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Who is Nick Mingione? What to know about Kentucky baseball coach heading into NCAA super regional

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Who is Nick Mingione? What to know about Kentucky baseball coach heading into NCAA super regional


Kentucky baseball is in the midst of the most successful stretch in the program’s nearly 130-year history.

The Wildcats have made three NCAA tournaments in the past seven years in which the event was held and won their regional in each of those instances. The 2024 season has been the culmination of that climb, with Kentucky sporting a 43-14 record and a No. 2 national ranking.

If the Wildcats are able to win their best-of-three super regional series this week against Oregon State — which they’ll be hosting starting Saturday at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington — they’ll advance to the College World Series for the first time ever.

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REQUIRED READING: Kentucky baseball vs Oregon State prediction, odds for NCAA tournament super regional

Though those achievements are the result of the hard work, talent and dedication of dozens, if not hundreds, of players, coaches and staffers over the years, there’s one man in particular who’s rightly identified as a key figure in the program’s ascent.

Since arriving in the Bluegrass State in 2016, Nick Mingione has ushered in a decorated new era of Kentucky baseball, helping the Wildcats become a viable and nationally relevant program while competing in college baseball’s deepest, most ruthlessly competitive conference.

As he has Kentucky on the verge of a historical feat, here’s a closer look at Mingione and his career:

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REQUIRED READING: Men’s College World Series championship odds: Kentucky baseball among four favorites

Who is Nick Mingione?

Mingione is in his eighth season as Kentucky’s baseball coach, a post he assumed when he was hired by athletic director Mitch Barnhart on June 13, 2016.

“Nick Mingione is exactly the kind of coach we hoped to hire when we began our search,” Barnhart said in a statement at the time. “His passion, tactical mind and tireless recruiting efforts made him an important part of Mississippi State’s staff during some great years for the program. More than that, he is a man of substance who is committed not only to developing young men as baseball players, but as students and people.”

Mingione inherited a solid, if not strong, program, one that had won at least 30 games and finished with a winning record in each of the previous five seasons under coach Gary Henderson, who led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2014 before resigning after the 2016 season, citing the all-consuming lifestyle of coaching in the SEC in his decision to step down.

It didn’t take Mingione long to achieve the kind of success many hoped he could upon his arrival.

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In 2017, his first season on the job, Mingione guided Kentucky to a 43-23 mark, a nine-win improvement from the previous season, and an NCAA tournament appearance. Once there, the Wildcats won their regional, moving them on to the super regional round for the first time in program history. For his team’s efforts, he was named SEC coach of the year.

Though the program hasn’t cleared that kind of a historical barrier every season since, it has remained a steady winner under Mingione’s watch. Kentucky has finished with a winning record in six of his previous seven seasons and is assured of another above-.500 campaign this season. Even the lone exception to that run wasn’t particularly woeful, with the Wildcats going 26-29 in 2019. This season, Kentucky has reached the 40-win mark for the eighth time ever and the first time in consecutive seasons. Last month, Mingione earned his second SEC coach of the year award.

The Wildcats’ broader team success under Mingione has led to individual triumphs for their players. During Mingione’s tenure, 20 Kentucky underclassmen have been drafted or signed by MLB teams, earning them a collective $12.66 million in signing bonus money.

While Kentucky is his first college head coaching job, Mingione had plenty of experience, including in the SEC, before being brought in to lead the Wildcats.

For eight seasons, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State under coach John Cohen. During that stretch, the Bulldogs had five NCAA tournament appearances, won three regional championships and made the CWS championship series in 2013, where they fell to UCLA.

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His current stint at Kentucky is actually not his first at the school, either. For two seasons, from 2006-07, he was an assistant under Cohen with the Wildcats, who won their first SEC championship in 2006.

A native of Tarrytown, New York, Mingione graduated in 2000 from Embry-Riddle University, where he was a four-year letterman in baseball.

REQUIRED READING: When does UK baseball play again? Kentucky vs Oregon State NCAA super regional schedule

Nick Mingione coaching career

With his eighth season at Kentucky set to end some time in the next several weeks, here’s a look at Mingione’s various stops in his coaching career, in chronological order:

  • 2002: Florida Gulf Coast, assistant
  • 2003-05: Embry-Riddle, assistant
  • 2006-07: Kentucky, assistant
  • 2008: Western Carolina, assistant
  • 2009-16: Mississippi State, assistant
  • 2017-present: Kentucky, head coach

REQUIRED READING: Kentucky baseball tickets in Lexington Super Regional: Options for NCAA Tournament 2024

Nick Mingione record

Heading into this week’s super regional, Mingione’s career head-coaching record is 259-164, with all of those games taking place at Kentucky.

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His 259 wins are the second most for a coach in program history, behind only Keith Madison, and his win percentage of 0.612 is the highest of any Wildcats baseball coach who was with the program for at least four seasons.



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Kentucky dog battling cancer makes waves online for love of Honey Buns

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Kentucky dog battling cancer makes waves online for love of Honey Buns


SEBREE, Ky. (WFIE) – Terri Lynn Nunn has made a habit of volunteering her time at the local animal shelter in Webster County.

That volunteering led to more than she probably ever anticipated.

“I volunteer weekly at the Webster County Animal Shelter. I go in, and I walk dogs. One day, I just kind of randomly asked, ‘was there any dogs that were kind of struggling?’” she recalls.

As it turned out, one dog in particular, Beau, was just who she was looking for.

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Keeping to himself and not fond of much, if any human interaction, Terri took a swing at getting to know him.

“I got in the kennel with him, and we just kind of sat together,” she says. “He didn’t have anything to do with me.”

That is, until he discovered what she had in her back pocket.

“I kind of dragged out the Little Debby snack cake. I had one in my pocket, and I said, ‘would you like a bite?’ and he kind of did a little side eye at me, and I gave him a little bite and scooted a little closer, and that’s how we became friends,” says Nunn.

While Beau was busy discovering snack cakes, Terri discovered that Beau’s neck wasn’t just a little thick.

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It looked like he had some sort of mass. She had the shelter get him into the vet, who confirmed her suspicions.

“The vet called me that day and said that Beau had Lymphoma, and it could be months, it could be years, but his time is warranted,” she says, “so at that point, I knew Beau had to come home with me.”

Somewhere over 10-years-old, just in the ballpark of 50 pounds, and sporting a new cancer diagnosis, Beau came home.

So began his new life of car rides, lounging by the pool, and of course, medication.

However, there was one part of the shelter he just couldn’t seem to let go of.

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“His favorite thing in the whole world is a honey bun,” says Nunn with a smile.

Now accustomed to the finer things in life, Terri says they tried to substitute cheaper versions of the snack cake, but Beau wasn’t having it.

He was sticking exclusively to Little Debbie.

As he began his road to recovery in his new home, Nunn began sharing his story online.

This prompted not just local interest, but a surprise donation of the things he loves most.

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“Little Debbie picked his story up and sent him his ‘get well’ package,” says Nunn.

Filled with Honey Buns and Zebra Cakes, Beau had his very own stash of snacks to enjoy.

While they don’t know how much time Beau has left, Terri says they’re the ones who have lucked out, getting to make him as comfortable as possible while enjoying his favorite things.

She says so many dogs just like Beau live in your local shelters.

If you can make it happen, she wants to urge others to go spend time with them or even bring home a Beau of your own.

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“He’s really changed me. He’s changed my heart, and I think he’s changed a lot of people,” says Nunn.

Nunn says the Webster County Animal Shelter where Beau came from is currently holding onto roughly 30 more dogs than they’re suited to care for.

To get ahold of them to get a look at what animals they have or to perhaps volunteer some time, check out their Facebook page.



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$10 million Powerball ticket sold at Circle K in Kentucky

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$10 million Powerball ticket sold at Circle K in Kentucky


CRESTWOOD, Ky. (LEX 18) — Someone in Kentucky must be leaping for joy as a $10 million Powerball ticket was recently sold at Circle K No. 3305 in Crestwood, according to a press release from the KY Lottery.

The release detailed that the winning ticket matched all five white balls and Powerball in the second Double Play drawing, resulting in the top tier $10 million prize win. The Double Play drawing takes place right after the Powerball drawing. Monday night’s winning Powerball Double Play numbers were 1,31,33,54,60, and Powerball 26.

The win marks Kentucky’s first top tier Powerball Double Play win since the feature was established in late 2023, Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville highlighted.

“The Kentucky Lottery has winners every day and it’s always extra special when we have a really big winner, especially on Powerball since it is one of our most popular games,” Harville said.

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For an additional $1, players can choose to activate Double Play which enters a player’s same set of numbers in both drawings, the release read.

The Powerball jackpot is currently estimated at $95 million, and has produced no winners at this time. The release noted that the next Powerball drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST on Wednesday.

The release advised lottery winners to claim their prizes at the lottery headquarters, located at 1011 W. Main Street in Louisville after calling 877-789-4532 to make an appointment to claim their prize.

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Safran Landing Systems Kentucky celebrates 25 years of aerospace manufacturing in Boone County – NKyTribune

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Safran Landing Systems Kentucky celebrates 25 years of aerospace manufacturing in Boone County – NKyTribune


Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore, BE NKY Growth Partnership and other regional leaders joined Safran Landing Systems Kentucky to celebrate the plant’s quarter-century of operation in Boone County.
 
Safran Landing Systems’ state-of-the-art facility in Walton is a major contributor to the aerospace manufacturing industry in Kentucky, which was the #2 exporter of aerospace products and parts in 2022. Indeed, the site produces every year close to 140,000 carbon brake disks and over 9,500 wheels & brakes sets.

Safran Landing Systems’ initial carbon site construction in Boone County was completed in 1999, wheels and brakes manufacturing followed in 2007, and in 2016, the company launched an expansion project to increase its carbon capacity by 50 percent. To date, its 350+ highly qualified employees support several programs – from Boeing’s 737, 777, 787 aircraft to the Airbus A320 family, C-17 and KC-135 military aircraft – while its customers include UPS, FedEx, United Airlines, Allegiant, Aeromexico, Spirit Airlines, and Air Canada.

Celebrating Safran’s 25 years in Boone County. (Photo provided)

“Safran Landing Systems has been a tremendous corporate citizen throughout their 25-year history here in Boone County,” said Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore. “They have expanded multiple times while creating hundreds of aircraft-related manufacturing jobs and investing substantial dollars in support to our community. We appreciate their commitment to growth in our community.”

In September 2023, Safran Landing Systems announced the strengthening of Walton operations, with the development of new activities and the creation of 92 high-wage jobs over 10 years for Kentuckians to meet increased production volumes.

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“Congratulations to Philippe and the entire team at Safran Landing Systems Kentucky on 25 very successful years in Northern Kentucky,” said BE NKY CEO Lee Crume. “Aerospace, aviation, and advanced manufacturing are thriving in Northern Kentucky, and Safran plays a key role in the strength of these industries.”

Earlier this year, Safran was the recipient of a “James A. Wuenker Growth Award” from REDI Cincinnati, as well as a “Build + Elevate NKY Growth Award” from BE NKY Growth Partnership.

 “This year marks an important milestone for us: 25 years of constant growth and development in Northern Kentucky, 25 years of great support from the region, 25 years of successes with our customers! We are ready to continue the success story for the next 25 years.” Philippe Garnier, Safran Landing Systems Kentucky CEO and General Manager.

“This anniversary reflects our ongoing ambition to be the partner of choice for North American airlines, airframers and Air Forces as well. We are delighted and proud to develop there, in Kentucky, a significant pool of talents and advanced technologies to this end. I am confident that Walton will mark the next decades by providing our customers with the high-performance, reliable and competitive products, meeting their most critical operational needs.” Jean-Michel Hillion, Safran Landing Systems Executive Vice President of the Wheels & Brakes Division.



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