On Tuesday, Heidelberg University baseball coach Chad Fitzgerald earned yet another accolade following the memorable 2019 season. The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Diamond Sports released its 2019 Regional Coach of the Year list -- with Fitzgerald named as one of nine NCAA Division III recipients. The National Coach of the Year will be announced on Thursday.
According to its release, the ABCA -- founded in 1945 -- is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries.
Fitzgerald led the Student Princes to a 35-15 record in 2019. During the season, The Berg picked up a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title before winning both the Adrian Regional and Tiffin Super Regional.
Former head coach and current athletic director Matt Palm is the only other HU coach to have picked up the ABCA honor (2010).