Pat McMahon has distinguished himself as one of the most versatile ambassadors of baseball, serving the game on every level. Now in his seventh season with the New York Yankees organization, the longtime ABCA board member is the recipient of the 2015 Lefty Gomez Award.
Named after the great Lefty Gomez, this annual award is presented to an individual who has distinguished himself among his peers and has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally. The Lefty Gomez Award is sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods and is presented during the Hall of Fame/Coach of the Year Banquet.
McMahon is in his fourth season as Coordinator of International Player Development with the Yankees. He previously led the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees in 2008, where the team posted a league-best 49-26 record, and served as a special assistant for player development and scouting.
Prior to the Yankees, McMahon amassed 30-plus years of combined college and high school coaching experience. McMahon served seven seasons (2001-07) as head coach at the University of Florida. He led the Gators to a runner-up finish in the College World Series in 2005 and a 231-143-1 record.
McMahon previously was head coach at Old Dominion (1990-94) and Mississippi State (1998-2001).
In his first season as head coach at Mississippi State, McMahon was named ABCA South Region Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to the College World Series. He subsequently led the Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearances and the team went 164-88 in his four seasons.
McMahon began his collegiate coaching career at MSU as a graduate assistant from 1980-81 and served as assistant coach (1983-89) and associate head coach (1995-97), working under ABCA Hall of Famer Ron Polk during all three stints. The Bulldogs went to the College World Series in 1981 and 1985 and posted at least 50 wins three times, including a school-record 54 wins in 1989.
McMahon has worked extensively with USA Baseball throughout his career. He helped lead the USA to a Pan American Games bronze medal as an assistant in 1991, was pitching coach in 1997 and head coach of the 2001 squad.
As head coach at Old Dominion, McMahon guided the Monarchs to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, two 40-win seasons and an outstanding 189-86 record.
As a player, McMahon was drafted by the New York Mets out of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla., but turned down a pro contract to play in college. He played two years at St. John's River College and two years at Stetson as a pitcher.
McMahon and his wife, the former Cheri Wells, live in Gainesville, Florida. They are the parents of a daughter, Logan, and a son, J. Wells.