Written by Andy Caron ’28
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – In the summer of 2025, infielder Noah Coy had a unique opportunity in front of him. The 2024-25 Notre Dame squad had graduated 13 players, including second baseman Connor Hincks and third baseman Nick DeMarco. Additionally, the Seattle Mariners had selected former Irish shortstop Estevan Moreno in the MLB Draft. Having received the majority of his action at second base during his freshman season, Coy was in line to inherit a bigger role for the Irish, but he knew it wouldn’t come easy.
“Going into the summer, I realized the steps I needed to take and the at-bats I needed to get experience-wise,” Coy said. “I just wanted to go prove that I belonged, and I think I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder to prove that too.”
Coy spent his summer in the Northwoods League, a premier collegiate summer baseball league played across the Midwest and Canada. Coy posted a .363 batting average and 41 RBI in 52 regular season games.
After a successful summer, Coy entered his sophomore year as the Irish’s starting shortstop, bringing back memories of his time at Center Grove High School. “It’s a special position to me, and I feel most comfortable there,” Coy said. “With a lot of the young guys in the infield, I can take that leadership role and help guide as many people as I can.”
Coy wasted no time breaking onto the scene hitting .667 with eight runs scored and three RBI through three games at the Holiday Inn Classic. When the Irish opened up ACC play less than a week later in Durham, the sophomore continued his display of dominance. Coy batted in four runs and laced a triple in a three-game series win against Duke.
Coy’s bat heated up even more against ACC opponents Louisville and North Carolina. The Greenwood, Indiana native boasted a .308 batting average alongside four RBI and a home run in a road series against the Cards. Later in March, Coy outdid himself, batting .538 while blasting two home runs and driving in six runs in a three-game series versus the Tar Heels.
Coy has started in every game for Irish coach Shawn Stiffler this season, posting a .325 season batting average which ranks third on the squad. The sophomore shortstop currently leads the team in triples (3), walks (26) and stolen bases (9).
Just a year ago, Coy had taken a backseat to the Irish upperclassmen in the infield. A year later, the sophomore is thriving as Notre Dame’s starting shortstop. “I’m just trying to be the same guy every day,” Coy said. “Just playing with that chip on my shoulder and trying to have something to prove every time I’m out there.”
Coy will look to build on a stellar season as the Irish (17-15) travel to Tallahassee this weekend to meet the No. 8 Florida State Seminoles.