Ron Rakowski joined the Worcester State baseball program in the summer of 2019. At Worcester State, Rakowski will coordinate recruiting and work with the teams pitching staff, while also contributing in all areas associated with the baseball program as directed by head coach Dirk Baker.

Coach Rakowski comes to Worcester after previously working as the pitching coach at Harvard University. In his time at Harvard, he worked as the Crimson pitching coach and assisted with recruiting. Two of his pitchers were selected in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, Noah Zavolas by the Seattle Mariners in the 18th round and Simon Rosenblum-Larson by the Tampa Bay Rays 19th round. The team completed its best season in over a decade highlighted by a Beanpot Championship, with wins over Boston College and Northeastern. 

Prior to Harvard, Rakowski worked for six seasons at the College of the Holy Cross under head coach Greg DiCenzo, serving as pitching coach while also assisting with recruiting. In his time at Holy Cross, 10 pitchers earned All-Patriot League team with seven selected to the league’s First Team, including 2013 Pitcher of the Year John Colella. A number of Crusader pitchers coached by Rakowski went on to play at the professional level, including 2012 MLB draft picks John Pedrotty (13th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks) and Nate Koneski (19th round by the Seattle Mariners).

Before Holy Cross, Rakowski was the head assistant/pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Wash. While at TCC, Rakowski helped recruit and place over 40 players to four-year schools, including seven to the NCAA Division I level. The team also participated the NWAACC playoffs in all five seasons during his tenure at Tacoma. In addition to his baseball duties at TCC, Rakowski served as an adjunct faculty member in the physical education department. 

During his career, Rakowski has also coached at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. as the head assistant/pitching coach, at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, Calif. as the pitching coach, and at DeAnza Junior College in San Jose, Calif. as the pitching coach, where he helped the team to the California Junior College state playoffs.

Before coaching at the collegiate level, he was an assistant coach at Clovis High School in Clovis, Calif., where he helped the team to back-to-back USA Today High School National Championships in 1997 and 1998.

Rakowski holds a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from San Francisco State University and a Master’s degree in teaching with a specialization in teaching leadership from National University. He currently resides in Holden, Mass. with his wife Barbara and their daughter Susannah.