William & Mary Athletics

Daniel Sweeney spent three seasons with the Tribe following a two-year stint with ETSU. Sweeney joined the Tribe ahead of the 2022 season and made an immediate impact as the Tribe's pitching coach. 

The Tribe ended the 2023 season ranked ninth in the nation with a 4.17 ERA. Of the five players who received CAA postseason recognitions, three were on Sweeney's staff. Carter Lovasz earned his second nod from the conference in as many years, named a First Team All-CAA selection for the first time. Nate Knowles and Rojo Prarie were named all-league honorable mentions.

In a near-record-setting effort, the Tribe's 8.45 strikeouts per nine innings were just four points shy of the 1998 record 8.49. Allowing just 282 runs in over 500 total innings, the Tribe posted the 12th-best mark in program history

A pair of W&M players were selected in the 2023 MLB draft, pitcher Cory Wall, drafted at No. 249 in the eighth round by the Atlanta Braves, joined third baseman Ben Williamson, who was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the second round at No. 57, as two of the highest MLB Draft picks since 2017. 

In his first year, Sweeney coached all-league selection, and all-rookie pitcher Lovasz. Lovasz finished the year ranked fifth in the nation in WHIP and tops in the CAA in batting average against. Under Sweeney, the William & Mary pitching staff lowered its ERA by over 2.5 runs and lowered its batting average against by nearly 70 points.

A Johnson City native, Sweeney was an all-conference pitcher at Science High School before enrolling at ETSU. Sweeney redshirted his first year as a Buccaneer and threw out of the bullpen in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In 2018, Sweeney tossed 37.0 innings as a midweek starter and recorded a 3-2 record. The 2019 campaign saw the righty earn six wins throwing 78.0 innings with a 3.32 ERA. 

After graduating in 2019 with a degree in Physical Education with a focus in Coaching, Sweeney returned to the diamond for ETSU in 2020 as the Director of Baseball Operations. The former pitcher helped develop the ETSU arms creating spray charts and implementing a pitch calling system while also assisting with youth camps and organizing team travel. 

With Sweeney’s help, ETSU turned in an impressive 12-3 record in the Covid-shortened season. The Buccaneer pitching staff was one of the most dominant in the nation with a 166/40 K/BB ratio, good for sixth best in the nation. Control was a theme for ETSU surrendering just 2.69 walks per game and striking out 11.1 men per contest. 

In 2021 Sweeney was promoted to assistant and continued putting together scouting reports for the pitching staff. In addition, Sweeney took on the role of first base coach, worked with the infielders, and played an integral role in recruiting for ETSU.