Benim, Bolla Earn ECAC Baseball Honors
Penn State Behrend head baseball coach Paul Benim was named the 2026 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year, while junior pitcher Colin Bolla earned a spot on the All-ECAC Team, announced on Friday.
ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend head baseball coach Paul Benim was named the 2026 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year, while junior pitcher Colin Bolla earned a spot on the All-ECAC Team, announced on Friday.
Benim is earning his second Coach of the Year accolades after being named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career. Benim mentored the Lions to a 31-12 overall record and a 13-4 conference mark, capturing the title of AMCC Regular-Season Champions. Behrend earned the No. 1 seed in the AMCC tournament and won its program's ninth conference title in program history. Benim also registered his 800th career win this season.
Bolla, a Second Team All-Region selection and AMCC First Team choice, delivered a 3.41 ERA for an 8-2 record in 12 appearances. He struck out 95 batters in 66 innings pitched. Bolla threw his first collegiate no-hitter this season, earning him National Pitcher of the Week. He threw two complete-game shutouts and registered 10 or more strikeouts in four contests.