Wheeling University Athletics

Former Cardinals assistant coach Dan Abbenante enters his second season as Head Coach in 2019. He is just the second coach in program history.
 
After serving as assistant coach for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Abbenante took over the Cardinals baseball program with a lot of potential. The Monroeville, Pennsylvania native helped now-retired head coach Terry Edwards recruit many of the current WJU players and can now continue to guide and nurture those student-athletes.

Abbenante spent the 2017 season as the Midwest Region Director of Operations for USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS). He also served as both the Assistant Director of Player Development/Head Coach 17-and-under Team All-American squad and Task Force Member of USA Baseball NTIS Ohio Valley Region (Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio) for the last year.
 
In those three positions, Abbenante worked with the Team All-American program providing individual and group lessons, and helped instruction through all-age practices. With Task Force, Abbenante helped run showcase-style formatted evaluations on players.
 
During his time on the Cardinals coaching staff, Abbenante was the recruiting coordinator, as well as the team's hitting, base running and outfield coach. He guided the WJU squad to a Mountain East Conference-leading 75 stolen bases – 11 more than any other team in the MEC in 2015. He coordinated the Cardinals NCAA compliance matters and set up individual preseason workouts.
 
Abbenante was a four-year player at Seton Hill University and was a part of four 40-plus win teams. The Griffins made four NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional appearances and one NCAA Division II World Series trip. Abbenante also earned 2013 Atlantic Regional All-Tournament team honors.