Brett Boretti is in his fifth season as Columbia skipper and the program has already made large strides in his first four seasons at the helm, including the program's first victories over teams from Texas (#23 Lamar) and California (Cal State Northridge) in 2009.

Ron Williams '09CC broke the Columbia all-time hit record in 2009, in his four years under Boretti's guidance.  Williams finished his prolific four-year career with 205 hits, breaking a record that had stood for 14 years.  Williams also ranks third all-time in doubles, third in runs batted in, fifth in total bases and tied for fourth in triples.

In 2008, Boretti led Columbia to its first Ivy League Championship since 1977 as the Lions established a new program record for most Ivy League wins in a season with 15. After defeating Dartmouth in a best-of-three series, Columbia received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, marking its first appearance since 1976.

Already, Boretti has coached 18 players to All-Ivy League recognition, including eight players in 2008. The 2008 post-season honors were highlighted by Henry Perkins '08CC being named the Ivy League Player of the Year, while Nick Cox '11CC was unanimously selected as the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

Noah Cooper '08CC won the Blair Bat award after batting .520 in Ivy League play and John Baumann '08CC was a first team All-Ivy Leaguer as a starting pitcher.

Since Boretti has taken over the Lions' baseball program, steady improvements have followed. In 2006, the Lions went 6-14 in the Ivy League, before improving to 10-10 in 2007.  In 2008, the Lions finished 15-5 in the Ivy League and the team’s 22 wins were the most since 2002.

The success of the Lions, Boretti’s efforts, and increased donations from alumni, friends and fans have led to improvements and renovation of Columbia’s stadium, which was renamed Robertson Field on April 26, 2008.

In 2007, the playing surface was completely redone with the installment of a FieldTurf™ infill system. The stadium received other major upgrades including 250 chairback seats, a press box, an extended major league-style backdrop behind home plate and an improved sound system. A turf batting cage was installed in left field, bullpens were reconfigured, and a strengthened retaining wall was put in place along the right field line.

“With the installation of the FieldTurf, Robertson Field is one of the best baseball facilities in the league,” Boretti said.

Prior to coming to Morningside Heights in July 2005 as just the third Lion head coach in 25 years, Boretti was the head coach at Franklin & Marshall College, posting a 116-82 record over five seasons.

The Diplomats made history in 2005 when Boretti coached the team to a 25-16 record, including a school record-setting 15-3 mark in Centennial Conference play. Franklin & Marshall won the conference title for only the second time in school history and ranked seventh in the final American Baseball Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region poll.

“Brett is a top-quality individual and a proven winner,” Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education Dr. M. Dianne Murphy noted. “He has demonstrated integrity and excellence as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He has experience with the Ivy League and Major League Baseball, and we are very pleased to have him lead our baseball program.”

Franklin & Marshall posted 24 or more wins in three of Boretti’s five seasons as head coach.

Boretti served two years, 1998-2000, as an assistant coach at Brown. During his tenure with the Bears, he coordinated recruiting efforts, coached hitting and the outfield, and was responsible for all daily operations of the program.

Boretti coached at his alma mater, Davidson, from 1996-98, following a one-year stint at Endicott College in his hometown of Beverly, Massachusetts.

Boretti was one of Davidson’s best all-time players. A four-year letterwinner as a catcher, the 1994 graduate ranks among the school’s top 10 in slugging percentage, hits, home runs, total bases, runs batted in, games played and at bats. He holds school records in career doubles (52) and sacrifice flies (16).
He earned All-Southern Conference first team honors in 1993 and 1994.

A team captain and Most Valuable Player in 1994, he also was named to the Southern Conference’s academic honor roll. Boretti also played football at Davidson and was Offensive Player of the Year in 1990 as a freshman.

While attending Davidson, he participated in the prestigious Cape Cod League in the summer of 1992 and 1993 and made the all-star squad in 1993.
After college, he was an all-star catcher for the North Central Professional Baseball League champion Brainerd Bears of Minnesota. In 1995, he spent spring training as a catcher with the Cleveland Indians.

Boretti lives with his wife, Melissa, in Manhattan, close to the Columbia campus. The couple has a daughter, Mia, born in September 2008.