Ed Bethke, who starred on the mound for both schools, resigned earlier this week as head coach for the Hornets and will start Monday in his new position as an assistant coach with the Owls.
Bethke had worked in the Branford school system as a paraprofessional, along with heading the high school baseball program for the last three years after former coach George T. Dummar Jr. battled with brain cancer he was diagnosed with just after the 2012 season. Dummar passed away Sept. 28, 2014.
It’s a full-time position, which will include being the pitching coach at the university, along with fundraising and recruiting in the Tri-State area.
“Not many people get to coach at the high school and the college where they played,” said Bethke, who compiled a 22-39 record at the helm of the Hornets.
“We’re sorry to see Eddie go as he has done a wonderful job for us,” Branford co-athletic director Savas Synodi said. “For Eddie, it’s a great move for him professionally. I know he wants to make baseball a fulltime career. We wish him the best but we’re going to miss him.”
Everything came together for the move rather quickly last month when Nate Cole left as Owls’ pitching coach for a position at UMass-Amherst. Bethke and Southern Connecticut coach Tim Shea go back to Bethke’s days as a pitcher with the Owls from 2007-2010 and Shea talked to him about the position.
“I’ve stayed in touch with Tim since I left Southern Connecticut and when the job opened, I talked to him and he offered it to me on the spot,” Bethke said. “It’s the one job I told my wife I couldn’t turn down.”
Shea said that Bethke is among the top five in career pitching records at Southern Connecticut, but Bethke’s no nonsense approach made him an attractive addition to the Owls’ program.
“He gets the max out of his abilities, which is how he was as a player,” Shea said. “That’s what I’m hoping he’ll get out of our pitching staff. He’s really excited and so are we.”
Bethke said he met with the returning players from Branford last month and told them of his plans as he didn’t want them to hear rumors around town. He expects Branford to be an up and coming program over the next few years in the Southern Connecticut Conference.
“After I took over from George, we knew the first two years were going to be rebuilding years,” Bethke said. “But now there’s a lot of talent there and those coming up to the high school.”
Bethke will have a couple of familiar faces in the dugout at Southern Connecticut. His All-State shortstop, Tyler Criscuolo, will join him there, along with Kyle Hart of North Branford, Nick Lamberti of East Haven and Brendan Rentas of North Haven.
Bethke has recommended that Branford assistant coach Steve Malafronte replace him as Hornets’ coach.
“He’s been there with both me and George and I’d like to see him get the job,” Bethke said. “He’s been there for the rebuilding and I hope he gets it.”
Synodi said a committee will be formed to find the best candidate to take over for Bethke.
“I think we’ll get a lot of people to apply,” said Branford co-athletic director Jake Palluzzi. “There’s no sure thing like when George had to leave.”
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