Montclair, NJ – Long-time Montclair State head baseball coach Norm Schoenig will be out indefinitely as the veteran coach will undergo hip surgery on February 26. Assistant coach Jared Holowaty will take over as Acting Head Coach and run the day-to-day operations of the program.

"We wish Coach Schoenig all the best for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery," said Holly Gera, Director of Athletics.  "Norm has been the leader of our baseball program for the past 26 seasons, and he will be very much missed in the office and in the dugout this spring.  Coach Holowaty and the staff will work hard this season to continue the fine tradition of Montclair State baseball."

Schoenig has been at the helm of the Montclair State baseball program since 1988 and has put together one of the best coaching careers in school history. In 26 seasons pacing the dugouts of Pittser Field and Yogi Berra Stadium, Schoenig has fashioned a career record of 724-409-11 his victory total second only to current head softball coach Anita Kubicka (754 victories) while his winning percentage of (.637) currently ranks among the Top 30 active coaches in Division III.

"As I told the team in September, I am no longer able to actively work at the level asked of my players without settling certain health issues," said Schoenig. "I now find it necessary to resolve the situation that will hopefully allow me to continue to serve Montclair State in the future."

Known to many as "Moose", Schoenig has led the Red Hawks to two of its three NCAA Division III national championships capturing the title in 1993 and 2000. He has guided MSU to a runner-up finish in 1998, a third-place showing in 2001 and has taken his team to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship seven times overall.

In addition, Schoenig had led the Red Hawks to five New Jersey Athletic Conference titles and became the first coach in league history to win 300 conference contests reaching that mark in Montclair State's 8-3 win over Richard Stockton during the 2012 campaign. His conference record stands at 315-135-1.

During his tenure, 18 of his players have been named All-Americans, with 15 Red Hawks signing professional contracts, including pitcher Jeff Gogal, who was taken in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in 2004. But Schoenig's career reaches far beyond the wins and the losses.  Schoenig served on the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee for several years and was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Holowaty is in his second season with the Red Hawks after coming to Montclair State following three seasons as the head coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He also spent four years at the University of Maine where he served as the Black Bears' recruiting coordinator in addition to working with the hitters and infielders. As recruiting coordinator, his first two classes ranked in the top three in the northeast and top 70 in the nation respectively. In his first season in Orono, while working with the hitters, Maine's offense ranked in the top-25 nationally in batting average (15th), scoring (18th), triples per game (14th) and slugging percentage (24th).
 
"I am extremely pleased and confident that our players' and program will continue to flourish under Coach Holowaty's guidance and tutelage, as well as that of our entire staff," Schoenig added. "With ample head coaching experience, Jared is 'primed and ready' to lead this program while our players will certainly 'step it up a notch' in their preparation for our opener on February 28."
 
Holowaty is also no stranger to the New Jersey Athletic Conference as he was a graduate assistant at The College of New Jersey under head coach Rick Dell during the 2004 and 2005 seasons working as the Lions' recruiting coordinator, outfield coach and sub-varsity head coach.

Holowaty played at Eastern Connecticut State University and helped the Warriors capture the 2002 Division III National Championship. He was an All-New England selection in 2000, named to the Little East All-Conference First Team in 2000 and 2001 and an All-Tournament selection in 1999.

The following year, Holowaty became an assistant coach at ESCU for his father, Bill, the all-time winningest coach in the history or New England intercollegiate athletics. The team finished 43-9 and placed third in the 2003 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

Holowaty is a 2002 graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in economics and a minor in sports management.

The Red Hawks open their 2014 campaign on February 28 at Christopher Newport University.