Bryant baseball coach dismissed

[dgreco]

June 11, 2010

BRYANT UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES COACHING CHANGE
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University Director of Athletics Bill Smith has announced today that Jamie Pinzino will no longer serve as the head coach of the baseball program.

On May 26, 2010, Pinzino and his assistant, Andrew Koocher, were involved in an unfortunate incident on campus. It did not involve any students. On Wednesday, June 9, 2010, they resigned their positions as coaches of the Bryant baseball program.

Assistant coach Matt Ponte will serve as interim head coach pending the completion of a national search for their replacements.


and from the Providence Journal

Bryant baseball coaches resign after altercation arrests
2:56 PM Fri, Jun 11, 2010 | Permalink
Mike Szostak Email

Bryant University baseball coach Jamie Pinzino has resigned in the wake of an alcohol-related altercation with Bryant Public Safety and Smithfield Police Department officers.

Pinzino, 35, was arrested on May 26 and charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors. He pleaded innocent at his arraignment on June 3 in District Court, Providence, and is scheduled to appear at a pre-trial hearing on June 15.

The police also arrested assistant coach Andy Koocher, 26, and charged him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. He pleaded no contest at his arraignment and his case was filed for one year.

Pinzino and Koocher resigned on June 9. Bill Smith, director of athletics, said the pair violated policies of mutual respect and professional conduct that are listed in the Bryant employee handbook.

According to Lt. Michael Rheaume, detective commander of the Smithfield Police Department, Bryant Public Safety officers responded to a report of a fight on the baseball field. Pinzino and Koocher appeared to be intoxicated and fighting and became "defensive and aggressive" when confronted. Bryant officials summoned the Smithfield police and said they wanted to pursue charges. The police arrived at about 7:45 p.m. and arrested the two coaches. They used a Taser to subdue Pinzino before arresting him.

The incident occurred several hours after the athletic department's end-of-the-year softball game and cookout and after Pinzino learned that he had been named coach of the year in the Northeast Conference. Bryant won the 2010 NEC regular-season championship in its first year of eligibility.

Pinzino compiled a 162-122 record in five years at Bryant.

Hopefully this doesn't set the team back. Besides Lacrosse baseball was the most promising team for Bryant. It looked like it was an actual sport where they could make a DI impact. At least regionally and make some noise nationally.

[COBBLESTONE]

I saw this when it hit the press. I was going to post it but I didn't want you to think I was busting your balls. To my knowledge you're the only Bryant poster on the board.

Man, I can certainly see this guy wanting to celebrate his team's season and his award but he sure picked the wrong way to do it. With a last name like Pinzino and given all the great Italian restaurants on Federal Hill, how about a big dinner out with the wife or that special lady friend? whichever the case may be. He gets cocked on campus? A coach? Bad move!

I don't follow college baseball but I know the success that Bryant Athletics has been having. Hopefully your program can bounce back. If not, don't worry too much since your lacrosse program is most certainly going places.

[dgreco]

^it wouldn't of been busting my balls. I was never a huge fan of the guy, the little contact I did have with him while I was a student. I also hated the way the players acted under his leadership. The baseball players were constantly in altercations with greek life and other townhouses. I enjoyed the way the team played, but it was thanks to the way Sjogren built the team while he was at Bryant.

I just hope the new coach doesn't ruin the good thing Bryant baseball has going for it.