Steve Malinowski

Steve Malinowski was named head coach of the Hartford baseball team in the summer of 2021. He enters his 11th season on the Hawks’ coaching staff, as he was previously an assistant coach for the past 10 years. He serves as the Hawks' primary hitting coach, while also working with the team's catchers.

Malinowski was a key piece to Hartford’s historic season in 2018, helping lead the Hawks to the program's first ever America East Regular Season and Tournament Championship, as well as making their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Hartford swept the America East Major award in 2018, including senior Nick Campana, who was named America East Player of the year. Campana was the team’s top hitter, thanks in large part to Malinowski, last season, batting .385 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.

Under Malinowski's watch, Hartford has rewritten its offensive record books. The Hawks’ top five single-season hits records have been set since 2012 and the team proved dominant in 2016. That year the Hawks batted .302 as a club, the second-highest percentage in program history behind only the 1997 squad (.311). Hartford also set a handful of program records in 2016, including hits (559), runs (379), RBIs (332), doubles (103), triples (22) walks (235) and total bases (805).

Hartford's hitters have thrived with Malinowski's guidance. Former first baseman David MacKinnon set the single-season hits record (85) in 2016 and broke the career hits record in 2017, finishing with 269 during his time at Hartford. Former catcher Erik Ostberg also flourished under Malinowski, getting selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13^th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, after one season as the Hawks’ full-time starter.

Prior to Hartford, Malinowski spent four seasons on the coaching staff at UConn alongside current Hawks Head Coach Justin Blood. At UConn, Malinowski was charged with coaching first base and developing the outfielders. In addition, he coordinated the Connecticut Baseball School and several hitting clinics. In that role, he helped the Huskies to their most successful seasons under head coach Jim Penders, including a program-best 48 victories in 2010 and back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 Huskies advanced to the NCAA Super Regional’s for the first time in program history.

Prior to his tenure at UConn, Malinowski spent one season as an assistant at Bryant University. Malinowski also served as an assistant coach with the Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) in 2008, while in 2009, he was an assistant with the Manchester Silkworms.

Malinowski played two seasons at UConn, appearing in 33 games as a senior and finishing with a .260 batting average. He had three doubles and two home runs, both of which came in the BIG EAST Tournament, and drove in 19 runs that season. He played in 25 games as a junior after transferring from Wake Forest in 2004. At Wake Forest, Malinowski finished his first collegiate game 4-of-5 at the plate with four runs scored, becoming the first freshman in Wake Forest history to tally four hits in his debut.

A native of Kensington, Conn., Malinowski graduated from UConn with a degree in coaching and administration in 2007.