WINGATE — On Wednesday, August 24, Bald Eagle Area School District announced the hiring of Ryan MacNamara as its new head baseball coach. This follows the retirement of former head coach Jim Gardener.
MacNamara was first with the Eagles from 2004-2007 as a three-year letterman. The pitcher played a key role in the Bald Eagle Area School District’s first PIAA championship in 2007. He then went on to play four years of college baseball. MacNamara finished his playing career in the Centre County Baseball League for the Clarence Mounties, winning multiple league titles.
Since his playing days, MacNamara has stayed involved with baseball through coaching. He started in 2012 with the Eagles, working with pitchers at the varsity and junior varsity levels. He then spent a year volunteering with Lock Haven University before he moved to Johnston Realty’s All American Amateur Baseball Association team. MacNamara also spent time volunteering with the Bald Eagle Area School District’s football team.
The Eagles have a long-standing tradition of successful coaches that MacNamara will look to join in 2025. Doc Etters, who started the program, led the team to its first-ever team championship in winning the 1960 CPL championship. Following a sudden heart attack, though, Etters was replaced by Alex Murnyack. Murnyack took the Eagles to two PIAA Final Fours and won multiple CPL and District Six championships during his time. The most recent of the coaches was Gardner, who won three PIAA championships during his tenure.
MacNamara will look to continue the Eagles’ dominance from last season and compete for the school’s fourth PIAA championship.
