Michigan Baseball Coach Reaches 900-Win Milestone on 60th Birthday

Tracy Smith becomes the 94th Division I head coach to reach 900 career victories.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Michigan baseball head coach Tracy Smith celebrated his 60th birthday on Saturday by leading the Wolverines to a 7-6 victory over Stanford, marking his 900th career win as a Division I head coach. Smith, who is in his fourth season at Michigan, has a long and successful coaching career spanning over 29 years, with previous stints at Miami (Ohio), Indiana, and Arizona State.

Why it matters

Reaching 900 career wins is a significant milestone for any college baseball coach, and Smith's achievement is a testament to his longevity and success in the sport. As the 94th Division I coach to reach this mark, Smith joins an elite group of coaches who have built successful programs and made lasting impacts on the game.

The details

In Saturday's game, the Wolverines built a 7-2 lead but had to hold off a late Stanford rally to secure the victory. Designated hitter Cade Ladehoff drove in two runs with a triple in the first inning and added two walks, while outfielders Brenden Stressler and Greg Pace Jr. also had two RBIs each. Michigan's pitching staff was strong, with starter Cade Montgomery going 6 1/3 innings and allowing just one unearned run.

  • On February 15, 2026, Tracy Smith celebrated his 60th birthday.
  • With the 7-6 victory over Stanford, Smith became the 94th Division I head coach to reach 900 career wins.

The players

Tracy Smith

The head coach of the Michigan baseball team, who has amassed 900 career wins over a 29-year coaching career at four different Division I programs.

Cade Ladehoff

The Michigan designated hitter who drove in two runs with a triple in the first inning and added two walks in the game.

Brenden Stressler

The Michigan left fielder who had two RBIs in the game and threw out the potential game-tying run at home plate in the ninth inning.

Greg Pace Jr.

The Michigan outfielder who had two RBIs in the game.

Cade Montgomery

The Michigan starting pitcher who went 6 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out five.

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What they’re saying

“Congrats to Skip on his 900th career win! A great birthday present for him!”

— Michigan Baseball (Twitter)

“I think it just means I've been around a long time. I was doing a podcast the other day, and they said, 'Take me back through your career.' But when you start verbalizing that stuff in your mind, it seems like yesterday. But you're talking about 30-some years ago and how quickly that flies. It's cool. But as I get older, too, some of that stuff blends together.”

— Tracy Smith, Michigan Head Baseball Coach (mlive.com)

“One win at a time. That's kind of where our mindset is. We want to get Michigan back in the postseason. That's probably first and foremost as opposed to any personal milestones.”

— Tracy Smith, Michigan Head Baseball Coach (mlive.com)

What’s next

The Wolverines have two more games at the College Baseball Series in Surprise, Arizona. They face No. 24 Arizona on Sunday at 6 p.m. before a rematch against No. 12 Oregon State on Monday.

The takeaway

Tracy Smith's 900th career win is a remarkable achievement that highlights his longevity and success as a college baseball coach. While personal milestones are meaningful, Smith's focus remains on leading Michigan back to the NCAA Tournament, demonstrating his commitment to the program and its future success.