Jan. 9, 2002
Poughkeepsie, NY -- Marist College assistant baseball coach, Mark Barron, will leave the Red Foxes coaching staff, taking a position as a scout in the Anaheim Angels organization, it was announced today. Barron, a player and coach during his time at Marist, has been associated with Marist baseball for the last decade.
"I am excited about the opportunity that has come my way," said Barron, "but at the same time I am sad to have to leave the Marist Community. I have truly enjoyed my time at Marist as both a player and coach, and look forward to maintaining a strong relationship with Coach Szefc and the entire athletic department."
"Mark has been a presence in this department for nearly a decade and he will be sorely missed," said Marist College Director of Athletic Tim Murray. "He has done some great things for our baseball program and department as a whole, and we wish him the best of luck as he undertakes this new challenge."
Barron first came to the Poughkeepsie Campus as a player for the 1993 season. During his five years with Marist, he red-shirted the 1996 season, Barron earned numerous accolades. Barron was selected as an All-America in both 1995 and 1997, years in which he earned Northeast Conference Player of the Year honors. The first player to earn that award twice, Barron was the 1995 NEC Co-Pitcher of the Year, and was a First Team All-NEC pitcher and first baseman as a senior in 1997.
As a player he helped lead the Red Foxes to the 1997 NEC Regular Season and Tournament Title, including winning 12 of their final 15 games that spring. Barron then helped the Red Foxes to a sweep of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champion, Siena College, in the NCAA Play-In Series, giving Marist its first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.
As a coach Barron has continued to mark the improvement of the Red Foxes program. Serving as the recruiting coordinator, Barron has played an integral role in helping to bring some of the most talented players in Marist history to the Poughkeepsie Campus. With Barron on the staff, the Red Foxes have posted back-to-back 33-win seasons, a school record, while capturing back-to-back MAAC Titles and NCAA berths. Marist made program history last spring with a 6-5 win over McNeese State in the Lafayette, LA Regional, the first NCAA win in history. Barron helped the team repeat that feat this spring, as the Red Foxes defeated Long Beach State, 7-6, in the Stanford, CA Regional.
Barron was named All-America in 1995, after earning NEC Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. He hit .442 that year, good enough for seventh in the nation, and led the entire country in hitting for eight consecutive weeks. As a senior he posted a 1.95 ERA, and a league best 7-2 record on his way to Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Northeast Conference (First base) honors.
Barron went on to play professionally after his 1997 graduation with a degree in Business Administration. He would play with the Sioux City Explorers of the Independent Northern League, as well as playing one season in the Independent Northeast League for the Catskill Cougars.
"Mark has been an integral part of our program from day one, "said head baseball coach John Szefc. "He has played and coached in the college ranks, played on the professional level, and we are happy to see him take this next step in his baseball career."
