John-Michael “JM” Guarino enters his first season at the helm of the St. Thomas Aquinas baseball program. He has spent the previous three seasons as an Assistant Coach within the program. This included three as the program’s Pitching Coach and two as the program’s Recruiting Coordinator.

Guarino joined the Spartan’s staff after spending the previous three years as Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Manhattanville College. He began his career with the Monroe College Express as an Assistant Coach during the program’s inaugural season.

As the Pitching Coach under his tutelage several pitchers have received ECC and East Region award honors. Most recently in 2024, John Archer and Andrew Alameda received Second Team All-ECC award honors.

In 2023, Aaron Dona was named Pitcher of the Year in the conference while also taking down All-East Region honors. Dona set a new single season mark for strikeouts that season recording 109 over 73.2 inning of work. Concluding his career as #2 all-time in career strikeouts with 277.

In 2022, two Spartan pitchers received All-ECC award honors. Yanni Orfanidis was awarded ECC Relief Pitcher of the Year finishing the year with a 3.19 era over 42.1 innings of work and 31 appearances in relief. Aaron Dona also received Second Team All-ECC award honors.

Several players since Guarino arrived with the Spartans have signed contracts to play professionally. Most recently former short stop, Andrew Jemison, had his contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays after spending time with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks (2023) and Lexington Legends (2024) of the Atlantic League. Currently four former Spartan pitchers Guarino had the opportunity to work with are playing professionally.

Guarino has also spent time assisting with the professional organizations Rockland/New York Boulders and most recently the New Jersey Jackals. 

In 2017, Guarino graduated from Oswego State University of New York with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Guarino went on to earn his Master’s degree in Sports Business and Entertainment Management from Manhattanville College in 2020.

Guarino was a four-year pitcher at Oswego. As a player, Guarino helped the Lakers to a league title, SUNYAC title, New York Regional title, and DIII College World Series Appearance in 2017. Oswego and Guarino also made NCAA Regional appearances in 2015 and 2016.