June 22, 2005

Queens, NY - St. John's has come to terms to extend an agreement for Ed Blankmeyer to serve as the head baseball coach at the University, it was announced by Director of Athletics Chris Monasch today.

St. John's finished the 2005 season with a 41-18 record, ranked No. 30 in the country by Collegiate Baseball. The team was selected as an at-large representative to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year and advanced to the Regional Championship, where they lost to third-ranked Oregon State. St. John's won the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship with a 19-4 mark in league play and posted a school record for wins with 41, the most since the 1978 Frank Viola-led team advanced to the College World Series.

Following the season, the Red Storm had six players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, led by junior All-American reliever Craig Hansen (Glen Cove, NY), who was taken with the 26th pick of the first round by the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. One player was signed to a free agent contract following the draft, resulting in seven Blankmeyer-coached players who were selected to play professionally.

"During Ed's tenure, he has built on the great tradition of the St. John's baseball program," Monasch said. "Ed's leadership has not only manifested itself in the success of our student-athletes on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community."

"I'm very excited to continue the work I've been doing at St. John's," Blankmeyer said. "I've been fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding coaches and players who have worked hard to make St. John's baseball successful both on the field and off. I'm a New Yorker at heart and it's great to have the continued support of the administration at the University."

In 10 years at the helm, the St. John's baseball program has been among the best in the BIG EAST Conference and in the Northeast region. The Red Storm have reached three NCAA Tournaments (1997, 2004, 2005), qualified for four BIG EAST Tournaments (1997, 1999, 2004, 2005), won the league tournament once (1999) and captured the league's regular season title this year. He has been named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year on two occasions (1996, 2005), the American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year (2004) and was the recipient of the 2005 St. John's Herbert V. Hess Award, recognizing a coach who demonstrates honesty, integrity, concern for the student-athlete and excellence in performance.

The Long Island native has been a successful recruiter, beginning with his time as an assistant coach for 15 years at Seton Hall. Since coming to St. John's, 37 student-athletes have earned All-BIG EAST honors, including 14 who were named first team and seven who have earned All-American honors, including three in the last two seasons. Including this year's draft, 35 players coached by Blankmeyer at St. John's have signed to play professionally. In 25 years of coaching, nearly 80 players have gone on to play professionally, including eight first round draft picks. Off the field, his players have been just as successful, with 93 percent of his players who have played four years earning their degrees, and 82 percent of all players, including those who have signed pro contracts, completing their education.

Per University policy, terms of employment are confidential.