Bob Babb, who has guided the Johns Hopkins baseball team to more than 1,300 victories and six trips to the Division III World Series, announced today that he will retire at the conclusion at the 2025 season. Next season will be the 46th as head coach of the Blue Jays for Babb, who was named to the role in May 1979 by then Director of Athletics Bob Scott.
"It has been my absolute pleasure to have coached and mentored so many outstanding young men over these past 45 years," Babb said. "My wife, Gilly, and I agree that our lives have been greatly enriched by the relationships formed with both the players and their parents. I am also so thankful for the support that the Johns Hopkins community has provided and look forward to my final 'at bat' this coming season."
Babb has amassed a record of 1,302-478-16 (.729) during a career that has seen him inducted into the Johns Hopkins and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) halls of fame. His win total accounts for more than 80% of the program's 1,619 all-time victories. He is the all-time victories leader among Centennial Conference coaches and is one of just five Division III coaches in history to win 1,300 career games.
Three of Johns Hopkins six trips to the Division III World Series under Babb have come since 2019 (2019, 2021, 2023) with additional appearances in 1989, 2008, and 2010. The Blue Jays finished second at the World Series in 2008 and 2023 and third in 1989 and 2019.
"I want to thank Coach Babb for his decades of leadership, and for all that he has given to Hopkins—as a student, an alum, a parent, a football coach, and of course, a baseball coach," said Jennifer S. Baker, associate vice provost and director of athletics and recreation. "The care he has for his players and their families is remarkable, and the relationships he maintains with his alumni have created a strong and loyal community. I am so proud of all that he has achieved, and the wonderful example of commitment, loyalty, and passion he has set for us."
Babb wasted no time setting a standard of success, as he guided his first team in 1980 to a 21-6-3 record; the 21 wins at the time were a program record, and it marked the first 20-win season ever at Hopkins. That first team won the MAC Southeast title and advanced to the NCAA tournament—and championships and trips to the NCAAs have since been a regular occurrence for the Blue Jays.
Including that first season in 1980, Johns Hopkins has advanced to the NCAA tournament 24 times, won 10 Middle Atlantic Conference Southeast League titles, 18 Centennial Conference championships, and seven University Athletic Association titles under Babb's direction.
In addition, Blue Jays players have earned numerous individual honors since Babb became the head coach. Of note, he has coached 26 of Johns Hopkins' 31 all-time baseball Academic All-Americans. The 31 overall Academic All-Americans are the most by any baseball program, at any level, since the first Academic All-America Baseball Team was selected in 1970. The 26 Academic All-Americans Babb has coached are the most by any baseball coach in history.
Twenty of Babb's players have been elected to the Johns Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame, more than 25 have earned All-America honors from the ABCA or D3baseball.com, and 16 have signed contracts to play professional baseball.
In addition to his tenure as the head baseball coach, Babb also spent more than two decades as an assistant coach with the Hopkins football program, from 1977-98.
During the recently-completed 2024 season, Johns Hopkins posted a 35-11 record, won the Centennial Conference and NCAA Baltimore Regional, and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the third time since 2019. Next season, the Blue Jays are expected to return their entire starting infield, starting catcher, two starting outfielders, and pitchers who combined for all 35 of the team's victories this season.
