(2003) - In 2003, Jim Stone capped his 37th and final year at the helm of the UMass Lowell baseball team and posted a career record 801-393-7 (.667).
During his tenure, Stone was named the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division II Coach of the Year nine times and earned Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors five times.
Since 1976, 21 of Stone's teams garnered postseason berths including the 2001 and 2002 squads which advanced to the Division II College World Series, the latter advancing to the semifinal round. Over his last 22 seasons, the River Hawks had won 20 games each year and 30 games seven times. UML also earned NCAA Tournament berths in 14 seasons, including Stone's last seven years.
In addition to earning NEIBA Coach of the Year honors, Stone was also named the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year six times and Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2003.
In 1991, Stone was honored with the Jack Butterfield Award - presented to the active coach for his contributions to New England Baseball - by the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA).
A 1960 graduate of Springfield College, Stone played on Springfield's 1958 NCAA East Coast College Division championship team and captained the 1960 team for coach Archie Allen, also an ABCA Hall of Fame member. He began his coaching career at Tilton-Northfield (NH) High School in 1960 and moved to Mascoma Regional (NH) in 1963 before coming to Lowell Technological Institute in 1965.
Many of Stone's former players have moved on to sign professional contracts, including 1987 National League Golden Glove winner Mike LaValliere (1979-81). In 2002, catcher Matt Tupman was drafted in the ninth round by Kansas City and is playing with the Royals' AAA affiliate Omaha. Former standout Billy Moloney ('78) is currently a pitching coach in the Tampa Bay Rays system in Port Charlotte, FL.
Additionally, former shortstop Marc Deschenes was drafted in the 20th round by Cleveland in 1995 and ascended to the AA Portland Sea Dogs and the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox as a pitcher in 2005 and 2006.
Throughout his career, Stone has given plenty back to the sport, having served as president of NEIBA. He also served as the Chair of Exhibitors of the ABCA Convention from 1992-2008, and spent many years as a member of the ABCA All-American Committee and the NCAA Northeast Region Advisory Committee.
On Jan. 8, 2010, Stone was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame at its annual convention in Dallas, Texas for his achievements and contributions to the sport. (Press Release).
Stone and his wife Pat have raised three grown children and have six grandchildren, and reside in North Fort Myers, FL.
