LOWELL, Mass. – Former UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Jim Stone (1976-2002) has been selected as one of eight inductees for the 2017 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Hall of Fame class.

"We're so pleased that the NEIBA is honoring Coach Stone in their first Hall of Fame class," commented Director of Athletics Dana Skinner. "Coach Stone's contributions to UMass Lowell and the sport of baseball endure. He inspired and motivated thousands of young people during his 37 years of coaching, and we are blessed that he did some of his best work during his years at UMass Lowell."
 
Stone, a member of the UMass Lowell Hall of Fame since 2003, and the rest of the inaugural Hall of Fame class will be honored prior to the NEIBA's All-Star Game on June 2 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.

"This is a wonderful acknowledgment," remarked Stone. "I owe it to some great, great players and great assistant coaches who all loved the game of baseball the same way I do. It's a great idea and I'm truly honored to be a part of this class, especially with my college coach Archie Allen being inducted as well."
 
Below is the official NEIBA release on Coach Stone:

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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.
 
Stone 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 before being inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2010.

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). He was inducted into the UMass Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.