Athletic Department Profiles: Meet Assistant Baseball Coach, Justin Mulvaney
By Mike Pilosof
Photo by Adam Shrimplin
Garden City, KS-At first glance, Justin Mulvaney doesn't look the part of a baseball player. In fact, one could argue that his doppelganger is Willie Robertson, the star of the series Duck Dynasty. Maybe it's the ZZ Top-style beard he shows off during certain times of the year. Or it could be the fact that like Robertson, Mulvaney is an avid hunter-specifically pheasants. But don't be fooled. Mulvaney was once a clean-cut, overachiever on the bump for Northern Colorado, a nice pet to have considering he's now Chris Finnegan's top tutor for his pitching staff.
Mulvaney's post-graduate career as a coach is still in its' infancy. It was just two years ago that he was throwing 90 mph darts out of Carl Iwasaki's bullpen in Greeley, CO. But during his short stint as an instructor, Mulvaney has seen plenty. And the family lineage definitely helps. His dad, Mike, was an Athletic Director at Arvada West and a long-time college coach at Colorado School of Mines. Before that, he starred at Wyoming before making it all the way to AA in the Cincinnati Reds' organization. He hit .302 for Billings in 1988 and knocked in 117 RBI for Chattanooga and Greensboro a year later. His uncle, Brad Mulvaney, played at Arkansas and spent some time with Dakota in the Independent League.
"I've been in a college-baseball dugout my entire life," Mulvaney said. "Aside from reading and writing, it has taught me everything that I know in life-how to handle success, how to deal with failure and understanding that good things come to those who work hard."
Mulvaney grew up in Arvada, CO, a town of more than 100,000 people located about 10 miles northwest of Denver. In high school, he lettered in baseball for three years, leading Arvada West to a league title in 2014. He was named an All-Conference performer three times and was tabbed as an academic All-State selection in 2013.
"I played baseball year-round instead of playing football," Mulvaney explained. "I didn't like getting tackled very much."
Who could blame him? And who needed the gridiron because baseball brought plenty of exposure. Following his senior year, Mulvaney had Grand Canyon, Utah Valley and Colorado Mesa, all in a recruiting war for his services. In the end though, Northern Colorado won out.
"It was the best fit, baseball-wise for me," he said. "I liked the coaching staff and the affordability."
As a freshman, Mulvaney appeared in 31 games. He led the team in wins (4) and struck out 18. He earned his first career victory vs. Chicago State and fanned four batters vs. Grand Canyon. In his second season, Mulvaney made 19 appearances on the mound, recording a 3.97 earned run average while striking out 20. He limited opposing hitters to a .288 batting average. But he saved his best for last, ringing up 37 batters his senior campaign while posting a 2-1 mark with a 4.80 ERA. His signature moment came when he struck out a season-high six in a five-inning masterpiece vs. Texas Rio-Grande Valley in a 5-4 win.
"Going to Northern Colorado gave me the opportunity to play all four years," Mulvaney stated.
He also spent one summer playing collegiately in Oregon and two in Anchorage competing in the ultra-competitive Alaska Baseball League. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science with an emphasis in coaching. That led him to his first gig as a pitching coach in Iowa with the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods Collegiate Summer League. From there, he became a graduate assistant at Division-II Regis University in Denver, instructing outfielders and coaching first base. Then, last summer, he took a job coaching in Minot, N.D. for the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs in the Expedition League before Finnegan came calling.
"Coach Finnegan recruited me in high school," Mulvaney said. "So when he talked with other coaches last summer about needing a pitching coach, they had recommended me and he reached out."
Here's a recent Q&A with Mulvaney
How long have you been at Garden City Community College?
I am finishing my first year, I started in August 2019.
How did you get the job?
Finnegan texted me Summer 2019 while I was coaching. I called him back- said he was looking for a pitching coach to come in. We talked for a couple weeks, he offered me the job and I accepted right away.
Most satisfying part about your job?
Seeing a player work hard to make a change and seeing it pay off for them. Especially when a change takes longer to come to fruition.
Person you look up to the most and why?
I look up to my dad the most because he did a lot of great things in his time coaching and teaching. He has always been a role model for me in life.
Favorite movie?
Favorite movie is Bull Durham. Watched it 100s of times on bus trips with my dad growing up and while playing and now coaching. Never gets old.
What type of music do you listen to?
Exclusively country music. 90s and early 2000s as well as red dirt.
Something most people don't know about you...
I used to be able to run fast. Wouldn't be able to tell looking at me now.
What's the best part or most challenge aspect of working in Athletics?
The best part of athletics is the way it brings a school and community together to support young adults in their pursuit of their dreams.