Daniel Webster College
Home of the Eagles

Baseball Coaching Staff

J.P. Pyne
Head Coach
(Saint Joseph's 2001, 1st Season)

J.P. Pyne was named Head Coach of the Daniel Webster baseball program June 20, 2007. The announcement was made by Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Athletics Phil Rowe.

“I am very pleased to bring J.P. aboard as head coach of our baseball program,” said Rowe. “He is a true student and teacher of the game. He possesses an outstanding baseball intellect and his demonstrated recruiting skills should pay immediate dividends. I am confident he will lead the program to the next level as we look to build our program into an annual challenger for a conference championship.”

Phil Rowe welcomed J.P. Pyne as new Head Baseball Coach at Harvey Woods Field (Ken Belbin photo).

J.P. Pyne At A Glance

* Native of Milford, Mass.
* Graduate of Saint Joseph's, Maine.
* Four year pitcher with the Monks.
* Former Coach with
Keene Swamp Bats (NECBL).
* Former Assistant and Head Coach at Division II Saint Anselm.
* Most recently Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach at his alma mater.

Team Highlights
* NECBL Championship with Keene.
* Helped Saint Anselm to a
program record 30 wins and
first ever NCAA tournament.
* Guided Saint Joseph's to the North Atlantic title and NCAA tournament.
* American Legion World Series appearance.
* Has coached 25 players who
have gone on the earn
professional contracts.

Pyne returns to New Hampshire after spending the past season as Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to over see the Eagle program,” said Pyne. “This is a program with enormous potential and Harvey Woods Field is an outstanding facility. I was particularly impressed with the College’s commitment its athletic program and I believe that commitment will help in our immediate goals of competing for a conference championship with the ultimate goal of reaching the NCAA tournament. I am truly looking forward to getting started.”

The Monks went 30-12 mark in 2007, reaching the NCAA Tournament after winning their third straight North Atlantic Conference Tournament title. Pyne’s pitching staff posted a solid 4.31 earned run average, the second lowest in the league.

Pyne returns to New Hampshire having spent the previous five years with Saint Anselm where he served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator (2002-04) and was later promoted to Head Coach (2005-06). Under his tutelage, the Hawks garnered two successive Northeast-10 post-season appearances. In his two years, Pyne compiled an overall record of 42-48 (30-30 NE-10.

During the 2004 campaign, Pyne guided the Saint Anselm pitching staff to a team ERA of 2.83, which led the NE-10 and was the second lowest in NCAA Division II. That season culminated with a first ever program trip to the NCAA Northeast Regional Tournament, a school record 30 wins, and the first Hawk pitcher ever selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Following the 2006 season, the ace of Pyne’s staff, Ryan Williams, received a host of accolades, including being named ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, NCBWA Third Team All-American, NCBWA Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year, NCBWA Northeast Region First Team Pitcher, ABCA/Rawlings Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year, Northeast-10 Conference Pitcher of the Year, Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team, and was selected to represent the College Division (Division II & III) as the starting pitcher in the NEIBA All-Star Game at Fenway Park.

Pyne served as the pitching coach for the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League from 2002-2003, and helped guide them to two consecutive NECBL World Series appearances, capturing the title in 2003.

During his two seasons in Keene, Pyne coached 24 players that have gone on to play professional baseball, including top Los Angeles Dodgers prospects Justin Orenduff and Andy LaRoach.

Pyne’s coaching career began in his hometown of Milford, Mass., where he served as the pitching coach for the Milford Legion Baseball Club, Inc. in 2000 and again in 2001. The 2001 edition advanced to the American Legion World Series in Yakima, Washington, finishing the season ranked sixth nationally.

From 1998-2001, Pyne was a member of the Monks pitching staff. During that time Pyne appeared in more games than anyone in program history, while also setting school records for single season saves (10) and career saves (24). Pyne captained the 2001 team that finished with a 38-6 record. Pyne was a member of three Maine Athletic Conference Championship Teams (99-01), and was named First Team All-MAC in 2001.

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Mike Rocco
Assistant Coach
(Bryant, 2007 / 1st Season)

Mike Rocco, a 2007 graduate of Bryant University and native of Tewksbury, Mass. was named Assistant Baseball Coach September 21, 2007 . The announcement was made by Eagles Head Coach J.P. Pyne.

“Mike Rocco will be a tremendous asset to the Daniel Webster College baseball program,” said Pyne. “He accomplished a great deal during his time playing at Bryant, and played for two outstanding college baseball coaches in John Sjogren and Jamie Pinzino. Mike will be responsible for our hitters and infielders, as well as our base running and I am confident his work ethic and enthusiasm will pay dividends immediately. We are very excited to welcome him aboard.”

A communications major, Rocco was one of the top all around performers in Bulldog program history, starting all four seasons at first base. He completed his career as the program leader in games played (204), was third in career hits (221) and was the career leader in put outs.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to join the Eagle program,” said Rocco. “Coach Pyne is a demonstrated professional in the field with extraordinary baseball knowledge. I look forward to working with he and his staff as we build Daniel Webster College into a conference challenger.”

Selected as Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2004, Rocco went on to earn two all conference selections, was selected to the NCAA Northeast Regional All Tournament Team in 2004 and 2007, and helped guide Bryant to the Division II College World Series in 2004. Rocco also played two seasons with the Bulldog basketball program including the Bulldogs’ run to the NCAA Division II title game in 2005.

Rocco is a former Assistant Coach with the Billerica (Mass.) American Legion and spent this past summer as Assistant Coach with the Lowell American Legion. A producer and board operator with WEEI 850 AM in Boston, Rocco resides in his native hometown.

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Mike Henzley
Assistant Coach
(Daniel Webster, 1988 / 3rd Season)
Email Assistant Coach Mike Henzley

Biographical information coming soon.