Bio

Sam DiMatteo
Head Coach

Entering his fifth season at College of the Desert, Head Coach Sam DiMatteo has established himself as one of the premier junior college coaches in California.

DiMatteo made an immediate impact upon arrival, leading the Roadrunners to their first conference championship in 50 years during his inaugural season and earning Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) Coach of the Year honors. Since then, he has guided the program to four consecutive Regional appearances (2022–2025), including a Super Regional berth.

Under Coach DiMatteo’s leadership, more than 75 student-athletes have advanced to four-year universities, consistently ranking the Roadrunners among the top 10 programs in California for player placement during his tenure. His players have earned 15 First Team All-Conference selections and 16 Second Team All-Conference honors. Notable alumni include:

- All-American 3B/RHP Trevor Stowe (Washington State University)
- LHP Kenny Keller (All-State; East Tennessee State University)

In 2025 alone, two Roadrunners signed professional contracts:
- SS Dylan Baker (Miami University [OH]; Florence Y’alls – Frontier League)
- RHP Kenny Schechter (LSU Shreveport; Gateway Grizzlies – American Association)

In addition to his success at College of the Desert, Coach DiMatteo has built an outstanding résumé in summer collegiate baseball. As hitting coach for the prestigious Palm Springs POWER under head coach and professional scout Casey Dill, he has contributed to California Pacific Collegiate League (CPCL) championships in 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. During his time with the POWER, he has worked with over 100 players who were subsequently drafted or signed as professional free agents while helping the organization set numerous offensive records.

DiMatteo also serves as manager of the Arrowhead Lumberjacks in the Power Summer Collegiate League (PSCL), where he has won league championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025 — the most in PSCL history.

Coach DiMatteo holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from National University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from California University of Pennsylvania.

As a player, Sam DiMatteo excelled as an outfielder at California University of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2010, earning two-time All-American honors and three-time All-PSAC West First-Team selections, including Most Outstanding Player accolades. He shattered school records in hits, home runs, RBIs, doubles, and runs, while setting the PSAC career stolen bases record at 115, and led the Vulcans to a conference championship in his senior year. For his standout contributions, he was inducted into the Cal U Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

Following his collegiate career, Sam DiMatteo embarked on a six-year professional journey, beginning with a 2010 spring-training invitation from the Washington Nationals before competing in multiple independent leagues. Although injuries ultimately brought his playing days to a premature end, his relentless work ethic and profound influence on the sport were celebrated in 2023 when he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame alongside NFL legends Darrell Revis and Paul Posluszny, cementing his legacy as one of western Pennsylvania’s most distinguished baseball figures.

Beyond the diamond, DiMatteo founded The SD Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting athletes of all ages facing financial hardship, mental health challenges, or physical disabilities worldwide. The organization has positively impacted thousands of young athletes across the United States and several other countries. In recognition of this transformative philanthropic work, DiMatteo was honored with the Humanitarian Award by his alma mater, California University of Pennsylvania, in 2021.

~ Bio current as of November 2025