Wolfpack Legend Sam Esposito Passes Away
NC State legendary baseball coach Sam Esposito, a member of the Wolfpack's 2014 Hall of Fame Class, has passed away.
Esposito coached the Wolfpack from 1967 to 1987 and led the team to the 1968 ACC regular season title. He also coached NC State to ACC Tournament titles in 1973, 1974, and 1975.
He guided NC State to its first College World Series appearance in only his second season (1968) and was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1986.
Esposito coached three ACC Players of the Year (Chris Cammack - 1969, Mike Caldwell - 1971, Tracy Woodson - 1984), seven All-Americans, 69 players who were first- or second-team All-ACC, 28 players who were selected in the MLB draft, and 12 future major league players.
Esposito played 10 seasons in the major leagues for the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Athletics before coming to NC State as assistant basketball coach under Norm Sloan and head baseball coach.