Eastern Baseball Field To Be Named In Honor Of Legendary Coach

WILLIMANTIC, CT — Eastern Connecticut State University will honor legendary baseball Coach Bill Holowaty by naming the Warriors' home field in his honor.

The dedication of Holowaty Family Field is scheduled for June 28, at 11 a.m. at the stadium, located at the Mansfield Athletic Outdoor Complex.

The ceremony will be emceed by long-time local radio personality Wayne Norman and will feature remarks from former players, Holowaty family members, University leadership, and alumni.

Holowaty is one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division III history. Over his 45-year career (1969-2013) at the helm of the Warriors, Holowaty amassed a career record of 1,404-525-7 (.727), making him the winningest coach across all sports in New England collegiate athletics history.

"Coach Holowaty's decades of leadership helped establish a legacy of competitive excellence at Eastern," university president Karim Ismaili said. "His teams brought national recognition to our university and created some of the most memorable moments in Eastern athletics. Naming the field in honor of the Holowaty family is a tribute to Coach's impact on the baseball program, and to generations of student-athletes, alumni and supporters who helped build and sustain its success."

Under his leadership, Eastern captured four national championships (1982, 1990, 1998, 2002) and Holowaty was named National Coach of the Year four times. From 1997 to 2012, Eastern won either the Little East Conference regular season or postseason championship — or both — in 14 of 16 seasons.

"I'm extremely excited for Coach Holowaty and his family to receive this tremendous honor," said current Head Coach Michael Odenwaelder. "Coach Holowaty built from the ground up so much of the rich history, tradition, and winning culture that is Eastern baseball. The Holowaty name will forever be cemented alongside so many of those positive values that coach instilled, and that still permeate the baseball program."

In a touch of irony, back in 1995, Holowaty expressed his doubts to a former Eastern basketball player that a new facility would ever be built. Eastern had the youngest library and money was tight, he said.

In came the David Carter era and a building boom on campus. The new baseball field — a tribute to the success of the Warrior program — opened in 1998 and dorms now stand where the old field once was.

Nearly 100 alumni and supporters have committed more than $150,000 to the Bill Holowaty Baseball Facility Restricted Fund, established in fall 2024, to formally dedicate the facility. The fund supports ongoing maintenance, renovations, and upgrades to the field and overall venue.

"The naming of the field is an incredible moment for our family," Jennifer Holowaty said on behalf of the family. "However, it is not simply about the Holowaty family, but the Eastern Baseball Family — all of the players, families, and friends who have been impacted by my father and by Eastern Baseball. It's a recognition of everyone who helped build the program. This day will be a celebration for the entire Eastern baseball family."

Holowaty's accolades include induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as halls of fame for National College Baseball, New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association, Little East Conference, Greater Utica Sports, and Eastern Connecticut State University.

He continues to serve on the ABCA Board of Directors.

"Coach Bill Holowaty's name is synonymous with excellence in college baseball, and the naming of Holowaty Family Field is an incredible and well-deserved honor," ABCA Exectivie Director Craig Keilitz said. "Coach Holowaty's commitment to developing players and building one of the most respected programs in Division III history has left a lasting legacy on the coaching profession."