ULM Warhawks

Michael Federico begins his eighth season as head baseball coach at ULM in 2025. He has led the Warhawks to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in three of the last six seasons that the championship was contested. He was hired as head coach at ULM prior to the 2018 season and served as the club’s pitching coach from 2018-22.
 
Team captain, head coach, pitching guru, recruiting ace and winner are just some of the terms used to define Federico. He is a Louisiana native, raised in Slidell, and has more than 20 years of experience in college baseball coaching.
 
During the 2024 season, Federico led the Warhawks to wins over NCAA regional finalists Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss as part of their 25 win season, which was the most since 2021. Two ULM pitchers that Federico coached signed free agent contracts with Major League Baseball organizations including Parker Seay (New York Yankees) and Chipper Menard (Baltimore Orioles).
 
In 2023, he guided ULM to another win over a Power-5 conference opponent with a victory over Mississippi State in Starkville, marking the fifth such victory in his tenure. He also coached pitcher Nicholas Judice, who was selected in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. He was ULM's first Top-10 round draft pick since Matt Green in 2005.
 
In 2022, ULM qualified for the Sun Belt Conference Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to nationally ranked Texas State in a rain-shortened single elimination format. He helped coach outfielder Mason Holt to First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after the senior hit 16 home runs, the third-most in a single season in ULM history. Holt and pitcher Lucas Wepf each signed free agent contracts with Major League Baseball following the season, with Holt inking with the Los Angeles Angels and Wepf with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
 
In 2021, Federico’s Warhawks achieved a .500 record in a full season for the first time since 2012, finishing 26-26. ULM also placed third in the Sun Belt Conference West Division, which was its highest spot in the conference standings since 2012. The Warhawks knocked off four Top-10 opponents in the season, picking up a win at No. 3 Ole Miss, a midweek win over No. 9 Oklahoma State at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and a series win at No. 6 TCU. ULM earned series victories in each of its final six series of the season and knocked off SEC foe Alabama.
 
Individually, Federico coached junior third baseman Grant Schulz and sophomore second baseman Travis Washburn to Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He guided the Warhawk pitching staff to a 4.86 ERA while Lucas Wepf (2.36 ERA, 2-0, 3 saves), Trey Lindsay (3.18 ERA, 2-2, 3 saves) and Carson Orton (3.37 ERA, 0-2, 9 saves) formed a dynamic trio out of the bullpen, setting the team single-season saves record with 16.
 
Federico's 2020 squad was primed to show the growth in the program. The Warhawks started the season 12-2 before dropping the final three games before the season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the stoppage, ULM led the Sun Belt Conference in batting average (.311, 15th NCAA DI), on base percentage (.433, 4th DI), runs scored (155, 7th DI), scoring (9.1 rpg., 5th DI), stolen bases (36, 10th DI) base on balls (105, 4th DI) and triples (6).
 
In 2019, Federico led the Warhawks to a four-win improvement over 2018, and a return to the Sun Belt Conference tournament. ULM won three games in the tournament and reached the semifinals. Third baseman Chad Bell slugged a school-record 21 home runs and was selected first team All-Sun Belt Conference, while utility player Andrew Beesley earned second team All-SBC honors. Bell was also named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region team. Bell (19th round), outfielder Trent Tingelstad (22nd round) and pitcher Trey Jeans (33rd round) were each selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. Pitcher Cole Gray was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Athletics.
 
In his first season with the Warhawks, ULM nearly doubled its win total from 2017, posting 23 victories while the team earned run average dropped by over half a run. Federico also coached relief pitcher Keegan Curtis, who was selected in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, after Curtis posted a 2.88 ERA with seven saves.
 
Prior to arriving at ULM, Federico spent nine seasons at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, where he served as assistant coach, responsible for pitchers and catchers. During those nine seasons Southern Miss won five Conference USA Championships and participated in four NCAA Regional Tournaments.
 
The 2017 season culminated in a school record of 50 wins. His time at Southern Miss was also highlighted by 24 players being drafted including 15 pitchers. Federico coached four Conference USA Pitchers of the Year, one Conference USA Player of the Year and a Conference USA Freshman of the Year. In 2012, Southern Miss was recognized for a recruiting class that ranked third nationally and in 2015 Federico was named Assistant Coach of the Year by Conference USA. In the 2015 season Southern Miss posted a conference low ERA of 3.14 while setting a school record with 10 shutouts.
 
Prior to joining Southern Miss in 2009, Federico was an assistant baseball coach at the University of Memphis, where he was responsible for pitchers and catchers. He helped lead the Tigers to a NCAA Regional appearance in 2007, its first berth since 1994. Memphis enjoyed back-to-back 30-plus win seasons in 2006 and 2007. During his five years at Memphis, the Tigers had 13 players drafted including seven pitchers.
 
Federico enjoyed tremendous success as a head coach at Meridian Community College in Mississippi, leading his squad to two World Series appearances in his three seasons as head coach. He was honored as Region XXIII and Southeastern District Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, he led the Eagles to 46 wins and finished in ninth place in the World Series tournament. His time at MCC also included 15 players and 9 pitchers being drafted.
 
Prior to becoming the head coach, he served two seasons as an assistant at Meridian, helping guide the Eagles to a fifth-place finish at the 2000 NJCAA World Series. In all, MCC visited the NJCAA World Series three times over Federico’s five total seasons.
 
He started his coaching career as graduate assistant and volunteer coach at Southern Miss in 1997. The Golden Eagles participated in the 1999 NCAA Regional during his last season there.
 
Federico began his collegiate career at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., where he was the starting catcher. Hinds participated in back-to-back Junior College World Series appearances. He continued his playing career at Southern Miss where Federico served as team captain his senior year.
 
Federico attended Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell, where he was named All-State, All-District, All-Metro as a catcher and team captain.
 
He is married to the former Hannah Sosa of Bush and has two sons, Hayden and Brycen and a daughter, Isabella. His son Hayden is an infielder for the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team.


THE FEDERICO FILE
 
EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree – Southern Miss '97
• Master's degree – Southern Miss '99

 
COACHING CAREER

Record at ULM Through 2024 season: 150-195-1
Overall Record Through 2024 season: 150-195-1

• 2017-Present – ULM (Head Coach)
• 2009-17 – Southern Miss (Assistant Coach)
• 2004-09 – Memphis (Assistant Coach)
• 2001-04 – Meridian CC (Head Coach)
• 1997-99 – Southern Miss (Graduate Assistant)