Bashaw Stepping Down as Owls Baseball Coach

WESTFIELD, Mass.  -  Westfield State baseball coach Nathan Bashaw will be stepping down after nine seasons at the helm of the Owls program, effective January 12, 2024 to pursue private business interests outside of coaching.

"It was a very difficult decision, but this new professional opportunity will allow me to spend more time with my wife and kids," said Bashaw. "I will greatly miss the relationships and competition fostered in college athletics, but am looking forward to investing more time into my own kids' lives."

A national search is underway for the next head coach for the Owls program.

"We are sad to see Nate go, as he has done a great job with our program over the last nine years, but I also respect and understand the family side of his decision," said Westfield State athletics director Richard Lenfest, Jr. 

"In addition to his coaching success, Nate has been a very hard worker, a good recruiter, and very capably handled some administrative responsibilities in the department, Lenfest added.  "But we have already begun a search for our next head coach of Owls' baseball, and we will welcome candidates until a successor is found, and our program will be ready to go for the 2024 season this spring."

Bashaw accumulated a record of 161 wins against 129 losses and 2 ties for a winning percentage of .555 at Westfield State.  He was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2018, and twice was named as the league's Sportsmanship Coach of the Year.

His Owls teams were relevant on the national and regional scene, ranking as high as #5 in New England, and receiving votes in the preseason national polls for five straight seasons.

Bashaw guided the Owls program to two NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently in the 2019 season, when they won a first round game in the regional tournament.

In 2018, he led the Owls to MASCAC regular-season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional in Auburn, N.Y.  The Owls won the MASCAC regular season title in 2017.

In his tenure, the Owls knocked off both the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the nation at Hagan Field.

Individual players thrived under his guidance and leadership, as outfielder Anthony Crowley was twice selected as the MASCAC player of the Year, and 1B/DH Alex Lafayette earned Academic All-America honors and went on to play independent minor league baseball.

Crowley and pitcher Matt Nunes earned All-New England Honors.  John Gegetskas was named as the MASCAC pitcher of the year in 2018. 

Many Owls players played in high-level collegiate summer leagues, including Danny DiMatteo, Colin Dunn, and Shane Bogli who had stints in the NECBL, and more recently, Owls closer Joe Espinola was named an All-Star in the Futures League in 2023.

Bashaw sheparded the Owls' program through the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the season cut short just six games in to the 2020 season while in the midst of the annual Florida trip, and had the schedule limited during 2021 with pandemic protocols.

Bashaw won his 200^th career collegiate game as a head coach during the 2021 season.  He was the head coach at Elms College for three seasons prior to taking the helm at Westfield.

"I am extremely thankful for my time at Westfield State and so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this baseball program, athletic department and campus community," said Bashaw. "It has been a privilege to coach so many quality student-athletes over the years and watch them succeed on and off the field. I want to thank the administration, assistant coaches, athletic trainers, equipment room and sports information staff for the relationships we've built and their hard work and dedication to supporting our program. Without their tireless work we would have never enjoyed the success we've had over the last decade."

Westfield State baseball finished the 2023 season with a 19-19 overall record.  The Owls will throw the first pitch on the 2024 campaign with a doubleheader on March 2 at the University of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn.