Mike Rizzo

Rizzo begins his 20^th season with the Poet baseball program, and his 10^th as the head coach.  Born and raised in Pittsfield, MA, he played his high school ball for Taconic High School where he was named to the All-Berkshire County squad in 1982.  He played two years at Western New England College in Springfield, MA, and was named MVP of the NAIA District 5 tournament in 1984.  Rizzo transferred to Whittier College in the fall of 1984, and was twice named to the All-SCIAC team.  He is the single season record holder for innings pitched, and posted a 17-9 record on the mound while at Whittier.  He was named team MVP and received the President's Scholar Athlete Award his senior year.

Since taking over the program in 1999, he has guided the Poets to six 20+ win seasons, and looks to improve upon last year's 17-23 record.  In the last nine years, 33 players have been named to the All-SCIAC team, seven were All-West Region, and two named to the Division III All-American teams. 

Coach Rizzo resides in Cypress with his wife Susan (Sinfield '88) and son Ryan. 

John was a four year letter winner for the Poets and serves as a Graduate Fellow.  He will assist with the pitchers and outfielders.  As a member of the Poet pitching staff, John recorded two saves as a freshman, but battled arm injuries his entire career.  Despite not being able to pitch, John essentially served as a player-coach his junior and senior seasons.

John is enrolled in Whittier's teacher certification program and intends to pursue a Master's of Arts in Education.  Coaching is in his blood as his mother, Jodie Burton is the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Claremont Mudd-Scripts (CMS) and his father David (deceased) was the former Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at CMS.