| Bill Holowaty has won 1,403
career games at Eastern Connecticut, predating the existence of
Division III. d3photography.com file photo by Larry Radloff |
Eastern Connecticut baseball coach Bill Holowaty has retired according to a report in the Hartford Courant.
Holowaty told the team Friday afternoon, according to interim coach Michael Grant.
"The university thanks Professor Holowaty for his 45 years of service to Eastern and wishes him the best in his future endeavors," said Eastern president Elsa Nunez.
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The school had suspended longtime head baseball coach Bill Holowaty on April 22 for the remainder of the 2013 season and any postseason games, citing what it termed a "personnel matter" according to a report in the Hartford Courant.
Holowaty, who is the winningest active coach in Division III baseball and just the third coach in D-III history to reach the 1,400-win milestone, will be replaced by assistant coach Michael Grant.
The Courant contacted Holowaty, who said: "I would love to talk and there's a lot to be said. But I can't. Someday I will, and I just think it's inappropriate at this time."
A letter from a university labor relations official obtained by the newspaper details five specific charges brought against Holowaty, including failure to follow directives from his supervisor, failure to follow financial procedures and failure to comply with an agreement between the university and Holowaty dated Feb. 7, 2013.
That agreement is dated two days after Fox CT News aired a report detailing the cancellation of Eastern Connecticut's spring baseball trip.
A fourth point details throwing of a helmet in the bleachers during the game, while the fifth promises a three-week investigation into "a pattern of alleged abuses over a series of incidents," including public cursing and abusive language.
The letter continues: "To be clear, you are not allowed to teach, coach, enter the campus or related events, contact any member; past or present involved with the University, with the exception of your family member and union representation. Failure to comply with this suspension will result in an indefinite suspension; while violations of this letter are investigated. The noncompliance with this directive can result in termination and dismissal from state service."
The Courant report also cites a Freedom of Information Act request that yielded details of a previous three-day suspension and a letter from the NCAA following inappropriate conduct toward an NCAA site representative regarding the selection of teams to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Eastern Connecticut finished 29-13 that season, losing four of its final five games.