When Nick Buoniconti was handed the reins of the Marianapolis Prep baseball program in 2018, he felt the program suffered from a lack of identity. That would need to change in order for Buoniconti's aspirations of turning the Golden Knights into a legit NEPSAC program to come to fruition.
"I knew we needed to bring things up to speed regarding recruiting and facilities by making things readily available for our student-athletes," Buoniconti said. "Since then, we support our players by helping them build a profile with video to submit to colleges. Our assistant coach (James Richardson), who is also Director of College Placement, is absolutely, without question, one of the top advisors in the area.''
Over the past six years under Buoniconti's watch, several improvements have been made to the baseball program, including the construction of batting cages, a double bullpen area, pitching machines and field bleachers, while also providing a new look for the squad with new uniforms. Marianapolis also joined a wooden bat league tournament. Last season, the Golden Knights lost in the league championship tilt to St. Thomas More.
Before arriving on the Thompson, Conn., campus, Buoniconti made several coaching stops in Massachusetts, including Becker Junior College, Quaboag Regional High School, North Brookfield igh School, and Shepherd Hill High School. He has also started up his own AAU travel program, the South County Batts, now recognized as the Central Mass. Spartans. In addition to coaching baseball at Marianapolis Prep, Buoniconti is also the school's junior varsity girls' basketball coach.
