Bob Fornelli

In a 35-year coaching career, Bob Fornelli led three Kansas university programs and won more than a thousand games.

Born in Lenexa, Fornelli played at Emporia State University, where he was a catcher. After graduating in 1991, he spent five seasons as pitching coach at Butler Community College.

In 1996, Fornelli became head coach at Fort Hays State. In seven years, he led the Tigers to four Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships and was twice the RMAC Coach of the Year. In 2000, the Tigers played for the NCAA Division II championship. Fornelli is the winningest coach in Fort Hays State history, winning 306 games.

In 2003, Fornelli left Fort Hays State for his alma mater. In fifteen seasons at Emporia State, his teams won five Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association titles and made two NCAA Division II World Series appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2009. Fornelli is also Emporia State’s winningest coach with 599 victories.

Following the 2018 season, Fornelli left Emporia to coach Pittsburg State. He coached the Gorillas for seven seasons, winning 215 games to make him the second all-time winningest coach at the university. He retired after the 2025 season.

In 29 years as a head coach, Fornelli’s record was 1120-495, for a .693 winning percentage.