Lancaster native Andy Hoover takes reins of Gateway baseball program

By: Michael Love
Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Andy Hoover owns an extensive baseball playing and coaching background at various levels, and he hopes to use his knowledge of the game to make a difference at Gateway.

The Lancaster County native officially was hired as the Gators’ baseball coach at a school board meeting Aug. 19.

A meeting with the parents and players two nights later got him energized for what can be done in the program.

“The kids are excited to get started,” said Hoover, a baseball standout in high school at state power Lampeter-Strasburg in District 3.

“The spring season is a long way away, and that is an eternity, especially to a high school kid, but they are ready for a fresh start. They want to get to work to begin turning things around.”

Hoover takes over for Luke Padezan, who stepped down as Gators coach in June after just one season at the helm.

Gateway went 4-14 overall in 2024 and finished 3-9 and tied for sixth in Section 1-5A. The Gators swept Penn Hills, defeated Armstrong in section play, and topped WPIAL power Seneca Valley at PNC Park.

“I did a lot of research once I saw the position was open,” Hoover said.

“I saw they had struggled the past few years. Between myself and the guys I brought on as my assistants, we’re coming from winning programs and winning cultures. We’re excited to work to turn this back into a winning program. I am learning there is a lot of talent in the varsity program now and also coming up, so it’s about getting that talent to play together and win.”

Stability at the top of the program is something Hoover hopes to provide as he takes the reins.

“When I look at this, this is something I want to do and where I want to be for 20 years,” Hoover said.

“It’s exciting to vision the good things we can do together here.”

Hoover said plans are in the works to begin fall ball workouts and games in a couple of weeks once a number of additional things fall into place.

“There’s a lot to finalize,” Hoover said.

“It’s a little later start than we want, but I don’t think it will set us back. We’re going to put in an arm care program and some other things that haven’t been here before that will get the kids through the offseason. When we hit spring, we’re going to be ready to roll.”

Hoover played in college at both Division II Millersville (2002-03) and Valley Forge (2005-07).

After graduating from Valley Forge in 2007 with a bachelor of arts degree, he began his coaching career as an assistant at the school until taking over as head coach in 2013.

Hoover stepped down from the position after one season when he moved back to Lancaster County. He worked as a PIAA umpire from 2014-18 before taking over as the head baseball coach at Class 4A Lancaster Mennonite.

The opportunity presented itself for Hoover to return to his high school alma mater in 2020. While the 2020 season was canceled in the wake of the covid pandemic, he was able to put on his familiar uniform the next season as an assistant coach.

Hoover served as first base coach as well as the coordinator of the offense, working most of the time with hitters and infielders. He also helped to develop game-day strategies that led to numerous victories.

His calling as a pastor led him to a move with his family to Pittsburgh three years ago to serve the congregation at Monroeville Assembly of God. He also serves a church campus in Penn Hills located in the former YMCA.

“Since we’ve been out here, I’ve been coaching my girls’ softball teams,” said Hoover, who lives in near Apollo in the Kiski Area School District.

“It’s been an interesting journey starting in college, then going to high school and then to 12U girls softball. I kind of went in the opposite direction. But my passion is coaching high school baseball, so I am really excited to be back with a high school program.”

Hoover said he is looking forward to working in the Gateway program with assistant coaches Tyler Smith and Markus Cestra.

Smith, a Penn-Trafford graduate, went on to star as a pitcher at Canisius and was an eighth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2018.

Cestra, a Plum grad, forged a standout career at IUP. He returned to his hometown and has coached the Plum Junior Legion baseball team the past two summers.

“They both have so much experience in baseball, and I am really excited to work with them,” Hoover said.

Gateway athletic director Don Holl said Hoover is a great fit for what he hopes is a resurgence in the baseball program.

“When we were conducting this search, we were so positively impacted by the quality of the candidates,” Holl said.

“Andy has a lot of personality, charisma, energy, enthusiasm and a love and passion for the game of baseball supported by a pretty extensive background as a player and coach. I feel the heart and soul of this program has a new lease.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway