CALIFORNIA (May 27) – After nearly three decades as head coach, Mike Conte announced his retirement from California (PA) athletics effective August 11.

Conte recently completed his 29th season as head coach of the Vulcans and finishes his career with an 802-548-4 record and a .594 winning percentage during his tenure. He guided Cal to 20 appearances in the PSAC Tournament with championships in 2004 and 2010, plus divisional titles in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2013.

"I'm so thankful for the administration for their consistent support over the years, to my incredible and devoted assistant coaches, to the student-athletes who gave amazing championship effort every year in the classroom and on the field and forever to my family for bearing with the ups and downs of the life of a coach," said Conte. "My position at Cal has given me a fulfilling career and at this time in my life I'm truly humbled and filled with tremendous gratitude."

Conte become only the third coach in PSAC history to reach the 800-win milestone this spring, as the Vulcans advanced to the PSAC Championship for the first time in 15 years. Of the nearly 250 baseball programs in NCAA Division II, he is one of only 19 active head coaches to earn 800 career victories – all at Cal. Additionally, Conte has more than doubled the next winningest coach in program history as the Vulcans hold the distinction of just three head coaches since 1960.

"Year after year Coach [Mike] Conte developed and mentored players who went through his program. He has cared about their success within the athletic environment on the field and also personally in their academic achievements and throughout their lives," said California Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. "His leadership is one that will be difficult to replace. I would like to thank Coach Conte for his incredible dedication to California Athletics during his career, the amount of hours he put into his work as the head baseball coach and the culture of excellence he created."

Under Conte, the Vulcans featured the PSAC West Athlete of the Year 10 times and Randy Sturgill repeated as the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year in 2010-11. Kyle Petty was tabbed the PSAC West Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2013 and became a consensus All-American prior to being selected in the MLB Draft. Petty and Sturgill are among the seven former standouts under Conte that have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Conte guided Cal to at least 30 wins 11 times during his career, including four years of 35 victories or more, and was selected the PSAC West Coach of the Year nine times – the most in league baseball history. During the decade from 2004-13, the Vulcans averaged over 31 victories per season and held a .628 winning percentage with a pair of PSAC Championships. Cal earned its first tournament title in two decades in 2004 with an 18-12 victory over Kutztown in State College before capturing the conference crown six years later with a 10-9 walk-off win against the Golden Bears in Johnstown.

A native of neighboring Brownsville, Conte finished a unique stretch of eight years where he served as head coach with at least one of his sons, Louden and Payton, on the roster. Louden played from 2018-22 and was a two-time All-PSAC West First-Team third baseman, while Payton was a four-year starting first baseman from 2022-25 and was selected as the PSAC West Athlete of the Year in each of the last two seasons. Additionally, his father Donald is a professor emeritus at Cal and his daughter Nina is a rising sophomore on the volleyball team.

Joey Noro, who completed his ninth year with the program, will be elevated to head coach following the retirement of Conte on Aug. 12.