Noro attempts to keep Cal baseball rolling
A new coach often faces the task of rebuilding or rejuvenating a program.
On occasion, however, the new coach has the opportunity to succeed an iconic figure and leader.
Such is the case of Joey Noro, the new coach of the PennWest California Vulcans baseball team.
He succeeds Mike Conte, who retired with an 802-548-4 record after 29 seasons with the Vulcans.
Noro had served as the team’s pitching coach.
California is coming off a 38-15 season where the Vulcans advanced to the PSAC championship game and the NCAA Division II tournament.
Not surprisingly, Noro was in the middle of that success as California’s pitching staff played a central role in the team’s 2025 season.
And with the quality and quantity of the Vulcans’ staff, pitching is expected to play an integral role in the pursuit of another outstanding season in 2026.
“I’m just kind of trying to continue to build on the successes we’ve had here in the past years and, you know, just kind of keep this thing rolling,” Noro said. “I’ve told people before, it’s a really unique job because most of the time when you get these opportunities, you’re taking over a program that hasn’t had any success or has maybe been struggling for the last handful of years and that is certainly not the case with us. So, it’s a unique challenge to kind of keep it rolling.
“I think (we have a relationship) that helps the learning curve, for sure. The guys know me, and me knowing the guys kind of works hand-in-hand.”
Noro is in his ninth season at Cal after enjoying playing and coaching experience in Alabama. Conte promoted him to associate head coach in the winter of 2023.
In his time with the Vulcans, the pitching guru has coached12 All-PSAC West selections, including a combined nine honorees the past four seasons. Cal had had one of the league’s top relief pitchers during that span with Patrick Gumto and Jake Kramer, each earning All-PSAC West status twice. Kramer enters his junior campaign in 2026 tied for the all-time school record with 16 saves.
In 2022, the Vulcans finished among the top 20 in the nation in ERA with Dylan Brosky ranking fifth in the league with a 2.39 ERA. Cal recorded its winningest season in program history in 2019 by finishing with 37 victories.
Noro spent three years as an assistant coach at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala., following a two-year stint at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham. He played at Calhoun for two seasons before transferring to Montevallo (Ala.) for his last two years.
In 2016, Noro helped the Warhawks post a 20-win improvement and advance to the Alabama Community College Conference championship. Calhoun finished 35-25 and was third in the ACCC North standings. The Warhawks ranked fifth in the 17-team conference in strikeouts and improved their ERA by over a full run from the previous year.
Noro started his college coaching career at Lawson State, which is also a member of the ACCC, in 2011. He worked with both pitchers and outfielders.
Following a standout scholastic career as a pitcher and third baseman at Fox Chapel, Noro was a pitcher at Calhoun from 2008-09 and earned all-region honors. While with the Warhawks, he was a teammate of future MLB pitchers Buddy Boshers and J.J. Hoover.
Noro earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Montevallo in 2013.
When Conte decide to retire, there was no need to conduct a national search.
“We elevated him,” said Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal’s athletic director.” He was someone who had impressed us from the time he came in here with his recruitment of students to the program, to his knowledge of baseball and his work with our pitchers. We saw how much our pitching had improved since he’s been here and how he had impacted those student-athletes. He’s a tremendous communicator. I think he has great vision for the program and is very passionate about pulling our program to another level.
“Coach Conte left us in such a good spot. His last year was incredible. I also know Coach Noro was so integral in that. We’re just excited to see what he will institute, some different philosophy with regards to coaching. But really on the same level because he was involved in that success in the past. We know what he can do. We’re excited to see where he can take us.”
Cal banged out19 hits Thursday to win Noro’s debut last Thursday, a 15-10 victory over Ohio Dominican. The Vulcans swept the three-game series. Cal is scheduled to play Bloomsburg on Friday morning (11 a.m.) at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown, W.Va.