Tom Lipari

    Former professional pitcher and Michigan State assistant Tom Lipari is entering his first season as Youngstown State's top assistant coach.
    He will be in charge of overseeing the development of the Penguins' pitching staff and serve as the recruiting coordinator.
    "I'm really excited to have someone with Tom's knowledge and experience join our staff," Pasquale said. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience as a player and coach on the pitching end, and he is very good with the administrative part of the job. He has a very fine background with camps, and that will help us build the Youngstown State Baseball School within the community."
    Lipari was most recently a volunteer assistant for a season at Michigan State during the 2008 season. For the Spartans, he was charged with handling the day-to-day development of the pitching staff both on and off the field. He also served as the camp coordinator.
    Under Lipari's tutelage, Spartans junior Chris Roberts was recognized as a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection after ranking sixth in the conference with a 3.95 ERA.
    Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Lipari was the pitching coach for the St. Cloud Riverbats, who won the Northwoods Collegiate Summer League championship. He also spent two seasons as a pitching coach and recruiter for Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
    Lipari also helped establish and was an instructor with Total Baseball Development, a fall baseball league for high school players in Sioux City.
    Lipari, a native of Omaha, Neb., also enjoyed a prolific playing career. After leading Indian Hills Junior College (Centerville, Iowa) to a third-place finish in the NCJAA World Series, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the amateur player draft in 1998. Opting not to sign, he attended the University of New Orleans for two seasons in which he became the only pitcher in Pioneers history to throw a nine inning no-hitter and the fourth pitcher in school history to record more than 100 strikeouts in a season.
    Lipari signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres in 2002 and spent two seasons in their farm system. He later signed with the Houston Astros in 2004 and the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association Independent Baseball League.
    Lipari earned his bachelor's degree in general studies from UNO in 2007. He married the former Rebecca Blackman, a native of Omaha, Neb., in 2006.