ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca Journal recently named Ithaca College baseball head coach George Valesente as the recipient of the 2013 Kenny Van Sickle Male Coach of the Year. Valesente led the Bomber baseball team to a record-setting campaign in 2013, which resulted in conference and regional titles and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships. Ithaca finished the year with a 41-8 record, which established a single-season record for wins in a season.

It is the third time that Valesente has been honored with the year-end honor from the local newspaper. He also earned the Coach of the Year distinction in 1980 and 1988, following Ithaca's two national championship seasons. It is the 12th time that an Ithaca College male coach has earned this distinction and Valesente's three honors is one behind legendary football coach Jim Butterfield's four awards in 1974, 1975, 1979 and 1985. Bucky Freeman won the inaugural award in 1962 and was followed by Carp Wood in 1964 as both led the Ithaca baseball team to successful seasons. Other Ithaca College male head coaches to win the honor were men's basketball coach Tom Baker in 1982, wrestling coach John Murray in 1989 and women's soccer coach Pat Farmer in 1990.

In the article, Valesente credited his assistant coaches and players by saying, "In my way of thinking, there's no way of achieving the success that you achieve with these teams just from what the head coach does. Most of the teaching and coaching in our program is done by my assistant coaches — Frank Fazio handles the hitters, Geoff Wright does the infielders and John McNally takes care of the catchers and outfielders. (JV coach) Jarrod Surrine worked with us last year, too."

"We're only as good as the players, and Coach Faz will tell you that," Valesente said, "but without the assistant coaches doing their jobs, this is not possible. It's not a one-man show, never was and never will be. Their contributions are immeasurable ... not only from a skills standpoint but from an attitude standpoint."

Valesente completed his 35th year at the helm of his alma mater in 2013. Valesente, who has coached the Bombers since 1979, is now 972-429-8 at Ithaca in 35 seasons. His overall coaching record, which also includes stints at Brockport, New Paltz and Maritime, is 1,064-466-8 in 41 seasons.

Complete Story From Ithaca Journal