FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter’s College Department of Athletics announced the resignation of Head Baseball Coach Derek England today. England has led the Peacocks for the past eight seasons, amassing more than 125 victories and reaching the 100-win plateau faster than any other Saint Peter’s coach.
“For the last eight years I have been extremely blessed to have been the head baseball coach at Saint Peter’s,” said England. “I will miss the “Peacock family” a great deal. Yet, at this stage in my life, I feel it is important to spend more time on my family and to embark on new endeavors in my educational career.”
During England’s tenure, five Peacocks have gone on to play professional baseball and more than 50 student-athletes have been named to the MAAC All-Academic team. His teams have broken over 70 records and he was named the 2007 MAAC and NJCBA Coach of the Year after leading the Peacocks to a 23-win season and a .500 record in the MAAC. The Peacocks fell just one game short of the MAAC Tournament in 2007.
“Derek has done great work with our program and he will be missed,” said Director of Athletics Joe Quinlan. “We wish him well in the future and thank him for the hard work and commitment that he invested in the team during the past eight seasons. Derek’s commitment to excellence in education and in baseball is a tremendous example for our students and we thank him for his dedication.”
England’s teams also were active in the community as he founded and directed the College Athlete Mentoring Program and his 2011 squad won the Saint Peter’s Athletics Community Service Award.
“This is a bitter-sweet moment,” continued England. “It is difficult to say goodbye after working with and meeting so many amazing people — faculty and staff, administration, alumni and student-athletes. It was more than I expected and could have hoped for during my coaching tenure. A sincere thanks to the administration and the athletic department, in particular, Mr.Quinlan and his predecessors — Mr. Elliott and Mr. Stein — for affording me this incredible experience. I leave with fond memories having worked with such quality individuals.”
