Bio

Bryant & Stratton College Buffalo has named Alex O'Donnell as the inaugural Head Coach of the Bobcats Baseball program, bringing a wealth of collegiate playing and coaching experience to Buffalo as the program prepares for its inaugural 2026-27 season.

A Western New York native, O'Donnell returns home after building an impressive résumé both on the field and in the dugout. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a passionate teacher of the game with a commitment to developing student-athletes both athletically and academically.

As a player, O'Donnell enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Mercyhurst University, where he earned First Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honors as a shortstop. During his two seasons with the Lakers, he started all 103 games and helped lead the program to back-to-back NCAA Division II College World Series appearances in 2018 and 2019.

Prior to Mercyhurst, O'Donnell spent two seasons at Canisius College, appearing in 70 games as an infielder while helping the Golden Griffins reach the 2015 NCAA Regional Tournament. He also competed in the prestigious Northwoods League with the Jamestown Jammers, gaining valuable experience against some of the nation's top collegiate talent.

Following his playing career, O'Donnell quickly transitioned into coaching, holding positions at several collegiate programs across the country. His coaching experience includes serving as Recruiting Coordinator and Hitting Coach at Muskingum University, Graduate Assistant, Hitting Coach, and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator at Salem University, and Infield Coach at Mercyhurst Northeast. He also served as Head Coach of the Northern Michigan Dune Bears of the Northwoods League, where he continued to develop high-level collegiate players in one of the nation's premier summer leagues.

As the first head coach in Bryant & Stratton Buffalo Baseball history, O'Donnell is tasked with building the program from the ground up. His vision centers on creating a competitive culture founded on discipline, accountability, player development, and academic excellence while attracting student-athletes who are committed to representing the Bobcats with pride.

"It's an incredible honor to lead the first baseball program at Bryant & Stratton Buffalo," O'Donnell said. "We're building something special here—a culture of hard work, accountability, and pride. I'm excited to recruit talented student-athletes who want to compete at a high level and represent this institution the right way."

Before his collegiate career, O'Donnell was one of Western New York's top prep athletes at Starpoint High School. He earned First Team All-Western New York honors, was selected Second Team All-State as a senior, and was named the 2014 Niagara Gazette Player of the Year.

Known for his energy, leadership, and attention to detail, O'Donnell is committed to building a program that will compete for championships while developing well-rounded student-athletes prepared for success both on the field and beyond graduation.