Coach Bellizzi 1949-2006

Bob Bellizzi’s long and valiant struggle came to an end on Sunday, May 7.

Bob founded the Saint Rose baseball program 28 years ago and was the only head coach the Golden Knights had ever known. His passion for the game was only exceeded by his love for his family. In the game of life, unlike baseball, Bob always came out a winner because he taught us all to stay the course, to keep going, to remain on the field when it would have been so easy to watch from the sidelines.

A good friend of the college...he will be missed.

Bob Bellizzi solidified his reputation as one of the game's most astute mentors throughout his 27 years at the helm of The College of Saint Rose baseball program.

Bellizzi provided the College with well-rounded and talent laden teams by being a persistent taskmaster dedicated to directing Saint Rose to the forefront of NCAA II baseball. Furthermore, he has woven that sense of purpose with an outstanding work ethic and a far-reaching knowledge of the game.

Bellizzi's accolades befit a venerable mentor, but his greatest asset was the rapport he had with his student-athletes. A scholar of the game, Bellizzi was an excellent communicator, a superb recruiter and a non-stop worker. He instilled these characteristics into every player that buttoned up Saint Rose pinstripes.

The owner of the 15th best winning percentage among NCAA II coaches, Bellizzi built a program that solidified itself as an annual powerhouse in the Northeast. Saint Rose has posted 30 or more wins in 15 of the past 20 seasons and has won 40 or more games six times. On a more current note, the Golden Knights have won 62.0 percent (418-259-2) of their games during the last 14 years when they have competed exclusively at the NCAA II level.

Saint Rose, which has had only four losing seasons during its 21-year history as a varsity program, won it's first-ever NCAA II Northeast Regional Championship and advanced to its initial NCAA National Championship Tournament six years ago.

Saint Rose has also made four NCAA Tournament appearances (1994, 1995, 1997, 2000), has won three NAIA District 31 titles, an NAIA Area 8 championship and the 1990 club made a successful run to the NAIA College World Series with Bellizzi at the helm. The Golden Knights also captured the 1995 New York Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and came away with three regular-season titles (1992, 1994, 2000) during their nine-year tenure in that league.

From a broader perspective, Bellizzi posted a career 768-421-2 record and guided the Golden Knights to success at the club, NAIA and NCAA levels. He earned five Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year awards, was named District 31 Coach of the Year on three occasions and was twice honored as the Area 8 Coach of the Year.

The 2003 Northeast-10 Conference Co-Coach of the Year, Bellizzi also earned Northeastern Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year accolades in 1988 and was the Empire State Male Collegiate Coach of the Year that season as well. Furthermore, the American Baseball Coaches Association selected him as its NCAA II Northeast region Coach of the Year in both 1994 and 2000. Additionally, Bellizzi garnered NYCAC Coach of the Year plaudits six seasons ago while the Albany Twilight League recently honored him with its President's Award in recognition of his numerous contributions to that organization.

The founder of Saint Rose baseball and the only head coach the program has ever known, Bellizzi also served as the Director of the Saint Rose/Albany City School District Scholarship Program.

Bellizzi's baseball experience and love of the game extended beyond Saint Rose. A member of the Schenectady Baseball Club Hall of Fame, Bellizzi was the president of the Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. During his coaching tenure of the Mohawks, he twice directed them to the championship game while his 1988 club captured the league title. Bellizzi also helds the office of president of the NYCBL, which is recognized and sponsored by the NCAA and Major League Baseball.

Bellizzi, who taught social sciences at nearby Albany High School for more than 25 years, was inducted into the Saint Rose Athletics Hall of Fame three years ago. He is survived by his wife Kim and their children Kara, Rachel, Robert Jr., Michael and Alexander.