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.
February 20, 2014