A member of the physical education faculty for 33 years (1968-2001), Peter Kostacopoulos is Wesleyan’s all-time winningest coach and twice was selected NCAA Coach of the Year.
Kosty is a 1957 graduate of the University of Maine. He lettered in three sports (football, basketball, and baseball), made All-Maine Conference in football and basketball, and in 1995 was inducted into the Black Bears Hall of Fame.
After a stint as head football coach at Bowdoin, Kosty came to Wesleyan. He served as head baseball coach for 28 seasons, from 1974 to 2001; as an assistant football coach and defensive coordinator from 1968 to 1986; and for several years as squash coach. In both 1991 and ’92 he won the Conroy Cup, the national award for Division D men’s squash coaching.
During Kosty’s tenure at the helm of the baseball program, the Cardinals posted a 478-304-7 record, good for a .610 winning percentage. He led Wesleyan to 11 Little Three titles. In 1983 the team compiled a 24-6 record, and he was named NCAA Coach of the Year. The Cardinal team of 1994 finished the season with 30 wins and only 8 losses and went on to the NCAA College World Series. Kosty again earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors as the Cardinals finished as national runner-up. He also was selected to coach in the Division III All-Star game at Fenway Park.
Kosty celebrated his retirement in 2001, but the family coaching legacy continues through his sons: Peter coached baseball at several schools, including Colby, Dartmouth, and Worcester Academy, while Paul has gone from the University of Maine and Providence College to his current position as the heralded head baseball coach at Navy.
Known as a great recruiter, motivator, and baseball and football game planner, Kosty was also a mentor who made his student players better on and off the field, earning their respect and affection. He has kept up lifelong friendships with former players. In his honor Wesleyan established the Kosty Award, given annually to a baseball alum who strongly supports the Cardinals program.
