Torgalski To Take Over UB Baseball Program

Assistant coach to take over from Bill Breene who moves over to UB’s Development Office

Ron Torgalski

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo Director of Athletics Warde Manuel has announced that head baseball coach Bill Breene is being reassigned within the Division and that assistant coach Ron Torgalski has been named interim coach for the 2006-07 season. Torgalski, who has been an assistant coach since the program's reinstatement in 2000, takes over immediately.

Torgalski, a native of Hamburg, NY who starred in both baseball and basketball at nearby Nichols High School as well as Hamilton College, has served as the Bulls’ Director of Baseball Camps as well as recruiting coordinator. He also previously served as an assistant coach in the UB men's basketball program from 1994-2000.

“I think Ron has the requisite talents to help our baseball program continue to grow,” said Manuel. “I have been impressed by his knowledge of the game and his ability to relate to our student-athletes. He will be given every opportunity to prove that he can be the long-term head coach of our baseball program.”

“I'm excited for the opportunity to continue to build on the solid foundation that coach Breene has established,” said Torgalski. “I want to thank Warde for this opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge of continuing to build the UB baseball program so that we can compete at the upper echelon of the Mid-American Conference.”

Breene, who previously served as Associate Athletic Director at UB from 1988 to 1999, will remain at UB Athletics as an Assistant Director of Development, joining Charlie Donnor in that role.

“Bill has served the Division of Athletics in a number of roles during his nearly 20 years at UB,” said Manuel, “and he has willingly accepted this newest challenge just as he did when he was asked to help reinstate our baseball program. Bill has talents that we will be fortunate to utilize in our development efforts. It's an area that he had great success in previously in his administrative tenure at UB, and one that I'm sure he will make a difference in again because he really cares for, and believes in, the Buffalo athletic department.”

Breene has coached the Bulls' baseball team from 2000-06 to an overall record of 104-245, including 15-37 this past spring. The 104 wins is the third-highest in school history and Breene also tutored UB's first major league draft pick (Joe Mihalics) since 1987. The Bulls won 19 games in 2004-05, the most since the program's reinstatement.

“Since arriving here in 1988, this University has afforded me a number of fulfilling professional opportunities, not the least of which was the reinstatement of our baseball program in 2000 and the chance to coach again,” said Breene. “I'll miss that, but could not be happier that Ron will get his opportunity to continue to advance the program as the head coach. He's earned this, and I know he will do a great job.

“John Simpson and Warde Manuel have brought a new energy to UB Athletics,” Breene said. “The plans for the next few years will require a concerted effort to raise money like never before. I enjoy that kind of work and look forward to doing everything I can to help.”

07/11/2006