For Immediate Release
July 28, 2011
Courtesy of the Saint Rose Athletics Communications Staff
Albany, N.Y. – The growth that has occurred throughout The College of Saint Rose community during the past decade has taken another step forward with the announcement that Chris Francis has been named the first full-time head coach of the Golden Knights baseball program.
"My family and I are extremely honored and humbled to become part of the Saint Rose family. I am excited to have an opportunity to build on Coach Bob Bellizzi's legacy. Bob was the person responsible for creating this program. We are going to try and live up to the standard of excellence he established," said Francis.
A 1997 graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor's degree in sports information and communications, Francis brings a vast array of knowledge and experience to the table. He has been coaching at the collegiate level for the past 15 years, during which 25 of his former players have signed professional contracts following their college careers.
Additionally, he has coached summer teams in both the Mid-Atlantic based Coastal Plains League and the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
Francis has spent the past four years as an assistant at NCAA Division II Mansfield University (PA). He helped lead the Mountaineers to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010, a pair of 30-win campaigns, and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2010, the first for the Mountaineers since 2002.
"We are very excited to have Chris join our community as the first full-time head coach of the Saint Rose baseball program. He has expressed the importance he places on team organization and preparation, while also building relationships and trust both on and off the field," said Saint Rose Athletics Director Catherine Cummings Haker.
Francis played collegiate baseball for Hall of Fame coach George Valesente at Ithaca College from 1994 to 1997 and was part of the 1994, 1995, and 1997 teams that qualified for the NCAA Regional Tournament. The 1994 squad furthermore advanced to the NCAA College World Series. Francis was also a team captain on the 1997 team when he was named second-team All-Region and was the recipient of the Carlton "Carp" Wood Award for Attitude.
Francis began his coaching career in 1997 at the University of Rochester where he was an assistant coach in charge of pitching, catching, outfielders, and recruiting. In 2000, Francis moved to Ithaca College and became the assistant coach in charge of outfielders before heading to Virginia Wesleyan in 2003 where for five seasons he managed pitching and defense in addition to scheduling, traveling, recruiting, and the budget.
Francis is only the third coach in the history of Saint Rose baseball. The iconicBob Bellizzi founded the program in 1979 and served as head coach for 28 years prior to his passing in 2006. Casey O'Connor, an assistant under Bellizzi, served at the helm for the past five seasons.
