THE COLONIALS' COACHING STAFF

   Head Coach - John Susi

     John Susi enters his fourth season at the helm of the Colonials.
    Last spring, he led the Colonials to a 21-22 overall record, the Little East Conference Tournament Championship, and Western Connecticut's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
    In the first three seasons under Susi, Western compiled a record of 39-63-1, and two trips to the LEC tournament in 2000 and 2002.
    Susi’s colligate coaching record stands at 183-163-4, and his overall coaching record is 251-227-6 entering the 2003 season.
    He came to Western after seven seasons as Head Coach at Manchester Community Technical College where his teams appeared in seven straight Regionals, including back-to-back trips to the NJCAA Division III World Series.
    In 1993 MCTC finished as the National runners up, and Susi was named Regional Coach of the Year (1993 and 1994.) His overall record at Manchester was 144-100-3, where he coached five All Americans.
    While at Manchester he also served as Head Coach of the Eastern Tides (now the Thread City Tides) in 1994 and 1995 in the New England Colligate Baseball League. Under Susi the Tides appeared in the playoffs both seasons and took the leagues inaugural Championship.
    Prior to MCTC Susi’s first head coaching job was at Montville High School in 1991, where in his first season his team finished with a 17-4 record and was ranked 16th in the final state poll for all size schools.
    He was assistant at his alma mater Waterford High School from 1988-1990, where the Lancers won three conference titles, and a class M state championship in 1988.
    From 1985-1991, he served as an assistant with New London American Legion, where they won three straight state championships from 1985-87, including back-to-back regional championships and trips to the Legion World Series in 1985 & 86.
    He is a 1987 graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he received a B.S. in Education with a concentration in Coaching.
    While there he lettered four years as a goalkeeper on the Blue Devil soccer team and was captain in 1986.
    He was also the Head Freshmen Baseball Coach at nearby Farmington High School in 1986 & 87.
    Coach Susi resides in Southington Ct. with his wife Mary Ann, and their three boys, Brett (7), Zac (6), and Garrett (2).

   Assistant Coach - Bill Walton     

Bill Walton begins his 12th season as Assistant Coach and Academic Advisor for the Colonials' baseball program.
    He serves both as hitting and first base coach.
    Walton, the Chairman of the Communication Department at Western, has a storied baseball background.
    His baseball scholarship at the University of Arizona was interrupted when he as taken into the United States Marine Corps. Upon return from the Marines, he played in the Nebraska professional league (now the Midwestern League) in Omaha. From there he moved to begin his coaching career.
    He has coached at all levels of baseball including the four time Connecticut and Northeast regional Stan Musial champions.
    In his four World Series appearances his teams finished as national runners up.
    His American Legion team was Western Regional champions, and a Babe Ruth regional champion in 1990.

    Assistant Coach - Al Borchetta 

Al Borchetta begins his second year as the Colonial Pitching Coach.
    Since the mid 70s he has coached at many different levels. He was a varsity coach at nearby Newtown High School from 1993-97, and coached the Connecticut Connie Mack Seniors from 1994 to 2000.
    Borchetta graduated from the University of New Haven where he was a pitcher from 1968-1970 after which he signed a contract with the California Angels. He then pitched from 1970 to 1973 in Salt Lake City, El Centro, and Idaho Falls where his pitching coach was former Braves pitching star Johnny Sain.

   Assistant Coach - Brenin Mucci 

Brenin Mucci is a former Colonials standout who made the switch from player to coach in the spring of 2002.
    He will be working primarily with the outfielders.
    Brenin leaves behind a playing career (1998-2001) that ranks him among the tops in Colonial career leaders. His batting average of .342 (8th), at bats 377 (3rd), doubles 24 (3rd) and his 129 hits rank him fourth all time.
    During the summer of 2001, Brenin played professionally in the Baseball Italia league for the Dodger affiliate, Cus Parma.