BB: NJAC: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Knightstalker]

The head coach at WPU has retired.

[triplesforme]

who are the front runners for the job at WPU?

[Spence]

It's almost better IMO for TCNJ to have an interim AD that knows the program than a brand new full-time guy just getting his feet wet and maybe thinking he needs to make a big splash.

Castaldo is a TCNJ/Trenton guy through and through, and I expect him to make a very good choice from a strong local/regional pool of candidates.

[Lefty]

Head Baseball Coach Ken Heaton from New Jersey City University has stepped down and has been named NJCU's Compliance Officer.  Heaton recorded 255 wins in 18 seasons at NJCU.  He will be replaced by Assistant Coach Eric Alvarez. 

[Lefty]

From the William Paterson Website:

Mike Lauterhahn Named Baseball Head Coach

WAYNE , N.J. – Former William Paterson standout Mike Lauterhahn has been named the Pioneers' new head baseball coach, the University announced Aug. 15. Lauterhahn will assume his new duties on Aug. 27.

Most recently, Lauterhahn has served as the varsity head coach at Rutherford High School (2001-07), leading the Bulldogs to a 129-55-1 record during his seven seasons, the 2004 and 2005 Group 2 state titles, Group 2 runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2003, and the Bergen County Scholastic League's (BCSL) American Division crowns in 2001 and 2003. The 2005 Bergen County, BCSL-American and northjerseysports.com Coach of the Year, Lauterhahn has sent more than 20 of his former student-athletes on to play in the college ranks, and mentored three more who signed contracts with Major League Baseball clubs.

"Mike Lauterhahn brings with him a wealth of experience at all levels of competitive baseball," said Arnold Speert, William Paterson University President. "His experience and his familiarity with William Paterson University, our mission and New Jersey high school talent position him to successfully lead the Pioneers for years to come."

Lauterhahn will succeed his former coach, Jeff Albies, who led William Paterson to an 862-401-15 record and two national championships (1992, 1996) during his 33 years at the helm. Lauterhahn's connection to the Pioneer program stretches back more than a quarter century, as his father, Bob, just completed his 27 th season as an assistant coach, and his brother, Dan (1995-97), was an all-American at the school and a 1997 draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.

"Mike is an outstanding individual who possesses an excellent work ethic, passion for the game and a life-long commitment to the Pioneer baseball program," William Paterson Director of Athletics Sabrina Grant said. "He will serve as a great role model for our student-athletes, and we look forward to the continued success of our baseball program under Mike's leadership."

A member of the New Jersey State Baseball Coaches Association Executive Committee and the Northeast's coach at the 2004-06 Senior State All-Star Games, Lauterhahn has worked as a William Paterson assistant coach during the fall season since 2000, and as a staff member for the Joe Wladyka Camps since 2001. He has taught history at Rutherford High School since 2004, and previously served as a social studies teacher at Wallington Junior/Senior High School (2001-2004) and as a fifth-grade teacher at Frank W. Gavlak School in Wallington (1996-2001).

"I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to return to William Paterson as the head baseball coach," Lauterhahn said. "Based on what Coach Albies accomplished during his 33 seasons and the tradition of excellence he established, I could not ask for a better situation. The tradition associated with William Paterson baseball is very important, not just for me personally, but for my extended family as well. I grew up in the program, and it is extremely important to me that we maintain that connection to our past, as well as work hard to take the program to the next level nationally. Reaching those goals will be my responsibility, and I am anxious and excited to get started."

An all-New Jersey Athletic Conference outfielder for the Pioneers after transferring from Rutgers-Newark, Lauterhahn helped lead William Paterson to a 56-24 two-year record (1993-94), the 1993 NJAC title and a berth in that year's NCAA Tournament. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1994, he spent two years in the Cubs' farm system before returning to William Paterson to finish his studies. Lauterhahn currently stands tied for eighth in hit by pitches (14) and tied for 10 th in triples (nine) on the William Paterson career charts, and tied for second in hit by pitches (12, 1993), tied for third in triples (eight, 1993) and tied for seventh in runs scored (55, 1993) on the single-season lists. In addition to his exploits as a member of the William Paterson baseball team, Lauterhahn also was a two-year starting guard for the Pioneer basketball team (1992-93, 1993-94), and his 15 assists against Richard Stockton (2/20/93) remain tied for the best single-game total in program history.

A 1997 graduate of William Paterson with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and history, Lauterhahn resides in Carlstadt with his wife, Lucia, and their 20-month old son, Sean. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of his alma mater, Wallington High School, after earning all-area, all-conference and all-county honors in basketball, and all-conference laurels in baseball.

[blipp50]

its amazing how every year no matter what rowan and msu get votes in the rankings when they havent dont anything, other teams dont get respect, i guess we will have to wait and see who the sleepers are

[phil]

As long as Blipp posts in two places, so shall I...

its amazing how every year no matter what rowan and msu get votes in the rankings when they havent dont anything, other teams dont get respect, i guess we will have to wait and see who the sleepers are

Yeah, Montclair is soooo over rated every year. Thirty-nine trips to the regional tourney, thirteen trips to the College World Series (3 of the last 7 years), and three national championships worth of over rated! Until last season, Rowan was in five consecutive regional tournaments with two College World Series appearances. They also happen to return their entire starting pitching rotation this year.

Do you think Ramapo's a sleeper? They finished near the bottom of the NJAC in fielding percentage and pitching – giving up almost twice the runs / game that Kean did. They also had a pretty weak early season schedule (four games against Apprentice?), before playing close to .500 ball the last 20 games — NJAC games! How do you see them above Kean, TCNJ, Rowan, or Montclair?

I can buy Stockton as a sleeper. They return their pitchers (who unlike Ramapo, were not bad last year). But how can you rate them higher than fifth when Stockton advanced to the NJAC playoffs for the first time in school history in '07 and promptly went 0-2?

C'mon blipp50, I know you're a Ramapo fan, but at least show me some facts behind your silly statement — and some knowledge of NJAC history (recent will do) while you're at it.

[rams1102]

Hey Phil,

How do you really feel.

Hope all is well with you and your family. We open up in Greensboro today.

I went to the MSU-Ramapo basketball game last week. The baseball team came to the game around half time and were pretty rowdy. They shoul have saved that energy for yesterdays baseball game.

[Knightstalker]

Everybody knows that NJCU is the real sleeper team in the NJAC.   

[Knightstalker]

NJCU baseball games being broadcast on the web this week

Baseball

[rjburke]

Kean games feature live stats on the web. FYI, Kean is now 6-2 .

[phil]

It would be worth mentioning that TCNJ has now beaten both #12 Wheaton and #3 Cortland this week to move to 5-0.

[Knightstalker]

NJCU dropped both games of a double header to Wheaton IL yesterday.  They play Coe again today in Orlando.

[phil]

...and TCNJ beat Cortland for a second time today — 7-5.

[Spence]

...and TCNJ beat Cortland for a second time today — 7-5.

New coach, same program.