NEW PALTZ — Mike Juhl, the Head Baseball Coach and Athletic Fields and Equipment Manager at SUNY New Paltz, has been selected to coach the Hyannis Mets of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) beginning in summer 2001.
Juhl replaces Tom O’Connell, the 2000 CCBL Coach of the Year, who resigned after two seasons at the helm. This past season, the Mets lost in the best-of-three league championship series, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
“It’s great to be back in the CCBL,” Juhl said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to coach the team I once played for. I hope to instill a winning attitude and continue the success achieved this past season.”
Juhl played two seasons with the Hyannis Mets (1989-90), earning All-CCBL honors in 1990, and participating in the annual All-Star game both seasons.
In 1990, Juhl ranked second in the league in wins (seven), fifth in strikeouts (65) and eighth in earned-run average (1.85). He compiled a 5-4 record in 1989, with a 2.61 earned-run average, 67 strikeouts and two saves.
And when he gets there, he will be reunited with two familiar faces. Former New Paltz pitching coach Keith Stohr, whom Juhl helped get a coaching position this past season, will return for his second season, and longtime Mets coach Nick Siemasz, who was a coach when Juhl played there, will be invited back for his 16th season.
Juhl also played seven years (1990-96) in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, after one season at the University of Florida (1990) and two seasons at Florida Community College of Jacksonville (1988-89).
In just three seasons, Juhl has revitalized a New Paltz baseball program, which had endured seven straight losing seasons prior to his arrival.
This past spring, the team went 22-17-1, and reached the State University of York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship game for the first time in school history. The Hawks also participated in the post-season in consecutive years for only the second time in school history, and qualified for the SUNYAC Tournament for the first time in consecutive seasons.
In 2000, New Paltz set 25 school records, including 10 individual records by All-SUNYAC outfielder Shawn Francis, and team records for most wins (22), most home wins (14), most home runs (28) and best fielding percentage (.958).
And in the three years since he was named the Hawks’ coach, Juhl has overseen numerous improvement projects at their home facility, Loren Campbell Field, including the installation of a field irrigation system, the adjustment of field dimensions and the park’s enclosure with six-foot high fencing.
The new position will not affect Juhl’s current coaching and administrative duties at New Paltz.
Photos of Mike Juhl can be downloaded from the SUNY New Paltz web site at http://www.newpaltz.edu/news/images/juhl.html. For more information on the Hyannis Mets go to http://www.capecodbaseball.org/hyannismets.
