MESA, Arizona -- Tony Cirelli, coach of the NJCAA Division II national champion Mesa Community College (MCC) baseball team, has been named national Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), and Division II Conference Coach of the Year by his peers in Arizona.
“Tony guided our T-birds to a 52-13 record this year. The best in the 49-year history of baseball at our college,” said John Mulhern, MCC director of athletics. “He expertly led the team through the season, tying with Division I Central Arizona for first place in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) end of season conference standings which combines both ACCAC Division I and Division II programs, earning him the well deserved ACCAC Conference Coach of the Year honor.”
Cirelli who has a combined record of 716-456, joined the Mesa staff as assistant coach in 1985 and was named head coach in 1995. Over those years the T-Birds reached playoff play 25 times and made five appearances in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournaments.
This is the third time the Association has recognized Coach Cirelli during his 20 year career with MCC. “It is simply a marvelous and a prideful moment to know we have top caliber student-athletes and a premier coaching staff. For all the late nights, long days and years of service we thank you and the T-bird coaching staff,” said MCC Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Sonya Pearson.
Cirelli will be formally recognized during the ABCA national convention in Orlando, Florida in January 2015.
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Contacts:
Wayne Block, Sports Information Director, 480-461-7543 Wayne.block@mesacc.edu
Dawn Zimmer, (480) 461-7892, Dawn.Zimmer@mesacc.edu
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community. Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information please visit http://www.mesacc.edu.
About MCC Athletics
MCC has one of the top two-year athletic programs in the nation. This year MCC finished fourth among more than 400 schools in the NATYCAA Cup, a compilation of team success in national championship events, and had 18 individuals and seven full teams, recognized as all-academic by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). More than 60 student-athletes will continue their careers at four-year institutions. Additional information about MCC’s athletic programs is available online at http://athletics.mesacc.edu.
About the American Baseball Coaches Association
The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The Association is involved in numerous programs that promote the integrity of the profession and the development of the game of baseball. Read more at http://ftp.abca.org/.
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an
equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.