigan State has earned the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award in seven-straight seasons from 2017-2023.
Coach Boss has also coached two Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients, with Brandon Eckerle earning the award in 2011 and Bryce Kelley collecting the accolade in 2021.
Kelley was a five-time letterwinner (2017-21), and became a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree, as well as an Academic All-Big Ten selection. He earned CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic First-Team All-District® accolades in both 2020 and 2021. Kelley also was the recipient of the MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Scholar-Athlete Award for 2021 for having the highest GPA on the baseball team, and he also is a three-time honoree of Highest Honors for MSU Athletics Honor Roll.
On the field, Kelley led MSU and ranked sixth in the B1G with 11 stolen bases. Kelley became the new MSU career stolen base king this season, as he broke the record on April 11 vs. Purdue, swiping his 80th career base, passing Anthony Cheky's previous record of 79 from 2012-15. Kelley's record-setting moment was No. 5 on NCAA Baseball's Player of the Week. Kelley padded his record and finished his Spartan career with 83 swipes. At the plate, Kelley also led the team and ranked third in the B1G with 30 walks, as well as ranking sixth in the league in walks/game (0.68). Kelley also finished third on the team in runs scored (26).
In 2024, Michigan State celebrated not only its 140th year of baseball, but also honored the 70th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team.
MSU finished with a 24-27 overall record and 11-13 ledger in B1G action, missing the Big Ten Tournament by one game. One of the highlights from the 2024 season was the Spartans' win at Georgia on Feb. 28, knocking off the Bulldogs, 19-6 in a seven-inning run-rule rout of UGA, that not only dealt the Bulldogs their first loss the season, but also dealt UGA its first home loss of the season, snapping the Bulldogs’ seven-game home win streak, and was their lone home loss until April 12, and UGA was 33-3 at home before dropping its last two games of the season at home to eventual CWS team Florida, finishing 33-5. The Spartans were the lone non-conference team to beat UGA, as their other four home losses were to SEC teams. It was the Spartans’ first win over an SEC team since beating Auburn, 3-0, on March 5, 2016. The win was also MSU’s first victory over an SEC team on their home field since March 9, 2013, winning at Kentucky.
Michigan State scored 10+ runs in 14 games for the second-straight season, while also limiting the opposition to two or fewer runs in 10 games also for the second year in a row.
The 2023 season saw the Spartans post a 33-22 record, finishing eighth in the Big Ten Conference with a 12-12 league mark and qualifying for the B1G Tournament in Omaha, where the Spartans finished sixth. MSU's 33 wins were its most since 36 in 2016.
The Spartans' B1G Tournament run came to close after going 1-2 in Omaha. MSU opened with a 3-2 loss to No. 1 seed and B1G regular-season champion Maryland on May 23, but then bouncing back for a 6-4 Victory for MSU over No. 5 seed Rutgers on May 25 to advance to the May 26 quarterfinal match-up with Nebraska. The Huskers pulled away for a 4-0 win over Michigan State to eliminate MSU.
The Spartans have won at least one game in six of the eight visits to the B1G Tournament under head coach Jake Boss Jr., as Michigan State was making its first appearance in the B1G Tournament since 2018, and no player on the Spartans' 2023 roster had been to the conference tournament. Overall, MSU made its 15 appearance including its eighth under Coach Boss.
Michigan State led not just the Big Ten, but also the NCAA in triples with 30, the most in the B1G in the 2000s and also leading the league in three-baggers for the second-straight season after knocking 20 triples in 2022. The Spartans also topped both the conference and the country in 2023 for triples per game with 0.55.
Brock Vradenburg led MSU while ranking second in the B1G and 24th in the NCAA in batting average exactly a .400 average, becoming the first Spartan to hit .400 or better since 2002 and becoming the 28th member of MSU's ".400 Club." The Spartan first baseman was the first member of the club since 2002 when Brady Burrill (.414), Chris McCuiston (.404) and Bob Malek (.402) all hit over .400.
Boss also specializes in coaching the Spartan catchers, and in 2022, sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker led the B1G in caught stealing for the second-straight season, throwing out 20 potential base stealers, seven more than the second spot. In conference only contests, Broecker had seven caught stealing, ranking second in the league by one. Broecker earned Second-Team All-Big Ten accolades.
Six Spartans collected Big Ten accolades in 2023, as junior infielder Brock Vradenburg collected First Team All-Big Ten honors, while senior relief pitcher Wyatt Rush, junior infielder Trent Farquhar and redshirt-sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker were named to Second Team All-Big Ten. Junior infielder Mitch Jebb was tabbed to the Third Team All-Big Ten list, while pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Rush was also named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Following the season, three Spartans were drafted in 2023, marking the first time that MSU had three draft selections in the same draft since 2019, with Mitch Jebb (2nd round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Brock Vradenburg (3rd round, Miami Marlins) and Bryan Broecker (13th round, Tampa Bay Rays). Additionally, Trent Farquhar signed a non-drafted free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The three Spartans selected in the first 13 rounds in the most since 2016 when three MSU players were selected in the first 10 rounds. Jebb's second-round selection and Vradenburg's third-round selection marked the first time that two Spartans were selected in the first three rounds of the June Amateur MLB Draft since 1969 when Rick Miller and Harry Kendrick were both chosen in the second round.
In 2022, Michigan State logged a 24-30 overall record and an 8-16 Big Ten mark. MSU had a season-long six-game win streak from April 24-May 1, which matched the Spartans' longest since a six-game win spurt April 18-27, 2018. Michigan State had nine come-from-behind wins on the season, as well as six wins in one-run contests, part of 11 total one-run games, along with eight games decided by two runs. The Spartans were also 9-0 in games scoring 10+ runs.
Individual highlights from 2022 included sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb ranking among the conference leaders in hitting, finishing the regular-season ranked ninth in the league with a .356 average. Jebb also led the B1G and ranked 17th in the NCAA in toughest to strikeout - with just one K every 13.7 ABs - on just 16 Ks in 219 ABs. Additionally, Jebb was eighth in the conference with 20 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes also led the Big Ten and ranked tied for third in the NCAA with seven triples. Graduate senior reliever Kyle Bischoff led the Big Ten and ranked tied for 12th in the NCAA with 12 saves. The 12 saves ranks Bischoff second on MSU's single-season saves list.
Under the tutelage of Coach Boss in 2022, along with being tabbed to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker led the B1G in caught stealing by nabbing 22 stolen base attempts, six more than the second spot. In B1G only action, Broecker threw out 11 base stealing attempts, also leading the league and posting three more than the number two spot.
Five Spartans were recognized by the Big Ten Conference with postseason awards, as sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and graduate senior relief pitcher Kyle Bischoff both garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker and freshman pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak were both tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Senior utility player Zach Iverson was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Additionally, a program-record 22 Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades, leading all Big Ten baseball programs.
Michigan State posted a 17-27 record in 2021, playing a Big Ten Conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After opening the season in early March, MSU was in 13 games decides by two runs or less, with seven 1-run games and five other 2-run contests. Of those 13 games, four were on walk-off losses.
Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list, while freshman infielder Mitch Jebb and freshman pitcher Nick Powers were both named to the All-Freshman Team. Senior infielder Andrew Morrow was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Following the season, pitcher Mason Erla was selected in the 17th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. Erla was selected in the 17th round (pick number 501) by the Los Angeles Angels.
Erla posted five wins in 13 starts in the 2021 season, leading MSU in 79.2 IP, ringing up a team-leading 80 strikeouts, which ranked tied for 10th in the B1G. He also ranked 10th in the conference with a 3.50 ERA. Erla was the Robin Roberts Most Valuable Pitcher MSU team award recipient for the second-straight season.
In 2020, MSU got off to a 9-6 start after the first four weekends away from home, including opening the season 4-0 and later having another four-game win streak, before the rest of the season was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Despite the shortened season, pitcher Mason Erla was named a Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Erla posted a 2-0 record with a paltry 1.04 ERA in four starts, firing 42 strikeouts with only four overall runs allowed, with three earned, and just six walks in 26.0 IP. He ranked second in the B1G and 10th in the NCAA with 42 strikeouts, along with being tied for sixth in the conference with eight strikeouts looking. Erla also ranked second in the league and 49th in the nation with a 1.04 ERA, and ranked 16th in conference with a .211 batting average against. Additionally, Erla ranked fourth in the B1G and tied for 30th in the NCAA with 14.54 strikeouts per nine innings, along with ranking tied for fourth in the league and 74th in the nation with a 7.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The 2019 Spartan squad faced one of the toughest non-conference schedules in Division I, having a top five strength of schedule for most of the first two months of the season. The Spartans battled through and got hot in the later part of the season, winning three of its last four B1G series, including two on the road. Michigan State also had three wins over Top 25 teams down the stretch, with a pair of wins at No. 24 Iowa on May 11 and 12, and a win over No. 23 Illinois on May 17. MSU posted a record of 20-34 overall and 8-15 in Big Ten play.
Senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski was named to the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Baseball Team as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Chmielewski became the first Michigan State baseball player to earn Academic All-America honors since Brandon Eckerle in 2011.
Chmielewski compiled an impressive list of academic accolades during the spring of 2019, as he was also named the Michigan State recipient of the Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship, awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions who plan to continue their education at a graduate degree program. He was also recognized as the recipient of the MSU President's Award during Michigan State's Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) 22nd annual Spartan Academic Excellence Gala.
MSU celebrated not only its 135th year of baseball in 2019, including honoring the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team and also the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Big Ten Champion and NCAA Regional team, but also its first with lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, going 7-2 at home under the lights.
Boss earned his 300th win at Michigan State during the 2018 season, with the Spartans' 6-0 blanking of Rutgers on March 30. The Spartan head coach also coached his 600th career game, on May 12, 2018 at Minnesota. MSU made its fourth appearance in the last five seasons in the Big Ten Tournament and its seventh in the 10 years under Coach Boss. Michigan State won four of its last seven B1G games of the regular-season to claim the No. 8 seed. The Spartans also had a stretch of winning seven-straight conference contests for the first time since 2009, including sweeping back-to-back B1G series for the first time since 2011. Under Coach Boss, the 2018 Spartans also broke the team school record for stolen bases, swiping an even 100 for the season, topping the 98 base swipes by the 2005 squad. Additionally, sophomore outfielder Bryce Kelley broke the MSU single-season stolen base record with 33, surpassing former teammate Brandon Hughes' previous record of 30 set a season ago. MSU’s pitching staff rang up 407 strikeouts for the season, marking the fourth-straight season that the Spartans have topped the 400 K plateau, ranking No. 4 on MSU's team strikeouts list. Despite going 20-32, Michigan State led the country in percentage of 1-2 run games in 2018 (57.8 percent) with 30 of 52 games decided by two runs or less.
In 2017, the Spartans logged a 29-23 ledger, including winning Boss’ 300th career win as a collegiate head coach in the 13-4 victory for MSU over Richmond on March 18. Michigan State opened the season 9-1 for the second-straight year and tied for the second-best start to a season through 10 games. In addition to the 2017 and 2016 seasons, MSU was also 9-1 through 10 games in 1971, while the best mark in school history was the 1946 squad that went undefeated through its first 10 games. Boss also led the Spartans to the 2,300th win in program history, in the season-opener on Feb. 17, becoming just the fifth team in the Big Ten Conference and the 32nd team in the country with 2,300 wins.
Under the tutelage of Boss, an MSU pitcher led the Big Ten in ERA in conference games in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Walter Borkovich led the league stats with a 0.64 ERA in league games in 2017, while Dakota Mekkes posted a 1.23 ERA in conference contests in 2016.
Boss led MSU to its fourth-most wins in program history in 2016, compiling a 36-20 record en route to reaching the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans posted the best 15-game start in school history, going 14-1 out of the gate.
The 2016 season also saw several Spartans garner individual high achievements, including reliever Dakota Mekkes who finished the season as the NCAA leader in Ks per nine innings (15.16) and hits per nine innings (4.11). Zimmerman finished as the Big Ten batting champion, posting a .376 average in league games.
MSU went 34-23 in 2015, including a 14-10 mark in conference play, earning a trip to the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans went 22-10 over the final 32 games, including a three-game road sweep of Oregon.
Boss guided Michigan State to a 31-26 record and a spot in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in 2014. Four Spartans were named to All-Big Ten teams, including Jimmy Pickens, who was voted to the first team. Pickens, along with catcher Joel Fisher, were both selected in the 2014 MLB draft. Pickens was selected in the 15th round (455th overall) by Cincinnati and Fisher was taken in the 23rd round with the 682nd overall selection by Philadelphia.
In 2013, the Spartans recorded at least 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season, posting a 33-17 mark. The 33 wins marked the ninth-highest win total in school history. Three Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors, including Andrew Waszak who was later drafted in the 22nd round by Atlanta. Pitcher David Garner was also chosen in the MLB draft as the Chicago Cubs selected in the seventh round.
In 2012, the Spartans won 37 games, third most in school history, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1979. Five Spartans garnered All-Big Ten recognition, including first-team outfielder Jordan Keur.
Following MSU's successful season, four Spartans were selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, including Torsten Boss, (eighth round, Baltimore), Ryan Jones (13th round, San Francisco), Tony Bucciferro (14th round, Chicago White Sox) and Tony Wieber (33rd round, San Diego).
The 2011 Spartans reached the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time since 1992 and finished the season at 36-21, tying for the fourth-most wins in program history. Michigan State went 15-9 during Big Ten play and tied with Illinois for the regular-season title, MSU's first since 1979. Boss was named the 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year, becoming just the second Spartan coach to earn the award.
The Spartans compiled an 11-1 record at home in conference play, including sweeps over Minnesota (first ever), Penn State and Purdue (first since 1983). The Spartans also swept Michigan in Ann Arbor in a non-conference series, giving MSU its first sweep over the Wolverines in a series (three games or more) since 1955. It marked just the third time in school history MSU had posted four sweeps in one season, and it was the first time MSU had three sweeps at home during Big Ten action.
Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked seventh in the nation with a .318 batting average, while on the mound, MSU boasted two first-team All-Big Ten pitchers (Wunderlich, Tony Bucciferro) for the first time in school history. Overall, the Spartans posted their lowest ERA for the program since 1978.
In addition, for the second straight season MSU ranked among the nation's top 25 in fielding with a Big Ten-best .975 fielding percentage, which ranked 24th among all NCAA Division I teams.
Holm (12th round, Detroit), Wunderlich (20th round, Oakland) and Eckerle (32nd round, Detroit) were each chosen in the 2011 MLB Draft.
In 2010, Boss led the Spartans to a 34-19, tying for the sixth-most wins in program history. MSU opened the year winning 20 of its first 25 games, the best 25-game start since 1971, and racked up an 11-game winning streak during that stretch, the longest since 2004. MSU's strong start garnered national attention, as the Spartans received votes in the national polls. Although the Spartans narrowly missed a bid to the Big Ten Tournament on the last day of the regular season, MSU was rewarded with seven players on the All-Big Ten Team. Leading the way was shortstop Jonathan Roof, MSU's first All-Big Ten first-team selection since 2006. Second baseman Ryan Jones earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, becoming only the second player in program history to win the award.
In addition, two Spartans - Roof (eighth round, Texas) and A.J. Achter (46th round, Minnesota) - were chosen in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft in June.
In Boss' first season, he led the Green and White to its highest Big Ten finish in five years and its first trip to the Big Ten Tournament since 2004.
Under Boss' direction in 2009, the Spartans won their most games at home (15) and matched their longest conference-game winning streak (7) in the previous five seasons. The 2009 season also marked the opening of McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field.
"I believe in order to be successful and develop our players throughout their careers, we will focus on four main areas in each of their lives: academics and the effort to learn and graduate; character on and off the field; team philosophy and the effort and will to win; and career goals both at Michigan State University and beyond," said Boss when he was hired. "Our players will play hard, compete, and most importantly, trust each other to be successful. We will build our program on relationships and a family atmosphere throughout our team consisting of both current and former players."
In just one season as head coach at Eastern Michigan in 2008, Boss made an immediate impact, guiding the Eagles to their second consecutive MAC West Division crown and first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003. The Eagles swept through the MAC Tournament, winning all four games by a combined 21 runs, to notch the school's fourth tournament title. The conference title capped a remarkable turnaround, as Eastern Michigan - picked to finish fifth in the division - closed the season on a hot streak, claiming 25 of 40 games and earning a berth in the NCAA field.
For his efforts, Boss was selected the 2008 MAC Coach of the Year and made history by becoming just the second coach in league history to win the MAC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. Overall, the Eagles finished the season 15-8 in conference play and 25-34 overall.
Boss was no stranger to postseason play prior to coming to East Lasing, having coached in six NCAA Tournaments. Prior to being named head coach at Eastern Michigan, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Michigan from 2004-07, as the Wolverines made NCAA Regional appearances all three seasons. Boss was a member of the staff that led the Wolverines to three straight 40-win campaigns, with a 42-19 record in 2005, a 43-21 mark in 2006 and a 42-19 finish in 2007. Michigan won the 2006 and 2007 Big Ten regular-season titles, and claimed an NCAA Regional title in 2007 by upsetting top-seeded Vanderbilt to advance to the school's first-ever Super Regional.
Boss was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for seven seasons (1997-2004) before coaching in Ann Arbor. During his stint as an assistant in Ypsilanti, Boss helped the Eagles to back-to-back MAC West Division championships in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the Eagles also won the conference tournament title while advancing to the NCAA Regional. Working mostly with catchers, infielders and hitters, the Eagles set several team records under Boss' direction, including home runs with 95 in 2002.
Boss began his collegiate coaching career in 1996 and 1997 as an assistant baseball coach at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Both seasons the team advanced to the NJCAA World Series, including a runner-up finish in 1997. While at ICCC, he worked with three All-Americans, coached the catchers and outfielders and oversaw the academic services of the baseball team. He also served as an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves organization in 1996-97.
Boss started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Lakeview (Mich.) High School in 1994 before being named the head coach at Webberville (Mich.) High School in 1995. Boss, who played baseball at Alma from 1989-93, earned his bachelor's degree in English in 1993. He completed his master's degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan in 2000. An accomplished writer, Boss was co-author of a book, Dare to Hit .400, in the spring of 1998. He has been a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association since 1995.
Boss and his wife, Cheryl (Schiff), have two daughters, Abigail and Grace, and a son, Jacob.
Jake was also the MBN Fall 2023 Business Sports Luncheon presenter re-experience that with the YouTube video below:
In 16 seasons at MSU, Boss has compiled a 440-381 (.536) record. His 440 wins are not only the most over a 16-year span in program history, but he also become the third Michigan State baseball coach to reach 400 Victories for MSU, earning his 400th win in the Spartans' 7-1 Victory for MSU over Ohio State on April 7, 2023 at Jackson Field in Lansing. Boss joined John H. Kobs (576 wins; 1935-63) and Danny Litwhiler (489 wins; 1964-82) as the only Spartan baseball head coaches with 400 wins at Michigan State.
Five of the 10 winningest seasons in MSU history have come under Boss’ direction. He has guided the Spartans to 30-win seasons in eight of the last 14 completed seasons, as well as the Big Ten regular-season championship in 2011 and the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
Overall, Boss collected career win No. 400 on April 24, 2022 in the Spartans' 11-7 Victory for MSU at Northwestern, and has a 465-415 (.528) record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach, with 440 wins in his 16 seasons at MSU (2009-pres.), and 25 wins in his lone season at Eastern Michigan (2008).
During Boss’ tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 38 selections in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in seven of the last 12 years. Three Spartans were drafted in 2023, marking the first time that MSU had three draft selections in the same draft since 2019, with Mitch Jebb (2nd round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Brock Vradenburg (3rd round, Miami Marlins) and Bryan Broecker (13th round, Tampa Bay Rays).
The three Spartans selected in the first 13 rounds in the most since 2016 when three MSU players were selected in the first 10 rounds. Jebb's second-round selection and Vradenburg's third-round selection marked the first time that two Spartans were selected in the first three rounds of the June Amateur MLB Draft since 1969 when Rick Miller and Harry Kendrick were both chosen in the second round.
One Michigan State player was selected in the 2021 draft: Mason Erla (17th round, Los Angeles Angels). Three Spartans were selected in the 2019 draft: Mitchell Tyranski (12th round, Los Angeles Dodgers), pitcher Indigo Diaz (27th round, Atlanta Braves) and infielder Marty Bechina (32nd round, Oakland Athletics). One MSU player was selected in the 2018 draft: Riley McCauley (14th round, Chicago Cubs), after four Spartans were selected the 2017 draft: Alex Troop (ninth round, Washington), Brandon Hughes (16th round, Chicago Cubs), Nathan Witt (17th round, Los Angeles Dodgers) and Joe Mockbee (29th round, Chicago White Sox). Michigan State had four juniors selected in the 2016 draft: Cam Vieaux (sixth round, Pittsburgh), Jordan Zimmerman (seventh round, Los Angeles Angles), Dakota Mekkes (10th round, Chicago Cubs) and Matt Byars (24th round, Minnesota). The 2015 draft saw a school-record eight players taken: Cam Gibson (fifth round, Detroit), Ryan Krill (ninth round, New York Yankees), Anthony Misiewicz (18th round, Seattle), Cam Vieaux (19th round, Detroit), Jeff Kinley (28th round, Miami), Mick VanVossen (28th round, Washington), Blaise Salter (31st round, Detroit) and Mark Weist (37th round, San Francisco).
Under Boss’ watch at MSU, players have earned All-Big Ten honors 63 times, including 14 First Team honorees. Most recently, three Michigan State players earned Big Ten accolades in 2024, as senior outfielder Jack Frank earned First Team All-Big Ten recognition, while sophomore pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was tabbed to the Second Team All-Big Ten list. Senior infielder Dillon Kark was named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
A total of six Spartans garnered Big Ten recognition in 2023, as junior infielder Brock Vradenburg collected First Team All-Big Ten honors, while senior relief pitcher Wyatt Rush, junior infielder Trent Farquhar and redshirt-sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker were named to Second Team All-Big Ten. Junior infielder Mitch Jebb was tabbed to the Third Team All-Big Ten list, while pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Rush was also named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Five Michigan State players were honored in 2022, as sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and graduate senior relief pitcher Kyle Bischoff both garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker and freshman pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak were both tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Senior utility player Zach Iverson was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree. In 2021, four Spartans were recognized as outfielder Zaid Walker was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list, while infielder Mitch Jebb and pitcher Nick Powers were both named to the All-Freshman Team, and infielder Andrew Morrow was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree. No awards were presented after the 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Spartans had three all-Big Ten honorees in 2018, as freshmen Mason Erla and Zach Iverson were both named to the All-Freshman Team, with Erla earning the honors at pitcher and Iverson being tabbed to the list as both a third baseman and utility player. The 2017 season saw second baseman Dan Durkin, center fielder Brandon Hughes, designated hitter Chad Roskelly and pitcher Alex Troop all tabbed to the All-Big Ten second team list, while outfielder Bryce Kelley was named to the all-freshman team. In 2011, a school-record eight Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors. The six first-team All-Big Ten selections in 2011 were the most in program history and featured Player of the Year Jeff Holm, Pitcher of the Year Kurt Wunderlich and Big Ten batting champion Brandon Eckerle.
The Spartans have had equal success in the classroom, as MSU baseball has earned a total of 225 Academic All-Big Ten honors, with 19 players garnering recognition in 2024, along with 78 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars since the first year of presenting them in 2009, with six players honored in 2024. MSU has led the B1G in each of the last four seasons.
Additionally, MSU baseball student-athletes have earned with 19 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and four Academic All-American accolades, one Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and one MSU President’s Award.
In 2023, Brock Vradenburg was also named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® First-Team baseball team and also earned Athletic All-American accolades, becoming only the second MSU Baseball student-athlete to earn both Athletic and Academic All-American Honors in the same season. He was the first since 1974 when Dale Frietch also earned Third-Team Athletic All-American accolades and First-Team Academic All-American honors.
Under Coach Boss as Spartan head coach, Michigan State has earned the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award in seven-straight seasons from 2017-2023.
Coach Boss has also coached two Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients, with Brandon Eckerle earning the award in 2011 and Bryce Kelley collecting the accolade in 2021.
Kelley was a five-time letterwinner (2017-21), and became a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree, as well as an Academic All-Big Ten selection. He earned CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic First-Team All-District® accolades in both 2020 and 2021. Kelley also was the recipient of the MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Scholar-Athlete Award for 2021 for having the highest GPA on the baseball team, and he also is a three-time honoree of Highest Honors for MSU Athletics Honor Roll.
On the field, Kelley led MSU and ranked sixth in the B1G with 11 stolen bases. Kelley became the new MSU career stolen base king this season, as he broke the record on April 11 vs. Purdue, swiping his 80th career base, passing Anthony Cheky's previous record of 79 from 2012-15. Kelley's record-setting moment was No. 5 on NCAA Baseball's Player of the Week. Kelley padded his record and finished his Spartan career with 83 swipes. At the plate, Kelley also led the team and ranked third in the B1G with 30 walks, as well as ranking sixth in the league in walks/game (0.68). Kelley also finished third on the team in runs scored (26).
In 2024, Michigan State celebrated not only its 140th year of baseball, but also honored the 70th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team.
MSU finished with a 24-27 overall record and 11-13 ledger in B1G action, missing the Big Ten Tournament by one game. One of the highlights from the 2024 season was the Spartans' win at Georgia on Feb. 28, knocking off the Bulldogs, 19-6 in a seven-inning run-rule rout of UGA, that not only dealt the Bulldogs their first loss the season, but also dealt UGA its first home loss of the season, snapping the Bulldogs’ seven-game home win streak, and was their lone home loss until April 12, and UGA was 33-3 at home before dropping its last two games of the season at home to eventual CWS team Florida, finishing 33-5. The Spartans were the lone non-conference team to beat UGA, as their other four home losses were to SEC teams. It was the Spartans’ first win over an SEC team since beating Auburn, 3-0, on March 5, 2016. The win was also MSU’s first victory over an SEC team on their home field since March 9, 2013, winning at Kentucky.
Michigan State scored 10+ runs in 14 games for the second-straight season, while also limiting the opposition to two or fewer runs in 10 games also for the second year in a row.
The 2023 season saw the Spartans post a 33-22 record, finishing eighth in the Big Ten Conference with a 12-12 league mark and qualifying for the B1G Tournament in Omaha, where the Spartans finished sixth. MSU's 33 wins were its most since 36 in 2016.
The Spartans' B1G Tournament run came to close after going 1-2 in Omaha. MSU opened with a 3-2 loss to No. 1 seed and B1G regular-season champion Maryland on May 23, but then bouncing back for a 6-4 Victory for MSU over No. 5 seed Rutgers on May 25 to advance to the May 26 quarterfinal match-up with Nebraska. The Huskers pulled away for a 4-0 win over Michigan State to eliminate MSU.
The Spartans have won at least one game in six of the eight visits to the B1G Tournament under head coach Jake Boss Jr., as Michigan State was making its first appearance in the B1G Tournament since 2018, and no player on the Spartans' 2023 roster had been to the conference tournament. Overall, MSU made its 15 appearance including its eighth under Coach Boss.
Michigan State led not just the Big Ten, but also the NCAA in triples with 30, the most in the B1G in the 2000s and also leading the league in three-baggers for the second-straight season after knocking 20 triples in 2022. The Spartans also topped both the conference and the country in 2023 for triples per game with 0.55.
Brock Vradenburg led MSU while ranking second in the B1G and 24th in the NCAA in batting average exactly a .400 average, becoming the first Spartan to hit .400 or better since 2002 and becoming the 28th member of MSU's ".400 Club." The Spartan first baseman was the first member of the club since 2002 when Brady Burrill (.414), Chris McCuiston (.404) and Bob Malek (.402) all hit over .400.
Boss also specializes in coaching the Spartan catchers, and in 2022, sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker led the B1G in caught stealing for the second-straight season, throwing out 20 potential base stealers, seven more than the second spot. In conference only contests, Broecker had seven caught stealing, ranking second in the league by one. Broecker earned Second-Team All-Big Ten accolades.
Six Spartans collected Big Ten accolades in 2023, as junior infielder Brock Vradenburg collected First Team All-Big Ten honors, while senior relief pitcher Wyatt Rush, junior infielder Trent Farquhar and redshirt-sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker were named to Second Team All-Big Ten. Junior infielder Mitch Jebb was tabbed to the Third Team All-Big Ten list, while pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Rush was also named MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Following the season, three Spartans were drafted in 2023, marking the first time that MSU had three draft selections in the same draft since 2019, with Mitch Jebb (2nd round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Brock Vradenburg (3rd round, Miami Marlins) and Bryan Broecker (13th round, Tampa Bay Rays). Additionally, Trent Farquhar signed a non-drafted free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The three Spartans selected in the first 13 rounds in the most since 2016 when three MSU players were selected in the first 10 rounds. Jebb's second-round selection and Vradenburg's third-round selection marked the first time that two Spartans were selected in the first three rounds of the June Amateur MLB Draft since 1969 when Rick Miller and Harry Kendrick were both chosen in the second round.
In 2022, Michigan State logged a 24-30 overall record and an 8-16 Big Ten mark. MSU had a season-long six-game win streak from April 24-May 1, which matched the Spartans' longest since a six-game win spurt April 18-27, 2018. Michigan State had nine come-from-behind wins on the season, as well as six wins in one-run contests, part of 11 total one-run games, along with eight games decided by two runs. The Spartans were also 9-0 in games scoring 10+ runs.
Individual highlights from 2022 included sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb ranking among the conference leaders in hitting, finishing the regular-season ranked ninth in the league with a .356 average. Jebb also led the B1G and ranked 17th in the NCAA in toughest to strikeout - with just one K every 13.7 ABs - on just 16 Ks in 219 ABs. Additionally, Jebb was eighth in the conference with 20 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes also led the Big Ten and ranked tied for third in the NCAA with seven triples. Graduate senior reliever Kyle Bischoff led the Big Ten and ranked tied for 12th in the NCAA with 12 saves. The 12 saves ranks Bischoff second on MSU's single-season saves list.
Under the tutelage of Coach Boss in 2022, along with being tabbed to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker led the B1G in caught stealing by nabbing 22 stolen base attempts, six more than the second spot. In B1G only action, Broecker threw out 11 base stealing attempts, also leading the league and posting three more than the number two spot.
Five Spartans were recognized by the Big Ten Conference with postseason awards, as sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and graduate senior relief pitcher Kyle Bischoff both garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker and freshman pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak were both tabbed to the All-Freshman Team. Senior utility player Zach Iverson was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Additionally, a program-record 22 Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades, leading all Big Ten baseball programs.
Michigan State posted a 17-27 record in 2021, playing a Big Ten Conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After opening the season in early March, MSU was in 13 games decides by two runs or less, with seven 1-run games and five other 2-run contests. Of those 13 games, four were on walk-off losses.
Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list, while freshman infielder Mitch Jebb and freshman pitcher Nick Powers were both named to the All-Freshman Team. Senior infielder Andrew Morrow was MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Following the season, pitcher Mason Erla was selected in the 17th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. Erla was selected in the 17th round (pick number 501) by the Los Angeles Angels.
Erla posted five wins in 13 starts in the 2021 season, leading MSU in 79.2 IP, ringing up a team-leading 80 strikeouts, which ranked tied for 10th in the B1G. He also ranked 10th in the conference with a 3.50 ERA. Erla was the Robin Roberts Most Valuable Pitcher MSU team award recipient for the second-straight season.
In 2020, MSU got off to a 9-6 start after the first four weekends away from home, including opening the season 4-0 and later having another four-game win streak, before the rest of the season was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Despite the shortened season, pitcher Mason Erla was named a Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Erla posted a 2-0 record with a paltry 1.04 ERA in four starts, firing 42 strikeouts with only four overall runs allowed, with three earned, and just six walks in 26.0 IP. He ranked second in the B1G and 10th in the NCAA with 42 strikeouts, along with being tied for sixth in the conference with eight strikeouts looking. Erla also ranked second in the league and 49th in the nation with a 1.04 ERA, and ranked 16th in conference with a .211 batting average against. Additionally, Erla ranked fourth in the B1G and tied for 30th in the NCAA with 14.54 strikeouts per nine innings, along with ranking tied for fourth in the league and 74th in the nation with a 7.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The 2019 Spartan squad faced one of the toughest non-conference schedules in Division I, having a top five strength of schedule for most of the first two months of the season. The Spartans battled through and got hot in the later part of the season, winning three of its last four B1G series, including two on the road. Michigan State also had three wins over Top 25 teams down the stretch, with a pair of wins at No. 24 Iowa on May 11 and 12, and a win over No. 23 Illinois on May 17. MSU posted a record of 20-34 overall and 8-15 in Big Ten play.
Senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski was named to the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Baseball Team as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Chmielewski became the first Michigan State baseball player to earn Academic All-America honors since Brandon Eckerle in 2011.
Chmielewski compiled an impressive list of academic accolades during the spring of 2019, as he was also named the Michigan State recipient of the Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship, awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions who plan to continue their education at a graduate degree program. He was also recognized as the recipient of the MSU President's Award during Michigan State's Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) 22nd annual Spartan Academic Excellence Gala.
MSU celebrated not only its 135th year of baseball in 2019, including honoring the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series team and also the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Big Ten Champion and NCAA Regional team, but also its first with lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, going 7-2 at home under the lights.
Boss earned his 300th win at Michigan State during the 2018 season, with the Spartans' 6-0 blanking of Rutgers on March 30. The Spartan head coach also coached his 600th career game, on May 12, 2018 at Minnesota. MSU made its fourth appearance in the last five seasons in the Big Ten Tournament and its seventh in the 10 years under Coach Boss. Michigan State won four of its last seven B1G games of the regular-season to claim the No. 8 seed. The Spartans also had a stretch of winning seven-straight conference contests for the first time since 2009, including sweeping back-to-back B1G series for the first time since 2011. Under Coach Boss, the 2018 Spartans also broke the team school record for stolen bases, swiping an even 100 for the season, topping the 98 base swipes by the 2005 squad. Additionally, sophomore outfielder Bryce Kelley broke the MSU single-season stolen base record with 33, surpassing former teammate Brandon Hughes' previous record of 30 set a season ago. MSU’s pitching staff rang up 407 strikeouts for the season, marking the fourth-straight season that the Spartans have topped the 400 K plateau, ranking No. 4 on MSU's team strikeouts list. Despite going 20-32, Michigan State led the country in percentage of 1-2 run games in 2018 (57.8 percent) with 30 of 52 games decided by two runs or less.
In 2017, the Spartans logged a 29-23 ledger, including winning Boss’ 300th career win as a collegiate head coach in the 13-4 victory for MSU over Richmond on March 18. Michigan State opened the season 9-1 for the second-straight year and tied for the second-best start to a season through 10 games. In addition to the 2017 and 2016 seasons, MSU was also 9-1 through 10 games in 1971, while the best mark in school history was the 1946 squad that went undefeated through its first 10 games. Boss also led the Spartans to the 2,300th win in program history, in the season-opener on Feb. 17, becoming just the fifth team in the Big Ten Conference and the 32nd team in the country with 2,300 wins.
Under the tutelage of Boss, an MSU pitcher led the Big Ten in ERA in conference games in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Walter Borkovich led the league stats with a 0.64 ERA in league games in 2017, while Dakota Mekkes posted a 1.23 ERA in conference contests in 2016.
Boss led MSU to its fourth-most wins in program history in 2016, compiling a 36-20 record en route to reaching the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans posted the best 15-game start in school history, going 14-1 out of the gate.
The 2016 season also saw several Spartans garner individual high achievements, including reliever Dakota Mekkes who finished the season as the NCAA leader in Ks per nine innings (15.16) and hits per nine innings (4.11). Zimmerman finished as the Big Ten batting champion, posting a .376 average in league games.
MSU went 34-23 in 2015, including a 14-10 mark in conference play, earning a trip to the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans went 22-10 over the final 32 games, including a three-game road sweep of Oregon.
Boss guided Michigan State to a 31-26 record and a spot in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in 2014. Four Spartans were named to All-Big Ten teams, including Jimmy Pickens, who was voted to the first team. Pickens, along with catcher Joel Fisher, were both selected in the 2014 MLB draft. Pickens was selected in the 15th round (455th overall) by Cincinnati and Fisher was taken in the 23rd round with the 682nd overall selection by Philadelphia.
In 2013, the Spartans recorded at least 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season, posting a 33-17 mark. The 33 wins marked the ninth-highest win total in school history. Three Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors, including Andrew Waszak who was later drafted in the 22nd round by Atlanta. Pitcher David Garner was also chosen in the MLB draft as the Chicago Cubs selected in the seventh round.
In 2012, the Spartans won 37 games, third most in school history, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1979. Five Spartans garnered All-Big Ten recognition, including first-team outfielder Jordan Keur.
Following MSU's successful season, four Spartans were selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, including Torsten Boss, (eighth round, Baltimore), Ryan Jones (13th round, San Francisco), Tony Bucciferro (14th round, Chicago White Sox) and Tony Wieber (33rd round, San Diego).
The 2011 Spartans reached the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time since 1992 and finished the season at 36-21, tying for the fourth-most wins in program history. Michigan State went 15-9 during Big Ten play and tied with Illinois for the regular-season title, MSU's first since 1979. Boss was named the 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year, becoming just the second Spartan coach to earn the award.
The Spartans compiled an 11-1 record at home in conference play, including sweeps over Minnesota (first ever), Penn State and Purdue (first since 1983). The Spartans also swept Michigan in Ann Arbor in a non-conference series, giving MSU its first sweep over the Wolverines in a series (three games or more) since 1955. It marked just the third time in school history MSU had posted four sweeps in one season, and it was the first time MSU had three sweeps at home during Big Ten action.
Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked seventh in the nation with a .318 batting average, while on the mound, MSU boasted two first-team All-Big Ten pitchers (Wunderlich, Tony Bucciferro) for the first time in school history. Overall, the Spartans posted their lowest ERA for the program since 1978.
In addition, for the second straight season MSU ranked among the nation's top 25 in fielding with a Big Ten-best .975 fielding percentage, which ranked 24th among all NCAA Division I teams.
Holm (12th round, Detroit), Wunderlich (20th round, Oakland) and Eckerle (32nd round, Detroit) were each chosen in the 2011 MLB Draft.
In 2010, Boss led the Spartans to a 34-19, tying for the sixth-most wins in program history. MSU opened the year winning 20 of its first 25 games, the best 25-game start since 1971, and racked up an 11-game winning streak during that stretch, the longest since 2004. MSU's strong start garnered national attention, as the Spartans received votes in the national polls. Although the Spartans narrowly missed a bid to the Big Ten Tournament on the last day of the regular season, MSU was rewarded with seven players on the All-Big Ten Team. Leading the way was shortstop Jonathan Roof, MSU's first All-Big Ten first-team selection since 2006. Second baseman Ryan Jones earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, becoming only the second player in program history to win the award.
In addition, two Spartans - Roof (eighth round, Texas) and A.J. Achter (46th round, Minnesota) - were chosen in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft in June.
In Boss' first season, he led the Green and White to its highest Big Ten finish in five years and its first trip to the Big Ten Tournament since 2004.
Under Boss' direction in 2009, the Spartans won their most games at home (15) and matched their longest conference-game winning streak (7) in the previous five seasons. The 2009 season also marked the opening of McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field.
"I believe in order to be successful and develop our players throughout their careers, we will focus on four main areas in each of their lives: academics and the effort to learn and graduate; character on and off the field; team philosophy and the effort and will to win; and career goals both at Michigan State University and beyond," said Boss when he was hired. "Our players will play hard, compete, and most importantly, trust each other to be successful. We will build our program on relationships and a family atmosphere throughout our team consisting of both current and former players."
In just one season as head coach at Eastern Michigan in 2008, Boss made an immediate impact, guiding the Eagles to their second consecutive MAC West Division crown and first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003. The Eagles swept through the MAC Tournament, winning all four games by a combined 21 runs, to notch the school's fourth tournament title. The conference title capped a remarkable turnaround, as Eastern Michigan - picked to finish fifth in the division - closed the season on a hot streak, claiming 25 of 40 games and earning a berth in the NCAA field.
For his efforts, Boss was selected the 2008 MAC Coach of the Year and made history by becoming just the second coach in league history to win the MAC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. Overall, the Eagles finished the season 15-8 in conference play and 25-34 overall.
Boss was no stranger to postseason play prior to coming to East Lasing, having coached in six NCAA Tournaments. Prior to being named head coach at Eastern Michigan, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Michigan from 2004-07, as the Wolverines made NCAA Regional appearances all three seasons. Boss was a member of the staff that led the Wolverines to three straight 40-win campaigns, with a 42-19 record in 2005, a 43-21 mark in 2006 and a 42-19 finish in 2007. Michigan won the 2006 and 2007 Big Ten regular-season titles, and claimed an NCAA Regional title in 2007 by upsetting top-seeded Vanderbilt to advance to the school's first-ever Super Regional.
Boss was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for seven seasons (1997-2004) before coaching in Ann Arbor. During his stint as an assistant in Ypsilanti, Boss helped the Eagles to back-to-back MAC West Division championships in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the Eagles also won the conference tournament title while advancing to the NCAA Regional. Working mostly with catchers, infielders and hitters, the Eagles set several team records under Boss' direction, including home runs with 95 in 2002.
Boss began his collegiate coaching career in 1996 and 1997 as an assistant baseball coach at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Both seasons the team advanced to the NJCAA World Series, including a runner-up finish in 1997. While at ICCC, he worked with three All-Americans, coached the catchers and outfielders and oversaw the academic services of the baseball team. He also served as an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves organization in 1996-97.
Boss started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Lakeview (Mich.) High School in 1994 before being named the head coach at Webberville (Mich.) High School in 1995. Boss, who played baseball at Alma from 1989-93, earned his bachelor's degree in English in 1993. He completed his master's degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan in 2000. An accomplished writer, Boss was co-author of a book, Dare to Hit .400, in the spring of 1998. He has been a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association since 1995.
Boss and his wife, Cheryl (Schiff), have two daughters, Abigail and Grace, and a son, Jacob.
Jake was also the MBN Fall 2023 Business Sports Luncheon presenter re-experience that with the YouTube video below:
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Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music
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