Oct. 1, 2009
Audio - A Conversation with Former Coach Jim Stone - October, 2009
Jim Stone, who compiled an 801-393-7 record in 37 seasons as UMass Lowell’s baseball coach, will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 8, 2010.
The induction is part of the ABCA Convention in Dallas, TX, from Jan. 7-11 at the Dallas Hilton Anatole Hotel
The ABCA Hall of Fame is the latest of many honors bestowed upon Stone, who was inducted into the UMass Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame in November of 2003, after his final season.
Stone is one of four members of the ABCA’s Class of 2010, joining Mike Gillespie (Cal-Irvine), Bob Milano (Cal-Berkeley) and Terry Ayers (Fenton H.S., IL).
“As far as coaching, this is the ultimate award. This is a dream,” Stone said. “There are a lot of people who contributed along the way, like players, assistant coaches and administration, and even the other coaches (at UMass Lowell). I am so grateful for all of them.”
Over the course of his tenure, Stone was named the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division II Coach of the Year nine times as well as ABCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year five times. He was also New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year six times and the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2003.
Perhaps his biggest honor came in 1991 when he was named the recipient of the Jack Butterfield Award – presented to the active coach for his contributions to New England Baseball – by the members of NEIBA.
After 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional, Stone guided UMass Lowell to the Northeast Region Championship and the Division II World Series in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, The River Hawks defeated Central Missouri (13-5) before falling to St. Mary’s (12-1) and Delta State (6-2).
UMass Lowell reached the NCAA Championship semifinal round in 2002. The River Hawks rebounded from a 5-2 loss to Cal State-Chico but defeated Florida Southern (7-2) and Ashland (10-5) before falling to Cal State-Chico again, 8-4.
“I was so happy for the kids in 2001 and 2002,” Stone recalled. “It was a dream come true for me and for them. It was wonderful, a lot of fun.”
From 1976 on, 21 of Stone's teams earned postseason berths.
Over his last 22 seasons, the River Hawks had won at least 20 games each year and 30 games seven times. UMass Lowell also earned NCAA Tournament berths in 14 seasons, including Stone’s final seven years.
“We went from a 12-14 game schedule to going to the NCAA Championship two years in a row,” Stone added.
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. Stone began his coaching career at Tilton-Northfield (NH) H.S. in 1960 and moved to Mascoma Regional (NH) H.S. in 1963 before coming to Lowell Technological Institute in 1965.
“My college coach, Archie Allen, is an inductee,” Stone noted. “Rusty Yarnall (former LTI director of athletics), who hired me, coached for 41 years and I coached for 37. It’s unusual that a college program goes that long with just two coaches. They were instrumental in me getting this award.”
Many of Stone's former players 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 spent three seasons 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.
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. Additionally, Jon Cahill (’01) spent several years in the Angels system.
“One time just for kicks I went through the thought process and I think we had about 50 kids go on to the next level, whether it was independent ball or the minor leagues,” Stone noted. “Guys like LaValliere, Mike Bryant, Deschenes, Tupman and Billy Moloney, they were just fulfilling their dream.”
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.
A former resident of Atkinson, NH, Stone is a native of Easthampton, MA. He and his wife, Pat, have raised three grown children and have six grandchildren, and now reside in North Fort Myers, FL.
