Two of the top Division III powers in college baseball, William Paterson University and the College of New Jersey, have had to do something they had not had tosince before Ronald Reagan had gotten comfortable in the White House - hire new coaches.
And it should be no surprise that they would pick people with long-term connections to the school.
TCNJ selected Dean Glus, a 16-year assistant, to replace Rick Dell, who left the Ewing school after 27 years to accept a position with Major League Baseball.
“I am extremely honored and privileged to be able to follow in Rick Dell’s footsteps and look forward to this opportunity to continue the baseball program on a nationally competitive level.” Glus said in a release from the school, “I’m proud to have been part of TCNJ national prominence over the last 16 years and fully intend to keep the program on that level. Having been part of the athletic department for the last 17 years, in different capacities, it’s an honor to be part of a group of head coaches that represent the College with class, respect and integrity.”
Glus is a former three-year letterwinner at West Virginia University. As WVU's top reliever, Glus helped his teams earn NCAA Tournament bids in 1985 and 1987.
Since arriving at TCNJ in 1990, Glus has been involved in many facets of the game on and off the field for the Lions ranging from pitching, catching, infield play, strategies of the game, and recruiting. In addition to his involvement with numerous TCNJ baseball camps and clinics, Glus also served as a national coach in Estonia, for the Junior and National baseball teams in the Baltic States in 1991. In 1996, Glus was tapped to serve as a coach with the Roberto Clemente All-Stars in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the summer of 1997, he traveled to Guam and the Philippines while participating in Major League Baseball's International Asian tour.
William Paterson also stayed in house, selecting Mike Lautherhahn, a former player and the son of the Pioneers long-time pitching coach, Bob Lautherhahn, as its new coach.
Most recently, Lauterhahn has served as the varsity head coach at Rutherford High School (2001-07), leading the Bulldogs to a 129-55-1 record during his seven seasons, the 2004 and 2005 Group 2 state titles, Group 2 runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2003, and the Bergen County Scholastic League’s (BCSL) American Division crowns in 2001 and 2003.
The 2005 Bergen County, BCSL-American and northjerseysports.com Coach of the Year, Lauterhahn has sent more than 20 of his former student-athletes on to play in the college ranks, and mentored three more who signed contracts with Major League Baseball clubs.
“Mike Lauterhahn brings with him a wealth of experience at all levels of competitive baseball,” said Arnold Speert, William Paterson University President in a statement released by the school. “His experience and his familiarity with William Paterson University, our mission and New Jersey high school talent position him to successfully lead the Pioneers for years to come.”
Lautherhahn will succeed his former coach, Jeff Albies, who led William Paterson to an 862-401-15 record and two national championships (1992, 1996) during his 33 years at the helm. Lauterhahn’s connection to the Pioneer program stretches back more than a quarter century, as his father, Bob, just completed his 27th season as an assistant coach, and his brother, Dan (1995-97), was an all-American at the school and a 1997 draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.
New Jersey City University finished off a trifeca of a schools naming new coaches, with Eric Alvarez replacing Ken Heaten, who left after 18 seasons, a long reign for most schools, but not, it seems, in the NJAC.
After four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the New Jersey City University baseball team, Alvarez was named the ninth head baseball coach in NJCU program history. He succeeds Heaton, who in 18 years as NJCU head coach, won a program-record 255 games.
“First I would like to thank Ken Heaton and Alice De Fazio for this wonderful opportunity and their support,” Alvarez said in a statement released by the school. “I realize that I am about to embark on what will hopefully be the beginning of a long career, and I am excited to continue what Coach Heaton and I have been doing for the past three years.
“I believe that I have yet again brought in some quality recruits that will add to the arsenal of players returning this year. I am going to do my best to turn this program into one of the elite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and a national contender.”
Alvarez originally joined Heaton’s coaching staff for the 2005 season as the assistant recruiting coordinator and first base coach, and was promoted to head recruiting coordinator/assistant coach in August 2005. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2004 campaign after having his playing career cut short due to a shoulder injury.
Alvarez played a major role in the success of the 2005 team which advanced to the ECAC Semifinals for the first time in 19 years and only the fourth time in program history, after finishing as the City University of New York Athletic Conference regular season champions, the CUNYAC tournament runners-up, and tying the school record for wins (19-14) in NJCU’s only season as a member of the league. That team had more than 20 freshmen on the roster and started at least seven rookies on any given day after the Knights graduated seven seniors the previous year. NJCU returned to the NJAC following that season.
Heaton, the former head coach, said of Alvarez: “Eric brings a tireless work ethic to the program, on and off the field. He is relentless in his pursuit to bring quality athletes into our program.”
Since October 2006, Alvarez has taught as a hitting and fielding instructor at the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in Flemington, NJ, teaching alongside professional baseball player Jack Cust, Jr., of the Oakland Athletics. From 2005-06, Alvarez served as a clinical staff member at the Professional Baseball Instruction school in Upper Saddle River, NJ.
"The times they are a-changing."