August 18, 2007

LAUTERHAHN NAMED HEAD BASEBALL COACH
AT WILLIAM PATERSON

WPU ALUM TO TAKE THE HELM OF THE PIONEER PROGRAM ON AUGUST 27

Former William Paterson standout Mike Lauterhahn has been named the Pioneers’ new head baseball coach, the University announced on August 15. Lauterhahn will assume his new duties on August 27. 

Most recently, Lauterhahn has served as the varsity head coach at Rutherford High School (2001-07), leading the Bulldogs to a 129-55-1 record during his seven seasons, the 2004 and 2005 Group 2 state titles, Group 2 runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2003, and the Bergen County Scholastic League’s (BCSL) American Division crowns in 2001 and 2003. The 2005 Bergen County, BCSL-American and northjerseysports.com Coach of the Year, Lauterhahn has sent more than 20 of his former student-athletes on to play in the college ranks, and mentored three more who signed contracts with Major League Baseball clubs.

“Mike Lauterhahn brings with him a wealth of experience at all levels of competitive baseball,” said Arnold Speert, William Paterson University President. “His experience and his familiarity with William Paterson University, our mission and New Jersey high school talent position him to successfully lead the Pioneers for years to come.”

Lauterhahn will succeed his former coach, Jeff Albies, who led William Paterson to an 862-401-15 record and two national championships (1992, 1996) during his 33 years at the helm. Lauterhahn’s connection to the Pioneer program stretches back more than a quarter century, as his father, Bob, just completed his 27^th season as an assistant coach, and his brother, Dan (1995-97), was an all-American at the school and a 1997 draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.

“Mike is an outstanding individual who possesses an excellent work ethic, passion for the game and a life-long commitment to the Pioneer baseball program,” William Paterson Director of Athletics Sabrina Grant said. “He will serve as a great role model for our student-athletes, and we look forward to the continued success of our baseball program under Mike’s leadership.”

A member of the New Jersey State Baseball Coaches Association Executive Committee and the Northeast’s coach at the 2004-06 Senior State All-Star Games, Lauterhahn has worked as a William Paterson assistant coach during the fall season since 2000, and as a staff member for the Joe Wladyka Camps since 2001. He has taught history at Rutherford High School since 2004, and previously served as a social studies teacher at Wallington Junior/Senior High School (2001-2004) and as a fifth-grade teacher at Frank W. Gavlak School in Wallington (1996-2001).

“I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to return to William Paterson as the head baseball coach,” Lauterhahn said. “Based on what Coach Albies accomplished during his 33 seasons and the tradition of excellence he established, I could not ask for a better situation. The tradition associated with William Paterson baseball is very important, not just for me personally, but for my extended family as well. I grew up in the program, and it is extremely important to me that we maintain that connection to our past, as well as work hard to take the program to the next level nationally. Reaching those goals will be my responsibility, and I am anxious and excited to get started.”

An all-New Jersey Athletic Conference outfielder for the Pioneers after transferring from Rutgers-Newark, Lauterhahn helped lead William Paterson to a 56-24 two-year record (1993-94), the 1993 NJAC title and a berth in that year’s NCAA Tournament. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1994, he spent two years in the Cubs’ farm system before returning to William Paterson to finish his studies. Lauterhahn currently stands tied for eighth in hit by pitches (14) and tied for 10^th in triples (nine) on the William Paterson career charts, and tied for second in hit by pitches (12, 1993), tied for third in triples (eight, 1993) and tied for seventh in runs scored (55, 1993) on the single-season lists. In addition to his exploits as a member of the William Paterson baseball team, Lauterhahn also was a two-year starting guard for the Pioneer basketball team (1992-93, 1993-94), and his 15 assists against Richard Stockton (2/20/93) remain tied for the best single-game total in program history.

A 1997 graduate of William Paterson with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and history, Lauterhahn was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of his alma mater, Wallington High School, after earning all-area, all-conference and all-county honors in basketball, and all-conference laurels in baseball.