Joseph Baldarotta is an American retired ice hockey player and coach who was the NCAA Division III coach of the year.[1]

Joe Baldarotta
Biographical details
BornMadison, Wisconsin, USA
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Playing career
1974–1976Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Position(s)Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1982–1986Madison West
1986–1991Wisconsin–Stevens Point (assistant)
1991–2007Wisconsin–Stevens Point
2007–2013Cortland State
Head coaching record
Overall310–266–49 (.535)
Tournaments7–7–0 (.500)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1992 NCHA champion
1992 NCHA tournament champion
1993 NCHA champion
1993 NCHA tournament champion
1993 National Champion
2000 NCHA champion
Awards
1993 Edward Jeremiah Award

Career

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Baldarotta played two seasons for Wisconsin–Stevens Point in the mid-70's, ending his playing days in 1976. After college, he returned to his high school alma mater, Madison West, as an assistant coach for the hockey team and later became head coach. He returned to Stevens Point as an assistant in 1986 and helped head coach Mark Mazzoleni turn the pointers into a national powerhouse. WSP won three consecutive national titles and after the last, in 1991, Mazzoleni accepted an offer to coach at the Division I level. Baldarotta was promoted to head coach and kept the Pointers in good standing for several years. In his second year leading the program, Wisconsin–Stevens Point won its fourth national title and he received the Edward Jeremiah Award as the national Division III coach of the year.[1]

After a decline in the mid-90s Baldarotta was able to bring the team back to prominence in 1998 and reached the championship game. Afterwards, however, the Pointers slowly sank down the NCHA standings. While Baldarotta was able to keep the team's head above water, Stevens Point never made another national appearance under his stewardship. He remained with the program until posting his worst season in 2007. After just his second losing season in 16 years, Baldarotta resigned as head coach.[2]

Before the next season began, however, Baldarotta was back behind the bench, this time for Cortland State.[3] The Red Dragons were hoping to rise out of the duldrums under Baldarotta and the results looked promising in his first year. Cortland posted its best record in 6 years and fell one win shy of reaching .500. Unfortunately, the next five years saw disappointing records and the Red Dragons finished at or near the bottom of the SUNYAC standings each season. In 2013, Baldarotta retired as a coach and turned the team over to the team's former coach, Tom Cranfield.[4]

Baldarotta was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.[5]

Statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1974–75 Wisconsin–Stevens Point NAIA
1975–76 Wisconsin–Stevens Point NAIA
NAIA totals

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers (NCHA) (1991–2007)
1991–92 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 25–7–4 14–4–2 1st NCAA runner-up
1992–93 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 25–5–2 17–1–2 1st NCAA Champion
1993–94 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 17–9–3 13–6–1 2nd NCAA Quarterfinals
1994–95 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 13–13–7 10–5–5 3rd NCHA runner-up
1995–96 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 11–14–2 7–12–1 T–5th NCHA Quarterfinals
1996–97 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 17–8–2 14–5–1 T–2nd NCHA Semifinals
1997–98 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 23–11–0 14–6–0 T–3rd NCAA runner-up
1998–99 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 17–11–1 10–6–0 T–3rd NCHA Semifinals
1999–00 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 23–7–1 12–2–0 1st NCHA runner-up
2000–01 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 17–12–0 7–7–0 5th NCHA Semifinals
2001–02 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 18–9–2 8–4–2 3rd NCHA Semifinals
2002–03 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 15–12–2 8–6–0 4th NCHA third-place game (win)
2003–04 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 13–12–3 5–7–2 T–5th NCHA Semifinals
2004–05 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 12–12–3 7–6–1 4th NCHA Quarterfinals
2005–06 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 12–11–4 6–6–2 T–4th NCHA Quarterfinals
2006–07 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 7–18–2 3–10–1 T–6th NCHA Quarterfinals
Wisconsin–Stevens Point: 265–171–38 155–93–20
Cortland State Red Dragons (SUNYAC) (2007–2013)
2007–08 Cortland State 11–12–3 6–8–2 T–5th SUNYAC Quarterfinals
2008–09 Cortland State 8–15–2 5–9–2 T–7th
2009–10 Cortland State 7–18–0 4–12–0 8th
2010–11 Cortland State 6–17–2 5–10–1 7th
2011–12 Cortland State 6–18–1 4–11–1 T–8th
2012–13 Cortland State 7–15–3 3–11–2 T–8th
Cortland State: 45–95–11 27–61–8
Total: 310–266–49

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ a b "American Hockey Coaches Association". Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  2. ^ "Joe Baldarotta resigns at UWSP". Superior Telegram. April 6, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Joe Baldarotta". Cortland State Red Dragons. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Baldarotta retires, Cranfield takes over behind Cortland bench". USCHO. August 14, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "Joe Baldarotta - 2015". Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Edward Jeremiah Award
1992–93
Succeeded by