Montclair, NJ – Montclair State University head baseball coach Norm Schoenig, who guided the Red Hawks to a pair of NCAA Division III national championships, will retire effective May 31, 2014.

Schoenig had been out of action since late February when he underwent hip surgery. Assistant coach Jared Holowaty has been running the day-to-day operations of the
program and was named Acting Head Coach.  

"I consider myself extremely privileged and lucky to have been at Montclair State for these past 26 years," said Schoenig. "At this time I no longer feel capable of producing at what I consider to be my 100 percent level; the one that the program deserves daily, the one that would never allow me to lessen the standard of high achievement that has become synonymous with Montclair State University and our baseball program."

Schoenig has been at the helm of the Montclair State baseball program since 1988 and put together one of the best coaching careers in University history. In 26 seasons pacing the dugouts of Pittser Field and Yogi Berra Stadium, Schoenig fashioned a career record of 724-409-11; his victory total second only to current head softball coach Anita Kubicka (784 victories) while his winning percentage of .637 currently ranks among the Top 30 active coaches in Division III.

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 has led the Red Hawks to five New Jersey Athletic Conference titles and joined William Paterson's Jeff Albies as the only baseball coaches 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.

"Norm's retirement represents the end of an era.  His involvement on campus dates back to his time here as a student in the 70's.  I have had the distinct honor of working with Norm for the past 25 years," said Holly Gera, Director of Athletics.  "You won't find a more dedicated, harder working coach anywhere.  His loyalty to the University and the MSU baseball program is unparalleled."

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.  

"I've known Coach Schoenig for a very long time, competed against his teams and then had the privilege of coaching with him," said Jared Holowaty. "I can't thank him enough for the opportunity to be part of this program and for what he has done not only for our players past and present but for Division III baseball itself."

As a player for Clary Anderson's Montclair State teams during the early 1970s and later as an assistant under Fred Hill, Schoenig knows everything about the rich tradition of MSU Baseball.

When he returned to Montclair State in 1988 as the 10th head coach in the history of the program, Schoenig faced an uphill battle. Inheriting a team that had just won the NCAA title, it took Schoenig just three seasons to return to the World Series and by his sixth season, delivered the Red Hawks their second baseball national championship when the team topped Wisconsin Oshkosh, 3-1, to win the 1993 crown.

Five years later, he nearly pulled off another championship, but instead settled for a runner-up finish. It would be the beginning of the most successful run in the history of the program. From 1998-2001, the Red Hawks posted an amazing 143-47-1 overall record, a .751 winning percentage that also included a 62-10 mark in the highly competitive New Jersey Athletic Conference.

"Coach Schoenig's dedication, commitment, and passion for the game of baseball is an important example for all of us in the coaching profession who respect Norm for all he has done for college baseball," said DeSales University head coach Tim Neiman.  "To say Norm Schoenig will be missed is a major understatement.  All of us who have had the privilege of getting to know Norm have benefitted from that relationship and are truly blessed and honored to have had that opportunity. On behalf of all of college baseball, I wish Coach Schoenig health, happiness and all of life's blessings.  See you at the ball park again someday Coach! "

In 2000, Schoenig guided his team to the greatest season Montclair State has ever seen in the 71-year history of the program. MSU won an unprecedented 42 of 50 games (42-7-1), setting the school record for victories while posting a 17-1 mark in NJAC. His team would go on to capture the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional title and earn a berth to the Division III World Series. At the World Series, MSU would lose its first game, but taking his "one-game at a time" attitude, Schoenig's squad rebounded with five straight wins, culminating with a 6-2 victory over St. Thomas (MN) to give the Red Hawks their third national championship. The following year, Montclair finished third at the World Series.

Schoenig, a two-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year, became the all-time winningest coach in MSU history in 1997 surpassing Bill Dioguardi, with his 291st victory in 6-3 win against Albright of Pennsylvania. Schoenig accomplished the feat in just 10 seasons and has had eight 30-win seasons during his tenure. Schoenig entered 2014 at No. 20 on the all-time wins list in Division III history.

In 2011, Schoenig was enshrined into the Montclair State Athletics Hall of Fame and is one of three coaches to be inducted while still actively coaching. He joined current head football coach Rick Giancola and Anita Kubicka, who will be inducted in the Fall, for that distinction.

"Norm's record of wins and losses is impressive, but more impressive is the number of lives he has touched while teaching and coaching here," added Gera.  "He taught students a lot about baseball, but he also taught them a lot about perseverance, discipline and respect.  Norm is one of a kind and he will be missed, both on the field and in the office.  It won't be the same without his daily greetings, his jokes and the clickity-clack of his typewriter keys.  We wish him a wonderful and fulfilling retirement, whatever comes next!"