Press Release

PERRY BOVE STEPS DOWN AS BASEBALL COACH AFTER 16 SEASONS     Winningest coach in the program’s 92-year history resigns with 145 career victories FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION September 28, 2005                                                                  Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael's College baseball coach Perry Bove, the only head coach the College has known since reinstituting the program in 1989, has announced his resignation effective immediately due to increased responsibilities as a full-time teacher at Bellows Free Academy-Saint Albans.             “Saint Michael’s College has been part of my life for nearly 18 years, and it was and always will be my extended family. You never say goodbye to your family,” said Bove. “I thank my lucky stars that I was able to be part of such a wonderful group of people, and I can tell everyone that I had the pleasure of working with the finest young men around.”             “Perry has left a legacy in all of the young men he has coached at Saint Michael’s,” said Director of Athletics Geri Knortz. “He taught the players not only about baseball, but also a host of many important life lessons. We will miss his passion, his humor, and the profound impact he has had on all of us at Saint Michael’s.”             Bove, a native of Burlington, retires with a career record of 145-251-2, including an 86-65-2 record since 1999. The 17th coach in the program’s 92-year history dating back to 1905, Bove is the program’s all-time leader in career wins, games (398), and consecutive years as head coach (Edward Markey ’51 coached the program for 19 years, from 1957-69 and again from 1976-81). He has also guided the team to the seven winningest seasons in program history, including a team-best 17 victories in 1999. He became the first coach in program history to reach the 100-win plateau on April 28, 2001, and guided the team to five straight .500-or-better seasons from 1999-2003, an accomplishment which hadn’t occurred since 1921.             A 1975 graduate of the University of Vermont, Bove has been named coach of the year 13 times during his illustrious career, including being named the Vermont Collegiate Coach of the Year in 1999, 2000 and 2001, as voted by his peers and umpires. In 1994 he earned the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year, and from 1993-96 served on the NCAA Northeast Advisory Board for Division II baseball.             In addition to his success at the College, Bove is the only coach in Vermont history to have more than 100 wins at the collegiate, semi-pro and American Legion levels, and currently has a lifetime coaching record of 473-391-2. In 2004 he was recognized for his accomplishments by winning the Coaching Achievement Award from the Vermont Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He also won the James David Bashaw Award four consecutive years from 2000-03, emblematic of the American Legion Coach of the Year in Vermont, as his Essex American Legion squad compiled four straight state titles and three consecutive appearances in the New England Regional Championships. TRANSACTION: Saint Michael’s – Announced the resignation of baseball coach Perry Bove. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002