B.A., St. Joseph's College, 1991
M.S., Frostburg State University, 1995
Ron Plourde has served as Skidmore's head baseball coach since 1998. Plourde guided the Thoroughbreds to Liberty League titles in 2012, 2010, 2007, 2005 and 1999 and the program's four NCAA Division III appearances. A four-time Liberty League Coach of the Year (2010, 2005, 2022, 2023) and 2010 ECAC Coach of the Year, Plourde’s 2010 and 2012 teams each posted a school-record 30 wins and he has led them to seven 20+ win seasons.
Plourde has shown the ability to recruit top student-athletes who have routinely been recognized for their accomplishments with 12 players earning Liberty League All-Academic Team honors in 2024 , including five who earned a spot on the prestigious College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
The Thoroughbreds won the Liberty League East Division in both 2022 and 2023 and hosted the Liberty League Tournament in 2023 for the first time since 2005. During that stretch, Skidmore's veteran manager guided two-time Liberty League Player of the Year and the school's first ABCA/Rawlings All-American, Jackson Hornung '23. Following the 2023 season, Hornung was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the MLB Draft to become the first Skidmore player from any sport to be drafted by a major league professional sports team.
Skidmore has also been recognized with National Gold Glove awards for Greg Carlow '08 (2008) and Jake Mendell '10 (2009, 2010). In the 2019 season, Plourde coached Skidmore's first-ever Liberty League Player of the Year and D3baseball.com All-America selection in catcher Patrick Geiger '19. In addition, the Thoroughbreds has had two Liberty League Rookies of the Year: Nick Laracuente '11 (2008) and Brian Lowry '12 (2009) as well as the Pitcher of the Year, Laracuente in 2011.
Plourde came to Skidmore after a successful playing and coaching stint at his alma mater. He was recognized his senior year with the Michael McDevitt Scholar Athlete Award given to the top student/athlete. Plourde received a similar award as a graduate student at Frostburg State University in Maryland. He was the assistant baseball coach at St. Joseph's for four seasons and the head women's soccer coach for two seasons. During his time, he helped guide the baseball team to three consecutive Maine Athletic Conference championships and one championship with the women’s soccer team. Plourde also spent two years at Frostburg State University serving as an assistant baseball and women’s soccer coach. Plourde enjoys running and has competed in four marathons.
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| COACHING RECORD BY YEAR |
|
|
OVERALL |
CONFERENCE |
|
| YEAR |
SCHOOL |
W |
L |
T |
W |
L |
T |
POSTSEASON |
| 1999 |
Skidmore College |
18 |
18 |
|
9 |
3 |
|
UCAA Champions |
| 2000 |
Skidmore College |
17 |
19 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
None |
| 2001 |
Skidmore College |
17 |
19 |
|
3 |
9 |
|
None |
| 2002 |
Skidmore College |
15 |
25 |
|
3 |
9 |
|
None |
| 2003 |
Skidmore College |
12 |
21 |
|
2 |
10 |
|
None |
| 2004 |
Skidmore College |
15 |
24 |
|
2 |
10 |
|
None |
| 2005 |
Skidmore College |
28 |
14 |
|
10 |
2 |
|
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Champions (3-0)
NCAA Division III Regionals (2-2) |
| 2006 |
Skidmore College |
16 |
22 |
|
7 |
15 |
|
None |
| 2007 |
Skidmore College |
21 |
20 |
|
11 |
9 |
|
Liberty League Champions (3-0)
NCAA Division III Regionals (1-2) |
| 2008 |
Skidmore College |
20 |
17 |
|
12 |
12 |
|
None |
| 2009 |
Skidmore College |
22 |
21 |
|
12 |
12 |
|
Liberty League Tournament (1-2) |
| 2010 |
Skidmore College |
30 |
15 |
|
16 |
8 |
|
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Champions (3-0)
NCAA Division III Regionals (0-2) |
| 2011 |
Skidmore College |
26 |
13 |
|
12 |
10 |
|
Liberty League Tournament (0-2) |
| 2012 |
Skidmore College |
30 |
17 |
|
17 |
11 |
|
Liberty League Champions (4-1)
NCAA Division III Regionals (0-2) |
| 2013 |
Skidmore College |
16 |
22 |
|
10 |
16 |
|
None |
| 2014 |
Skidmore College |
10 |
24 |
|
3 |
19 |
|
None |
| 2015 |
Skidmore College |
12 |
23 |
|
6 |
16 |
|
None |
| 2016 |
Skidmore College |
14 |
25 |
|
8 |
16 |
|
None |
| 2017 |
Skidmore College |
10 |
24 |
|
4 |
16 |
|
None |
| 2018 |
Skidmore College |
15 |
22 |
   |
8 |
15 |
   |
None |
| 2019 |
Skidmore College |
19 |
16 |
|
9 |
13 |
|
None |
| 2020 |
Skidmore College |
6 |
4 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
None |
| 2021 |
Skidmore College |
7 |
8 |
|
6 |
6 |
|
None |
| 2022 |
Skidmore College |
23 |
12 |
2 |
11 |
8 |
|
Liberty League Co-Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Crossover (0-2) |
| 2023 |
Skidmore College |
24 |
16 |
|
13 |
5 |
|
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Crossover (2-0)
Liberty League Tournament (0-2) |
| 2024 |
Skidmore College |
19 |
17 |
|
9 |
8 |
|
Liberty League Crossover (1-2) |
| 2025 |
Skidmore College |
21 |
17 |
2 |
12 |
6 |
|
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty League Crossover (2-0)
Liberty League Tournament (1-2) |
| 27 SEASONS |
TOTAL |
483 |
495 |
4 |
222 |
269 |
|
|
|
PERCENT |
.494 |
.452 |
5 Conference Championships
4 NCAA Tournament Appearances |
