Wink received recognition for his work recently when he was named as a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award. The program, sponsored by the insurance company, is in its second season. Over 350,000 assistant coaches were nominated from around the country, with 500 high school and college coaches, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, receiving the award.

"This award is a great honor for John and the effort he has put into raising our program to a top level," said Rutgers-Camden head coach Keith Williams, who has had Wink on his staff since his first season in 1999. "As a part-time coach, the amount of time and dedication is a testament to his caring for the program, the players on the team and the university. Without John's dedication our success of the past three seasons would not have been attainable, as his efforts with the pitching staff, nationally ranked in ERA in 2002, and recruiting have set the foundation for much success in the future. It is easy to look past the assistants when a program experiences success, but as a Head Coach, having someone like John to lean on makes my own job much easier. I think we have developed a strong working relationship which has aided in the success of our program both on and off the field."

Wink, whose pitching expertise has helped the Raptors to a 74-41 record the last three seasons, saw his staff post a 32-10 record and lead the New Jersey Athletic Conference with a 3.37 ERA in 2002.

A 1990 graduate of Holy Cross High School, Wink pitched for the Lancers under head coach Greg Luzinski, the former Philadelphia Phillies star. He was a member of the Lancers' 1988 South Jersey Parochial A championship team, and posted an 8-1 record during his senior year.

Wink continued his pitching career at Virginia Wesleyan College. A four-year varsity hurler for the Marlins, he graduated from Virginia Wesleyan in 1994 with a B.A. in Business Management.