COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Justin Blood
In just three seasons, head baseball Coach Justin Blood led the University of Hartford baseball team to a school record 31 wins and the program's first appearance in the America East Championship in 18 years during the 2014 season. Blood, who will begin his fifth season in 2016, came to Hartford by way of UConn where he served six seasons as the Huskies’ pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.
After the 2015 season, shortstop Trey Stover was selected in the 35th round overall by the Kansas City Royals. Stover is the 17th player to be drafted in the 58-year history of Hartford's baseball program, and is the fourth to be selected in the last two seasons. He is the school record holder for assists with 564.
In addition to the Hawks school record wins in 2014, Hartford had three players drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year player draft including left handed pitcher Sean Newcomb who was picked 15th overall by the Los Angeles Angels. The 15th overall pick for Newcomb represents the highest draft pick in school history and the highest since Jeff Bagwell was taken in the fourth round in 1989. In addition to Newcomb, pitcher Brian Hunter and Catcher James Alfonso were drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners, respectively.
In four seasons, Blood has amassed 87 career victories, the second most since the Hawks moved to Division I in 1985. Overall, Blood holds a 87-130 record (.401) including 46 victories in America East play. The 31 wins and .574 winning percentage in 2014 were the highest since 1988 when the Hawks finished 29-12 (.707). Bloods career .401 winning percentage is the highest for a coach since Moe Marhardt left the program in 1994 with a .438 (42-54) average over two seasons.
Under his tutelage, nine Hawks have earned America East honors highlighted by Newcomb who was named the 2014 America East Pitcher of the Year, the first ever major athletic award for the Hartford baseball team. In addition to Pitcher of the Year accolades, Newcomb was named All-Conference for the third-straight season, including First Team honors in his last season. Blood has had a player named to the All-Rookie team in each of his four seasons at Hartford while ten other players have received All-Conference accolades.
Assistant Coach Steve Malinowski
Steve Malinowski begins his fourth season as an assistant coach at the University of Hartford. Prior to Hartford, Malinowski spent four seasons on the coaching staff at UConn alongside Justin Blood. Malinowski serves as the recruiting coordinator and primary hitting coach, while he will work on field with the catchers.
Under Malinowski, the Hawks saw a 12-percentage point rise in team batting average (.264) last season, up from .252 in 2014. The team also improved on other stats across the board, logging higher totals in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, walks, and a higher on-base percentage. The team also saw a decrease in the number of strikeouts from 2014.
At UConn, Malinowski was charged with coaching first base and developing the outfielders. In addition, he coordinated the Connecticut Baseball School and several hitting clinics. In that role, he helped the Huskies to their most successful seasons under head coach Jim Penders, including a program-best 48 victories in 2010 and back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 Huskies advanced to the NCAA Super Regional’s for the first time in program history.
Prior to his tenure at UConn, Malinowski spent one season as an assistant at Bryant University. That followed a season as a student assistant coach under Jim Penders at UConn.
Malinowski also served as an assistant coach with the Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) in 2008, while in 2009, he was an assistant with the Manchester Silkworms.
Malinowski spent two seasons as a student-athlete at UConn, playing 33 games as a senior and finishing with a .260 batting average. He had three doubles and two home runs, both of which came in the BIG EAST Tournament. He also drove in 19 runs that season. He played in 25 games as a junior after transferring from Wake Forest in 2004. At Wake Forest, Malinowski finished his first collegiate game 4-of-5 at the plate with four runs scored, becoming the first freshman in Wake Forest history to tally four hits in his debut.
A native of Kensington, Conn., Malinowski graduated from UConn with a degree in coaching and administration in 2007.
Assistant Coach Elliot Glynn
Elliot Glynn begins his second season as an assistant coach under Blood. Glynn, came to Hartford from Siena College where he was an assistant coach with the Saints. Glynn spent his first season working with the Hawks pitching staff.
Glynn, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011, was a two-time captain for the UConn Huskies, including leading the squad that advanced to the Super Regionals in 2011. One year prior to that, Glynn helped the Huskies to a school-record 48 wins as UConn went on to host an NCAA Regional in Norwich, Conn.
As a freshman designated hitter, Glynn was named All-New England and in 2010 received Second Team All-Big East and All-New England distinction as a pitcher. He also played two seasons in the Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League where he was selected to play in the 2009 All-Star game at Fenway Park.
Glynn was drafted three times before signing with the Brewers. He spent two seasons in the Brewers' farm system before playing one year in Germany.
Assistant Coach Tim DeJohn
Tim DeJohn is entering his first season as volunteer assistant baseball coach under Justin Blood. DeJohn joins Hartford after working as the associate head coach at Southington High School (CT) with responsibilities as the infield, first base, and catchers coach.
In his five seasons at Southington, DeJohn helped lead the team to four CCC Conference Championships, five consecutive State Semi-Finals appearances, and three State Finals appearances in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The program achieved a .760 winning percentage, while producing 20 collegiate players and 2 Major League Baseball draft picks.
During his tenure at Southington High School, Tim also served as the associate head coach for the Southington Shockers, a Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League team. His primary responsibilities were working with the infielders and coaching first base.
Tim began his high school coaching experience when he took an assistant coaching position with Plainville High School (CT) for three seasons. There he helped lead the squad to a State Championship and the number one overall ranking in 2008. As a head coach, DeJohn led the Plainville Junior League team to a State Championship and an appearance in the 2008 Eastern Regionals. In the summer, he is currently a head coach for the Team Connecticut Baseball organization.
After a four-year playing career at Western Connecticut State University which saw him place second all-time in number of games pitched in a single season (20 appearances in 2006 as a senior), DeJohn served as an assistant coach in the Spring of 2007, tasked with coaching the outfielders.
DeJohn is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University with a B.S. in History, and he obtained his M.A. in Education from the University of Bridgeport.
