Hartford, Conn. - Trinity College Athletic Director Michael Renwick has announced that Head Baseball Coach Bill Decker has resigned his position at Trinity College. He will be assuming a new role as the newly-named head baseball coach at Harvard University. As the head coach of the Bantams, Decker compiled a 529-231 record, which ranks him amongst the top 25 active NCAA Division III coaches. Decker will leave Trinity with the overall most wins of any head coach in Trinity varsity sports history.

"I am thrilled for Bill and his family, and am extremely supportive of his decision to pursue this great opportunity at Harvard," Renwick said.  "Bill has been such a catalyst over the years in Trinity's great athletic tradition, as his teams have finished near the top of both the NESCAC and National standings.  His leadership of our baseball program will be missed, however, we have a great nucleus of players returning this season and Trinity baseball will remain a strong and cherished program within our stable of sports. I wish Bill and his family all the best and Trinity family will certainly be following his progress in Cambridge from afar."

Over his time in Hartford, Decker's teams made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, eight NESCAC Tournament bids to include NESCAC titles in 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2012, and five ECAC Tournament appearances. In 2008, Decker's Bantams put together one of the finest Division III seasons in history, when they finished the season with a 45-1 mark en route to the school's first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship, a NCAA New England Regional Championship, and a NESCAC Championship. After finishing the regular season undefeated, the Bantams ran their record streak to 44 games, which is the longest winning streak in Division III baseball history. Their .978 winning percentage was the best in NCAA history for a team that had played that many games in any division, in any sport.
 
Coach Decker has amassed several individual accolades while leading the Bantam program. In 2005 he was named the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Coach of the Year after leading the Bantams to a 35-9 record. He was named the 2008 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Coach of the Year after leading the program to a National Title. In addition, he was named the New England Coach of the Year in 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2009, along with the Connecticut Coach of the Year in 2007 and NESCAC Coach of the Year in 2000, 2003, 2008 and 2009. Under his tutelage at Trinity, eight former baseball student-athletes have gone on to sign Major League Baseball contracts in the last seven years.

"Trinity gave me a wonderful opportunity, and I am very appreciative of all the College has given me and my family. The past 22+ years have been a tremendous experience for all of us.  My time at Trinity has been filled with great memories," said Decker.  "This is a new challenge and opportunity for me and I am excited to be in a position to lead the baseball program at Harvard.  One of the toughest things I have ever had to do was to address our current squad yesterday and announce my departure, particularly with my son being one of the players in the room.  We have great kids who have always given a great effort!.'

"This group is healthy and has momentum from last year heading into the new season," added Decker.  "I am lucky to have over-achieving coaches and student-athletes, and each Trinity season has been very special to me in its own way.  We will always be recognized for the 2008 season by winning the National Championship and finishing with an NCAA-record 45-1 won-loss mark, but what I will cherish is the consistency that our program has maintained especially throughout the past 15 years.  Along with that, I am grateful to our alumni that have supported us in many different ways!"

Decker joined the Trinity staff in 1990 as head baseball coach and assistant football coach after one season in a similar role at Macalester College in Minnesota. He coached both sports for 10 seasons, including the 1999-00 season when he was the Bantam Interim Head Football Coach and Head Baseball Coach, before concentrating his efforts on the Trinity baseball program for the last 12 years. Trinity will be making an announcement shortly with their plan for moving forward.