Trachtenberg Introduced as Baseball Full-Time Assistant Coach

WEST CHESTER, Pa.- West Chester University baseball coach Mike LaRosa and Director of Athletics Terry Beattie announced the hiring of Ross Trachtenberg as the new full-time assistant for the Golden Rams baseball program. Trachtenberg, who served as an assistant coach at West Chester for five seasons after serving under head coach Jad Prachniak and helping West Chester hoist the 2017 Division II Baseball National Championship trophy. Trachtenberg will begin his tenure as a full-time assistant coach alongside LaRosa on August  17th after serving as the first and only head baseball coach at Rosemont College for the last five seasons and the Director of Athletics at Rosemont since 2025.

"My family and I are thrilled to rejoin the West Chester Baseball Program. I want to thank Terry Beattie and Mike LaRosa for this opportunity, and President Laurie Bernotsky for making this position a reality," opened Trachtenberg. "My children Claire and Casey watched their first baseball games on the hill above Serpico Stadium. WCU Baseball was such an important part of their early years. My wife Lori and I are so happy that we all get to be part of the West Chester University community again. When I joined the baseball coaching staff here for the first time in the fall of 2015, I was ecstatic to be at a nationally recognized program. I have the same excitement now, but come in with a full appreciation for what it takes to build and sustain the success that West Chester Athletics enjoys every year. I look forward to getting on the field with this year's Golden Rams," finished Trachtenberg.

No stranger to West Chester, Trachtenberg returns to South Campus for his second stint with the Golden Rams after spending five seasons with the Purple and Gold before departing for Rosemont. In his five seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, Trachtenberg helped West Chester win a PSAC Championship, an NCAA Atlantic Regional Title, and the 2017 Division II Baseball National Championship.

Prior to his first stint with the Golden Rams, Trachtenberg was an assistant coach at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, California, and at Division III Neumann University. Away from the collegiate ranks, Trachtenberg spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood and was on the staff for the Geneva Red Wings, a summer collegiate team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League from 2009-2013, including a three-year run as the head coach in 2011, 2012, and 2013. A total of 12 of his former Red Wing players were draft selections or free agent signees by Major League Baseball franchises.

Most recently, Trachtenberg became the first head baseball coach in Rosemont College history when he joined the Ravens in the fall of 2020 with the mission of launching the program for the 2022 season. The 2022 season saw the Ravens field a 35-player roster and record the program's first wins before increasing their win total to 15 in 2023 and eventually earning their first playoff berth in 2024 with eight wins in United East Conference play.

"After a thorough search that included many outstanding and highly qualified candidates, we are thrilled to welcome Ross back to the WCU Baseball Program," said head coach Mike LaRosa. "His leadership, professionalism, and experience set him apart and make him an incredible asset to our coaching staff and program. Ross was an integral part of our 2017 National Championship team, serving as the recruiting coordinator. In speaking with former players, it is clear that Ross has earned a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the impact he made during his time here."A 2002 graduate of Lehigh University with a degree in accounting, Trachtenberg has also served as an associate scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In recent years, Trachtenberg has also earned his Master of Science in Sport Management from Drexel in 2015 and his MBA with a graduate certificate in Leadership from Rosemont in 2025.

During his tenure at Rosemont, Trachtenberg remained connected to West Chester, serving as the Graduate Coordinator for the Sport Management graduate certificate program.

 "He also brings a wealth of experience as a head coach, athletic director, and college professor. That diverse background will strengthen our program in every facet and help provide our student-athletes with the resources, mentorship, and development they need to be successful both on and off the field. Lastly, Ross's track record of recruiting high-level student-athletes is second to none. His ability to identify, recruit, and develop talented players will be instrumental in helping our program continue to attract the best talent from across the region. We are extremely excited to have Ross back at WCU and look forward to the impact he will make on our program and our student-athletes. I would also like to thank President Bernoski, Vice President Andy Lehman, and Athletic Director Terry Beattie for their continued investment in our program and for supporting the addition of our first full-time assistant coach," finished LaRosa.

Trachtenberg joins LaRosa and the Golden Rams following a 2026 season for the ages, which saw West Chester set a new single-season program win record and come just a game shy of the program's third Division II National Championship, falling to reigning National Champion, the University of Tampa, in the final game of the Division II National Championship Series. Three members of the 2026 squad signed professional contracts following this historic run: pitchers Julian Costa and Kyle Lazer inked deals with the York Revolution and Lancaster Stormers in the Atlantic League, while Carter Rust signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco Giants organization.