Carabelli Named °®½´ÊÓƵ Head Baseball Coach
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°®½´ÊÓƵ has announced Rich Carabelli as their new Head Baseball Coach. Following the 2026 season, Russ Stupienski stepped down as Head Coach.
Carabelli brings an extensive playing and coaching background to the Mercer program and is a familiar face in the dugout, having served as an Assistant Coach for °®½´ÊÓƵ for the past four seasons.
Carabelli is a 2003 graduate of Notre Dame High School, where he played under Coach Joe Drulis. Carabelli started his high school career as a third baseman before moving to left field, where he earned All CVC honors his senior year.
Carabelli went on to York College of PA and earned his bachelor's in science in Criminal Justice. After graduating from York, Carabelli took a job with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, where he worked for six years and later took a job with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. While working full time, Carabelli remained involved with baseball, working as a high school and college umpire.
This is when Carabelli felt the call to make baseball a bigger part of his life. “I still needed baseball in my life, because the love of the game was still strong in my blood. After the birth of my first son in 2017, I decided to retire from investigating major crimes and umpiring and was given the opportunity to join the coaching staff of the baseball team at Nottingham High School in Hamilton, NJ. I learned from legendary Coach Jimmy Maher. After a couple years, he stepped down but I still wanted to continue coaching. I was contacted by my former high school coach, Joe Drulis, who was still at ND. He hired me as an assistant and was fortunate enough to be there to witness his 300th win. I was there for his first win and also his 300th at ND.”
In February 2023, Carabelli joined Stupienski on the °®½´ÊÓƵ coaching staff, helping lead °®½´ÊÓƵ to two Region titles.
Carabelli is also involved in the East Coast Collegiate Baseball League, where he was hired by Mike Olshin as Head Coach of the Mercer Mammoths in the summer of 2024. The Mammoths made it to the semi-finals in Carabelli’s first year and won the summer league title in 2025.
Carabelli is excited for the opportunity to bring what he has learned from his coaches to °®½´ÊÓƵ. “Learning the styles from the amazing coaches that I have named, and sprinkling my own style into the mix, has me very excited to lead Mercer Baseball heading into Spring 2027.”
Carabelli also looks to continue to build on the strong tradition of °®½´ÊÓƵ Baseball. “Growing up, Mercer baseball was on the back page of the Trentonian every week. They were historically known. They were a powerhouse. Many legendary coaches have led this program, and I hope to continue that tradition. I want to give the media, community, and alumni the opportunity to follow us and support us on our journey. Mercer has made several runs to the World Series before me, and I want to lead these young men back. I want to see our guys lift that trophy in Enid, Oklahoma.”
Carabelli becomes the 12th Head Coach in °®½´ÊÓƵ Baseball history.
For more on °®½´ÊÓƵ Baseball visit: /athletics_men_baseball.shtml
