Doug Delett enters his 10th season with the Utica Blue Sox and his 6th season as the
team’s head coach. Delett previously served as the Blue Sox pitching coach from
2016–2018, earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2018 before taking over as manager in 2019. During Delett’s time on the Blue Sox coaching staff, the team has
experienced consistent success, posting an overall record of 206-152-2 with just one
losing season while making five playoff appearances over that span. Under his
leadership as head coach, the Blue Sox reached the postseason in each of his first four seasons at the helm.
The 2023 campaign saw the Blue Sox finish with the second-best record in the PGCBL at 28-13, marking the highest winning percentage in franchise PGCBL history under Delett’s guidance. In the postseason, Utica edged the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs in a thrilling 3-2 walk-off victory in the East Division semifinals before falling in a hard-fought 10-inning, 3-2 contest to the Amsterdam Mohawks in the division championship. On July 17, Delett notched his 100th career managerial win with a 6-3 victory over the Boonville Lumberjacks.
In 2022, Delett’s squad set a PGCBL record with a 14-game winning streak from June
13–29 and finished 27-19-1, placing second in the West Division. The team advanced to the division finals after defeating the Auburn Doubledays before coming up short against the Batavia Muckdogs.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 season, Delett guided the Blue Sox to a Central
Division title in 2021 with a 24-17 record, narrowly edging Auburn in a race that went
down to the final day.
His first season as manager in 2019 was equally successful, as
Utica finished atop the PGCBL West Division at 30-16, highlighted by an eight-game
winning streak in July that propelled the team into first place for good.
During his tenure as pitching coach from 2016–2018, Delett played a key role in
developing several professional pitchers, including Major Leaguers Louie Varland and Gus Varland, as well as Jared Solomon. A standout pitcher at Whitesboro High School, Delett earned All-Central Oneida League First Team honors as a senior in 1977 before continuing his career at Mohawk Valley Community College, where he helped lead the Hawks to a No. 3 JUCO ranking in New York State in 1978.
Delett’s connection to the Blue Sox dates back to his playing days from 1981–83 in the
New York-Penn League, when the team operated as an independent club. During that time, actor and comedian Bill Murray was among the team’s owners. Delett’s rookie season included a memorable Opening Day start against the Little Falls Mets.
After his playing career, Delett began coaching as a freshman team coach at JFK High School in Utica in 1984. He later returned to the game as an instructor before rejoining the Blue Sox coaching staff in 2016. Today, he also serves as the lead instructor at the Blue Sox Academy during the winter season.
Luke Schulte enters his fourth season with the Utica Blue Sox as the team’s pitching
coach and his third season serving as the club’s third base coach. A native of
Morristown, New Jersey, Schulte has quickly established himself as a key member of the Blue Sox coaching staff.
Schulte attended Morristown High School from 2014–2017, where he was a four-year
member of the baseball program. During his junior season, he helped lead his team to a state sectional championship and a runner-up finish at the state level. As a senior, Schulte excelled as a two-way player, batting .355 with a .484 slugging percentage while posting a 2.76 ERA on the mound.
Following high school, Schulte continued his career at County College of Morris, where he made an immediate impact. After just one season, he was named team captain. As a freshman, he posted an impressive .500 batting average and a 12.49
strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate, ranking 30th nationally. At the conclusion of his
sophomore year, Schulte was honored with the Joe Maugeri Award, recognizing his hard work, selflessness, leadership, and integrity.
Schulte later transferred to Utica University to continue both his academic and athletic career. His time as a player was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a torn labrum during his senior season, but his passion for the game led him into coaching.
As a member of the Utica University coaching staff, Schulte has been part of a program that has seen steady improvement year after year. Over the past four seasons, the team has developed into one of the top offensive units in the conference and has reached the conference finals twice in the last three years. During that stretch, the program has produced its first-ever back-to-back All-Region player, its first All-Region pitcher, and its first major conference award winner.
Schulte also serves as an active volunteer coach
and is in his third season as the recruiting coordinator for Utica University.
Schulte’s continued involvement at both the collegiate and summer league levels
highlights his commitment to player development and building winning programs,
making him an integral part of the Blue Sox organization.
Mike Macchione enters his 10th season as a member of the Utica Blue Sox coaching
staff, continuing to bring a wealth of experience and a lifelong passion for the game to the organization. This summer, he will once again work closely with the team’s catchers while contributing in multiple areas as a valued member of the staff.
A familiar and respected figure in the local baseball community for more than five
decades, Macchione was born and raised in Utica and is a 1965 graduate of Proctor High School. During his time at Proctor, he was a member of the baseball team as a catcher and also spent two seasons playing American Legion baseball for Adrean Post—marking the beginning of a lifelong connection to the program.
Macchione also played alongside notable talent, including former Major League
outfielder Dave Cash, a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Richard
Grimaldi, a third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Following high school, Macchione enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Guam, Okinawa, Thailand, and Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. Upon returning home, he briefly played in the Utica Municipal League before beginning what would become a remarkable and enduring coaching career.
In 1971, Macchione took over as head coach of Adrean Post, a role he held for an
incredible 52 years. During his tenure, he built one of the most successful and consistent Legion programs in the region, with teams regularly winning 20–25 games per season. His squads captured numerous league titles and made a memorable postseason run in the early 1990s, finishing just one win shy of the Legion World Series.
In recent years, Macchione has transitioned into an administrative role with Adrean Post while also serving as the New York State American Legion Baseball Chairman. In that capacity, he continues to play a vital role in growing the game and supporting the next generation of players across the state.
Off the field, Macchione has been married to his high school sweetheart for over five
decades. The couple resides in Utica and are proud parents of three children. Their
oldest daughter works as a deputy assistant, their son is an art director, and their
youngest daughter works in freelance social media. Now in his 10th season with the Blue Sox, Macchione remains deeply committed to the game he loves. His extensive experience, leadership, and dedication to player
development continue to make him an invaluable part of the Blue Sox coaching staff and a lasting influence on baseball in the Utica community.
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