Joe Brown named NYCBL Commissioner
JOE BROWN NAMED NYCBL COMMISSIONER
Cortland, NY - The New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), an MLB and NCAA sanctioned collegiate wooden bat summer baseball league, has named Joe Brown as its new Commissioner.
Brown brings incredible baseball experience to the post, currently serving as the head baseball coach at NCAA Division III power and 2015 National Champion SUNY Cortland. Joe will continue as head coach of the Red Dragons while serving as NYCBL Commissioner.
Joe Brown has led Cortland to an impressive 641-164-3 (.795) combined record, 17 NCAA Division III tournament appearances, 10 World Series showings and 15 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles in his first 17 seasons as the Red Dragons’ head coach since assuming the role in 2000. His winning percentage is the best of any active coach nationally (NCAA Div. I, II or III) with at least 10 years’ experience, and the third-best all-time among all Div. III coaches with 10 years as a head coach.
Brown was elected commissioner during the NYCBL fall meetings, he has a wealth of experience in summer collegiate baseball. From 1992-99, Brown was the head coach of the Ithaca Lakers in the summer Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League (NCBL) and NYCBL. The most successful coach in league history, he led the Lakers to three league titles, three runner-up finishes and two third-place showings in eight seasons. He coached more than 25 players who moved on to the professional ranks, including major leaguers Brad Lidge and Scott Sauerbeck. Brown returned to summer coaching in 2006 and again in 2008 as the head coach of the New England Collegiate Baseball League's (NECBL) Sanford Mainers. He led the Mainers to the 2008 NECBL title. He coached the NECBL's Vermont Mountaineers four straight summers from 2013-16 and led the team to the 2015 league crown.
“The NYCBL is extremely pleased to have Joe Brown as our new Commissioner, said NYCBL President Steve Pindar. “Being one of the oldest collegiate leagues in the US, it’s only fitting that someone with a rich tradition in baseball, as well as the respect of baseball people nationally, takes the reins as our new Commissioner.”
Along with Brown’s appointment, the NYCBL elected additional positions for 2017.
Steve Pindar was elected and will continue in his role as President. Steve has been instrumental in the growth of the NYCBL for the last two seasons. Pindar is also the founder of Roberto’s Kids and had previously served in the league as President of Operations/GM for the Oneonta Outlaws.
Jake Dennstedt was elected and will continue in his role as Director of Baseball Operations. Jake has served in the NYCBL as an administrator for the last 5 years. Dennstedt was also an NYCBL head coach from 2007-2009 for the Brockport Riverbats and Cooperstown Hawkeyes in 2010.
Dave Meluni was newly elected to serve as Senior Marketing Director. Dave was an NCAA All-Region and 1st team All-Conference infielder at Ithaca College where he played for legendary head coach George Valesente from 1996-2000. He also played two seasons in the NYCBL for the Ithaca Lakers, coached by Joe Brown from 1998-1999.
The New York Collegiate Baseball League is comprised of 11 teams located in scenic Upstate New York. Founded in 1978, the NYCBL is a development league for professional baseball. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wooden bats, and be evaluated by professional scouts. For more information on the league and teams please visit us on the web at www.NYCBL.com and on Twitter at @nycbl_baseball.
