Baseball | 9/23/2026 11:45:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. — Gannon baseball head coach DJ Cannon has announced the addition of BJ Salerno as an assistant coach to the Golden Knights' staff.

Salerno brings more than 13 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to Gannon after spending the majority of his coaching career at St. Bonaventure University. During his tenure with the Bonnies, Salerno served as an assistant coach, interim head coach and, most recently, associate head coach.

"We are extremely excited to welcome BJ to our coaching staff," Cannon said. "He brings a wealth of college playing and coaching experience that will be a huge addition to our program. More importantly, we are excited to add a great person to our staff that will be dedicated to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field. His addition will strengthen our program and continue to build momentum."

Salerno served as St. Bonaventure's associate head coach from 2022-26, overseeing several areas of the program. He helped direct the Bonnies' offensive strategy, designed and executed team practices, developed offensive players and catchers, prepared scouting reports and assisted with the recruitment of high school, junior college and transfer student-athletes.

Prior to moving into the associate head coach role, Salerno served as St. Bonaventure's interim head coach in 2022. In that position, he oversaw program administration, recruiting, academic eligibility, travel and departmental budgets.

Salerno originally joined the Bonnies as an assistant coach in 2013 and spent more than eight years overseeing the development of the program's pitching staff. During his tenure, he coached two College Baseball All-Americans, one Academic All-American, eight All-Atlantic 10 selections and five MLB Draft picks.

The Bonnies' pitching staff posted a 2.79 ERA in 2016, leading the Atlantic 10 and ranking fourth nationally in Division I. St. Bonaventure set a then-program single-season ERA record that season before recording the second-best mark in program history in 2017. The pitching staff also set a program record with 344 strikeouts in 2019.

Before joining St. Bonaventure, Salerno spent the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach at Jamestown Community College, working with position players and catchers while assisting with recruiting. He began his coaching career at Warren Area High School, serving as the head junior varsity coach and an assistant varsity coach in 2011-12.

Salerno also played collegiately at St. Bonaventure, where he was a four-year starting catcher and letterwinner. A team captain in 2009, he was part of the only class in program history to reach the Atlantic 10 Tournament in three consecutive seasons. He started 152 consecutive games behind the plate and was the recipient of the Brendan O'Riordan Award, presented to the senior who best exemplifies St. Bonaventure University and its baseball program.

Salerno earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Bonaventure in 2009.