Legendary Coach Joe Zavattaro to be inducted into inaugural NEIBA Hall of Fame June 2nd
Full Bio's of 2017 Hall of Fame Class
BABSON PARK, Mass.—The New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) announced the names of its first eight inductees on Thursday. The 2017 Hall of Fame class will be honored prior to the organization's annual all-star game on Friday, June 2, in Pawtucket, R.I. Former NASC Head Coach Joe Zavattaro is among those set to be enshrined next Friday.
The inaugural NEIBA Hall of Fame Class includes some of the New England's top coaches, all of which left a lasting legacy of success. The inductees will be presented with their awards prior to the 43rd Annual NEIBA Joe Walsh All-Star Game between the University All-Stars (Division I) and College All-Stars (Division II/III). First pitch at McCoy Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
The 2017 NEIBA Hall of Fame Inductees:
Former Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (formerly North Adams State University) head coach Joe Zavattaro won 493 games between 1964-95, and also served as athletic director at his alma mater. (Full Bio Below)
Archie Allen, who served as head baseball coach at Springfield College from 1948-78, amassed 454 career victories and led the Pride to the Division II College World Series on three occasions.
A tremendous three-sport athlete in the 1950s, John "Tinker" Connelly was the head baseball coach at Northeastern University for over 25 years. He won 288 games and led the Huskies to the College World Series in 1966.
A former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II, John Winkin won 1,043 games as the head coach at Colby College, the University of Maine and Husson University. He recorded 642 victories and made six trips to the College World Series with the Black Bears.
A member of the University of Connecticut athletics department since 1963, Andy Baylock won 556 games and led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances in 24 years as the head baseball coach.
Dick Bergquist, who served as head baseball coach at the University of Massachusetts from 1967-87, won 392 games and led the Minutemen to a fifth-place finish at the 1969 College World Series.
A two-sport standout in the 1950s, Jack Butterfield won 301 games in 20 years as the head coach at the University of Maine and the University of South Florida, and was selected as the Division I Coach of the Year in 1964.
Jim Stone amassed 801 career wins during his 37-year tenure as the head baseball coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He led the River Hawks to the Division II College World Series in 2001 and 2002.
Zavattaro Bio
Joe Zavattaro has become synonymous with the North Adams State Athletics. A pioneer of the College Athletics program, Joe player the first sports offered here at the College and then went on to coach and finally lead the department at Athletic Director.
A lifelong baseball enthusiast, Joe was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly after graduating from Pittsfield High School. His professional career propelled him to the Triple A level. From there he enrolled as a student at the College, starring in both Men's Basketball and Baseball. During the school years, 1957-58 and 1958-59, Joe was the recipient of the Louis Parisien Memorial Award. This award is presented to a student athlete that excels on the playing field and in the classroom. As a student, Joe was president of the Men's Athletic Association, the Science Club, and served on the Student Council.
After graduation, he returned to Pittsfield to coach Pittsfield High School to the Western Massachusetts Baseball Finals in 1963. A year later, he took over the helm at his alma mater. There he would stay for thirty-three years. Coupled with his duties as Athletic Director, Joe also coachedSoccer, Basketball, and of course, Baseball.
Coaching baseball has allowed Joe to travel all over the world. He has taught and coached the sport in countries such as Zimbabwe, Italy, Canada and Japan. He has published his ideas on Baseball in numerous publications; "New England Baseball Monthly", "Hit-Hit-Hit", and "The Tools of Intelligence". His service on committees is unparalleled in New England. He has served on the NCAA Rules Committee, Chair of the NCAA Baseball Committee, ECAC Softball and Baseball Committee, U.S. Baseball Federation's International Relations Committee, President of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference and as a longtime Secretary-Treasurer of the NEIBA.
As the Baseball Coach, Joe has coached countless numbers of All-MASCAC, All-New England, and All-American players. His teams have won 11 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference titles and have been invited to the ECAC and NCAA tournament numerous times. Joe's final season at NASC was capped with the MASCAC title and an invitation to the NCAA tournament. A fitting end to a career at his alma mater that ended with 493 wins.
Courtesy of Jeremy Viens (Babson College)