Freeman, Agnello Join Rutgers Baseball Coaching Staff
Feb 03 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Rutgers University head baseball coach Fred Hill has added two veteran coaches to his staff for the 2005 season in assistant coaches Rick Freeman and Jim Agnello. Freeman will work with the RU pitchers, while Agnello will tutor the team's catchers and coach first base.
'Rick and Jimmy are two outstanding coaches who will step right in here at Rutgers,' said Hill. 'They are passionate and knowledgeable about the game and bring a great deal of expertise to the program.'
Freeman's hiring represents his second stint with the Scarlet Knights. Back in 1988, Freeman served as an assistant under Hill, working with the outfielders, hitters and pitchers, while also coaching third base. He then moved onto an assistant position at Rider University (1989-1993) before becoming the head coach at Mercer County College in Trenton. At Mercer, Freeman posted a 155-102 (.603) record and appeared in six-straight regional championships, advancing to the NJCAA World Series in 1996. In 1999, he returned to Rider University as the team's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, a post he held through the 2004 season.
Since 1975, Freeman has also coached the Hamilton Post 31 American Legion team. As the head coach since 1985, Freeman has posted a 510-142 mark (.782), winning a record 12 league titles, including nine straight through 2004. His team captured the New Jersey State Championship in 1987 and 1993 and finished fifth in the country at the 2000 American Legion World Series.
A 1981 graduate of Marquette University, Freeman got his start as the head coach of the Marquette club baseball team in 1978, revitalizing a program that had been dormant for over 50 years. He returned to New Jersey in 1982 as an assistant at Rider for one year, the first of three stints with the Broncs. He is also a columnist and sports copy editor for the Trenton Times and heavily involved in Mercer County civic affairs.
Agnello, a 1998 graduate of Monmouth University, comes to Rutgers from Wagner College, where he served for six seasons as an assistant under former RU letterwinner Joe Litterio. Agnello oversaw the hitters, catchers and outfielders, while also coaching third base for the Seahawks. He handled the team's recruiting efforts, which produced an NEC Championship in 2000 and a spot in the NEC Championship game in 2004.
Agnello began his coaching career at Howell High School in 1999 and is also active in the summer baseball circuit, coaching with the Delaware Gulls of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) in 2000, which won the ACBL crown, and as head coach of the Jersey Pilots in 2001. He also runs Jim Agnello's Baseball Academy on Staten Island, which has been in operation since 2001.
Agnello played two seasons with the Monmouth University Hawks (1996-98), helping the team to the 1998 NEC Championship and the NCAA South I Regional in Gainesville, FL. He began his playing career at West Chester University in the fall of 1996.
Freeman and Agnello replace Tom Baxter and Jay Blackwell, respectively, who resigned in January. Baxter coached with the Scarlet Knights for 15 seasons, while Blackwell enjoyed two stints with RU, coaching in 1998 and from 2001-2004.
'I want to thank both Tommy and Jay for their service and dedication to the program,' said Hill. 'They were both a big part of our success here, including our BIG EAST Championships in 1998, 2000 and 2003.'
