Clemente Sosa is set to embark on his second full season as head coach of the John Jay baseball program, after taking over program midway through the 2024 season, with the Bloodhounds posting a 10-8 record down the stretch, which included winning the program’s eighth CUNYAC title and first since 2007.
In 2025, Sosa was named CUNYAC Baseball Coach of the Year, the fourth Bloodhound bench boss to win the award joining former head coaches Joe Mandile (2018), Dan Palumbo (2006, 2007), Lou DeMartino (1996, 1998, 1999). The Bloodhounds were pitted in a three-way tied for first in the conference standing at 8-4 and earned the No. 2 seed in the CUNYAC Baseball championships. The Bloodhounds concluded the year with 15 overall victories and ranked first in the league in doubles (71), and hits (322) while placing second in runs scored.
Sosa mentored Axel Kappes III to Pitcher of the Year of the honors, as he became just the fifth Bloodhound to win the award and first since 2009. Additionally, Sosa oversaw the development of Sebastian Sanchez, who garnered Rookie of the Year honors, marking the third straight year under Sosa’s watch that a Bloodhound earned the honor – joining Jaxen Gangwish (2024) and John Spallin (2023).
Coach Sosa has over 25 years of baseball experience, as he first embarked on his collegiate journey at Division I member, Iona University, while also having opportunities in his native country of the Dominican Republic.
Sosa graduated with a degree from Iona in Criminal Justice and used that degree to spearhead a career, by first enlisting in the US Navy, in which he served 21 years as an Investigator with the Naval Criminal Investigative Services before joining the New York Police Department (NYPD) as a Homicide Detective, a position he dedicated to for 21 years.
Sosa was a member of the New York’s Finest Baseball Club, where he was part of two United States Police and Fire Championships (2012, 2013) and four NABA NYCMBL Championship-winning teams (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). In his final season in 2013, Sosa’s team was named Best Police/Fire team in the country.
Following retirement from the force, Sosa moved to Texas and enrolled in the 8-week online Baseball GM and Management course with
Sports Management Worldwide. Studying with former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Dan Evans, where he learned front office and scouting skills, Sosa accepted a position as Youth Academy Coach for the
Texas Rangers organization.
In early 2019, Sosa added another role to his baseball resume, serving as head coach of Forth Worth Christian School. In 2020, Sosa’s club went 5-4-1 and 3-0 in TAPPS Division 2. The following season, the team went 19-10-1 and 9-1 in District play, ranking seventh in Section Division and sixth in State Division.
Coach Sosa, his wife, MJ, who is an adjunct professor at John Jay College in Anthropology and full-time lecturer and faculty coordinator of Criminal Justice at Bronx Community College, and children reside in New Jersey.
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