| Akron Zips | |
|---|---|
 2024 Akron Zips baseball team | |
 | |
| Founded | 1873 |
| University | University of Akron |
| Head coach | Bryan Faulds (1st season) |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Location | Akron, Ohio |
| Home stadium | Skeeles Field (Capacity: 1,500) |
| Nickname | Zips |
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| 1996 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| 1991 (MCC), 1996 (MAC) | |
| Regular season conference champions | |
| 1954 (OAC) | |
The Akron Zips baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate athletic team representing the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The team plays in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The program plays at Skeeles Field, which had been the Zips' home from 1967 to 2015.
The program was established in early 1873 during the school's first academic year and played in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) from 1954 to 1966, the Ohio Valley Conference from 1981 through 1987, and the Mid-Continent Conference for the 1990, 1991, and 1992 seasons. The Zips began competition in the MAC in 1993 and were placed in the East Division when it was created in 2000. The team had one appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which came in 1996 following their only MAC Tournament championship. Additionally, the Zips won the 1954 OAC championship and the 1991 Mid-Continent Conference title.[2]
On July 10, 2015, Akron announced the baseball program would be eliminated, effective immediately, after having fielded the sport since 1873 and uninterrupted since 1947. The university cited budget problems as the main reason for ending the program. A group of baseball alumni formed in an effort to try to save the program.[3] Players were permitted to remain on scholarship to finish their degree, though most transferred to other schools to continue their playing careers.[4][5]
On September 19, 2017, the university announced baseball would return for the 2019–20 academic year.[6]
It was announced in Fall of 2018 that the baseball team, resuming play in 2020, would be led by Head coach Chris Sabo, former Major League All-Star and Rookie of the year. His assistants would be Associate head coach Jordon Banfield and Pitching Coach Dan McKinney.[7]
As of 2021[update], Akron and Northern Illinois are the only current or former MAC schools not to have a player named the MAC Baseball Player of the Year or MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Year since those awards were first given in 1986 and 1988 respectively.
- ^ The University of Akron Department of Athletics Brand Guide (PDF). June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ "Akron Zips". d1baseball.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
- ^ "Save Akron Baseball". 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-08. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
- ^ "University of Akron to cut 215 jobs, baseball program to save $40 million". Akron Beacon Journal. July 10, 2015. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
- ^ "University of Akron to lay off 215; eliminate baseball and take other measures to solve '$60 million financial problem'". The Plain Dealer. July 10, 2015. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
- ^ Farkas, Karen (September 19, 2017). "University of Akron to bring back baseball; add women's lacrosse". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
- ^ "Banfield & McKinney Named to Akron Baseball Staff" (Press release). University of Akron Athletics. December 12, 2018.