Keuka College has promoted Daniel Steve, a former Wolves pitcher and recent assistant coach, to lead its baseball program beginning in 2027. The announcement comes after head coach Matt Michalski resigned over the summer to pursue opportunities outside of coaching, according to the college's athletic department.
Steve, a 2021 Keuka graduate, served as the Wolves' pitching coach for the past two seasons. He replaces Michalski, who led the program through multiple seasons and helped maintain its competitive standing within the Empire 8 Conference.
"I'm honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead this team," Steve said. "Keuka College has had a tremendous impact on my life, both as a student-athlete and as a coach, and it is a privilege to give back to a place that means so much to me."
Steve's playing career at Keuka established him as one of the program's most effective pitchers in recent memory. He helped the Wolves set a program record for wins in 2019, a season that also saw him earn first-team All-North Eastern Athletic Conference honors after posting a 2.75 ERA—a single-season program record that still stands. He finished his career ranked 10th all-time in earned run average and tied for ninth in strikeouts.
Beyond his on-field performance, Steve was recognized as a North Eastern Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete and earned a spot on the Empire 8 President's List while majoring in management.
After graduating, Steve took his talents to the Pecos League, an independent professional baseball league based in the southwestern United States, where he earned all-star honors in 2021. He transitioned into coaching that fall, spending three seasons as an assistant at Tompkins Cortland Community College while simultaneously serving as head coach of the Newark Pilots in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a summer wood-bat circuit that draws collegiate players from across the country. He returned to Keuka as pitching coach ahead of the 2025 season.
Keuka Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Accardi cited Steve's deep ties to the program, recruiting acumen, and commitment to the student-athlete experience as key factors in his selection.
"We are grateful for the work Coach Michalski did to move the program forward, and we believe Dan is the right person to continue that momentum while putting his own stamp on the program," Accardi said. "He is a high-character guy who will work hard every day for our athletes."
Steve outlined a vision centered on competitiveness, academic achievement, and personal growth.
"We will remain committed to developing successful student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom, while creating a culture built on hard work, accountability, and growth," Steve said.
Why this matters
The promotion of a former player to head coach reflects a growing trend in NCAA Division III athletics, where institutions increasingly prioritize continuity and institutional knowledge to maintain program stability. Keuka College, a private liberal arts institution in New York's Finger Lakes region, has invested significantly in its athletic facilities in recent years, and Steve's familiarity with the program's culture and recruiting landscape positions him to build on that momentum. His experience in both collegiate and summer league baseball also gives him a broad network that could prove valuable in attracting talent to the Wolves' program.
The Wolves will begin the 2027 season under Steve's leadership, with preseason preparations expected to commence in early spring.
