BALTIMORE — UMBC announced that head men's basketball coach Jim Ferry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Baltimore Orioles face the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday, April 28.
The appearance comes on the heels of Ferry's recently signed multi-year contract extension following a championship-winning season in the America East Conference and an NCAA appearance, further underscoring his success and long-term commitment to UMBC's basketball program.
The ceremonial first pitch will take place shortly before the Orioles' scheduled 6:35 p.m. start against the Astros. Stadium gates will open at 5:35 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early to take part in the celebration honoring one of the region's most respected collegiate coaches and the Retrievers' standout season.
Last March, UMBC participated in March Madness for just the third time in their 40 seasons of Division I basketball. The Dawgs punched their ticket to the Big Dance after winning the America East Conference championship in front of a sold-out Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
The Retrievers set a program-best .875 Division I conference winning percentage (14-2) during their remarkable run. Achieving 24 wins, just one shy of the program record, they also won 12 straight games before their NCAA First Four loss. Moreover, UMBC went 15-2 at home and finished 8-0 In league play this past season. During the America East Tournament, they won three more at the 'Peake, securing their first undefeated home conference season.
In recognition of this success, Ferry was named America East Coach of the Year and was a national Coach of the Year finalist for the prestigious Hugh Durham Award. He became the third UMBC coach to win the award and secured his 400th career win, the first in program history to do so.
Ferry, who also led LIU to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012, has reached at least 18 wins in three of his five seasons at UMBC. He notched his seventh career 20-win season in 2025-26, his first 20-win season with the Retrievers. Ferry is one of just a few coaches to have won conference Coach of the Year and championships with four different programs (Plymouth State, Adelphi, LIU Brooklyn, UMBC).
