Len Barker joined the Notre Dame coaching staff prior to the 2010 season. He was named interim head coach in February 2012, and had the interim tag removed at the end of the 2012 season.
He will be entering his 13th season at the helm of the NDC baseball program in the 2024 season.
In 10 years of Mountain East Conference competition, Barker holds an impressive record of 160-137. Barker managed the team to a conference tournament appearance in six of those seasons. In 2014 and 2019, the Falcons played their way to the Championship game in the tournament, but came up just short of the title.
Since Barker took over the program, the Falcons have had 34 All-MEC selectees, three All-Region players, one All-American and one MEC Player of the Year. Two pitchers have thrown a no-hitter (Matt Kastelic and Cam Fuller) under Barker's guidance.
In 2021, Ben Ross became the first player in program history to be named All-American after a great season in the field as the shortstop and at the plate. He would follow that by grabbing a First Team All-America award in 2022 from the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings. He became the program's first MEC Player of the Year and Academic All-Region honoree. He was also the first player to be named All-Region by three different outlets.
Barker is a former Major League pitcher, who played with four teams -- including the Cleveland Indians -- in an 11-year career (1976-85, 1987).
On May 15, 1981, Barker tossed the 10th perfect game in the history of Major League Baseball. The Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0, that night and no other Indian pitcher has accomplished the feat since.
The powerful right-hander was named an American League All-Star in 1981, and he led the AL in strikeouts in both 1980 and 1981.
A native of Fort Knox, Ky., Barker moved back to the Cleveland area after his playing career ended. He now resides in Chardon, Ohio, with his wife Eva. He is the proud father of six: Jared, Blake, Jacob, Carly, Troy and Lyle.
|
Overall |
MEC |
| Season |
W |
L |
T |
% |
W |
L |
% |
| 2012 ' |
17 |
31 |
1 |
.357 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
| 2013 |
16 |
24 |
0 |
.400 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
| 2014 * |
27 |
22 |
0 |
.551 |
22 |
17 |
.564 |
| 2015 * |
25 |
19 |
0 |
.568 |
24 |
12 |
.667 |
| 2016 * |
28 |
25 |
0 |
.528 |
20 |
12 |
.625 |
| 2017 |
18 |
32 |
0 |
.360 |
13 |
19 |
.406 |
| 2018 * |
21 |
32 |
0 |
.396 |
16 |
16 |
.500 |
| 2019 * |
28 |
27 |
0 |
.509 |
19 |
13 |
.594 |
| 2020 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
.273 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
| 2021 |
17 |
23 |
0 |
.425 |
14 |
18 |
.438 |
| 2022 * |
26 |
26 |
0 |
.500 |
20 |
12 |
.625 |
| 2023 |
12 |
32 |
0 |
.273 |
12 |
18 |
.400 |
| Totals |
238 |
301 |
1 |
.442 |
160 |
137 |
.539 |
' Interim head coach
* MEC Tournament Berth
