Wheaton College Baseball Coach Reaches Milestone

Wheaton College head baseball coach Eric Podbelski became the 37th active coach and 61st overall in NCAA Division III baseball history to reach the 500-win milestone when his nationally-ranked Lyons defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 8-3,  on Thursday, at Sidell Stadium in non-conference action.
 
Podbelski entered the 2013 season with the seventh-best winning percentage among all active NCAA Division III coaches in the country with a record of 475-178-4 (.726) and the 46th-highest winning percentage in NCAA baseball history regardless of division. Podbelski’s current record stands at 500-188-4 which is good enough for a .725 winning percentage.
 
"I want to congratulate Eric on his 500th career coaching victory and also on the 500th win in program history," said Wheaton Director of Athletics and Recreation John Sutyak. "The one constant driving force for Wheaton baseball since its inception in 1996 has been Eric Podbelski. He has built a team from scratch into a nationally prominent program and I am thrilled to see the numerous hours he has put into this program paying off with this milestone victory."
 
Under Podbelski’s guidance, the Lyons have captured 14 NEWMAC regular season titles and 12 NEWMAC tournament championships, appeared in 11 NCAA Tournaments, compiled eight-straight 30-win seasons, two 40-win seasons and claimed two NCAA Tournament New England Regional championships.
 
Podbelski was awarded New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division III Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2012. He has also been named NEWMAC Coach of the Year nine times.