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Rob Valli Position: Head Coach Experience: 3rd season Alma Mater: Delaware '94

Rob Valli is in third season as head baseball coach at Temple and is poised to have the Owls in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2008. Valli led the Cherry and White to a six-win improvement in his second year at the helm and continued to improve all aspects of the program, on and off the field.

With a roster of just two seniors and 13 players new to Division I competition, Valli led the Owls to an 18-37 record in his second season. Temple batted .302 as a team, the highest since 1994 (.314), and set single season program records in four offensive categories.

Two Owls received All-Atlantic 10 honors and five were named to the All-Philadelphia Big Five team. It marked the first time since 2001 that two Temple players were named to the all-conference team.

Valli was instrumental in the formation of the Philadelphia Big Five, which includes the five Division I baseball programs in the city (La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple and Villanova). The organization honors a weekly player and pitcher of the week and names a postseason all-city team.

In his first 13 months on North Broad Street, Valli and recruiting coordinator Casey Fahy signed a remarkable total of 29 players to National Letters of Intent. He also has upgraded the team's scheduling, including trips to national powers LSU and North Carolina, and has improved the program's off-season training facilities, traveling, strength and conditioning and academic support.

Valli, 35, arrived at Gloucester County College (NJ) in 2001 and proceeded to continue the rich baseball tradition at the school. Named the 2005 National Coach of the Year, Valli led GCC to the NJCAA World Series each of the five years he was at the helm of the program.

The Roadrunners won the Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX title in each of his five seasons (2001-05) and Valli was rewarded with GSAC and Regional Coach of the Year honors following every year.

He made his first trip to the NJCAA World Series in 2001, placing third, and followed with runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2003. After another third place showing in 2004, the Roadrunners downed Ridgewater College (Minn.), 14-4, for the 2005 NJCAA National Championship.

The 1994 University of Delaware graduate compiled a 225-55-1 record while at Gloucester. His .800 winning percentage is a program record and his 225 wins rank second all-time. Valli produced nine All-Americans, including one National Player of the Year, and 29 All-Region players, while at GCC.

Seven of the nine All-Americans and 25 of the All-Region selections played high school baseball in the Greater Philadelphia area. A total of 12 players signed professional contracts following their time at GCC. Valli also was an associate scout for the Colorado Rockies from 2000-05.

Prior to arriving at GCC, Valli spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Rutgers. He helped guide the Scarlet Knights to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Big East Championship, and a #12 national ranking and school record 40 wins in 2000.

Valli coached three All-Americans at Rutgers and two players currently in the major leagues - Jason Bergmann of the Washington Nationals and David DeJesus of the Kansas City Royals.

While obtaining a master's degree in the administration of physical education and athletic management at The College of New Jersey (1998), Valli served as a graduate assistant coach for the Lions. He helped TCNJ to the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Finals. Valli also was an assistant coach at GCC in 1997.

He got his start in coaching as an assistant coach for the Trenton Schroths in the Mercer County American League League. Valli also was an assistant at St. Mark's High School (1993-94) in Wilmington, Del. and helped lead the team to the 1994 Delaware State Championship. Valli also spent time as an assistant coach at South Brunswick High School (1995-96).

A native of Trenton, N.J. (McCorristin High School), Valli resides in Philadelphia.

To contact Coach Valli, call 215-204-8639 or email rvalli@temple.edu.