2008 Woodie Awards
Messer reaches 600
By Mike Mallory
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
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Messer is currently working his 20th season with the Rock, a program which he says has been like a family to him since day one.
He played collegiate baseball for Springfield College in Illinois, and obtained a bachelor's degree in physical education. Messer then played and coached in Holland, in one of the strongest international baseball programs.
Messer, a native of Massachusetts, began his collegiate coaching career at Westfield State College as an assistant in 1983. After two seasons, he accepted a similar position with Oklahoma City University, while at the same time earning his master's degree in counseling.
Along with his wife Mary, Messer felt the desire to return east around the same time that the Slippery Rock coaching position opened up. Wally Rose, the coach of 28 seasons and the second highest number of victories all-time with 410, decided to step down and the rest is history.
Messer said the job seemed like the right fit for him from the start and he has no regrets to this day.
"I was able to get in the running for it, and I liked the combination of coaching a solid baseball program as well as raising my family in the small community," Messer said.
Messer said he never originally anticipated staying with the Rock program for as long as he has, but from all the schools he's visited over the years, he has seen no better fit than SRU.
Messer and his wife raised three children, Matt, who is an outfielder for the Rock, Michelle and Billy, in the Slippery Rock community.
Messer's accomplishments are endless. Fourteen PSAC-Western Division titles, two PSAC championships, four NCAA Division II regional championships and four appearances in the Division II College World Series, to name a few. Messer currently ranks among the national leaders in win percentage by an active coach as well.
However, all the statistical achievements aren't as fulfilling to Messer as the relationships he has established with his players, both past and present, throughout his time as a coach.
"Knowing that I may have had a small impact on a player's life is the most rewarding thing to me," Messer said.
Messer said many players that have stepped into the program heard about SRU through alumni that had played previously. He said he was overjoyed after he received dozens of calls and emails of congratulations from former players after he picked up his 600th win.
"When I was coming close to 600 victories, I think it was more important to the players than it was to me, and that says a lot about the program," Messer said. "When I reflect, it will probably mean more down the line."
Messer also puts in time at the university as a professor, the only coach in the conference to perform both jobs. He teaches in the physical education/sport management department.
Messer said he feels this year's team is one of the most cohesive teams he's seen in several years, and that the key ingredient is chemistry from both the players and coaches alike.
"It really helps to have people that are committed 100 percent," Messer said. "It's a very good and cohesive group. I think the players feel they can go to any of the coaches for help."
There are two part-time assistants currently on the staff. Blaine Brown, an All- American former player at St. Mary's University in Kansas, was hired one year ago as the instructor for the hitters and catchers. He also works with the outfielders.
Brown previously worked with Drexel University as an assistant, as well as Brescia University in Kentucky. He first learned about the Rock through Chad Miller, an assistant at Marshall University and SRU graduate.
"Perennially, SRU is a top 25 contender, so I wanted to go into a position where I could learn and get better as a coach, and at the same time, win," Brown said.
Brown said the players he has worked with during his short time here have been gifted athletes.
"I try to gear that ability to the elite collegiate level of fine tuning their mechanics," Brown said. "My goal is to teach them that they have to learn how to fail and bounce back. It's something that's very important for an athlete to understand."
Brown takes a special liking to teaching the catchers certain fundamental aspects of the position that they had no previous knowledge of throughout high school. He would like to remain with the Rock for the foreseeable future, but would like to increase his role in coaching down the line.
"I like my position here, but eventually I would like to be a head coach in division I or II," Brown said. "I would also like it to be down south because it's hard to play baseball in the snow."
The pitching coach on the Rock staff is Steve Urda, a former Rock graduate who is in his first season as an assistant for Messer. Urda pitched for the Rock from 1994-97 and has helped run summer camps every year with Messer since. When the pitching coach position opened up, Messer asked Urda if he would consider it and he jumped on the opportunity.
"I think it's a very good fit," Urda said. "I think the main thing that helps is that since I was a player in the program I can help pass along what I know to the players."
Urda said working with Messer, rather than playing for him, has helped him gain a new respect from a different perspective for his former coach.
"He's a great guy to play for and work for," Urda said. "What you see is what you get. He helps tremendously with these guys, and takes care of so many little things that occur on an everyday basis."
Urda also said he hopes to stay with the Rock program and help to keep it on a national level.
"We set pretty lofty goals," Urda said. "Our conference is one of the toughest there is. I just think it's fantastic that I get the chance to give back to this school."
Messer, who wanted to be a professional baseball player growing up, said baseball has been his life and he wouldn't have it any other way. "Baseball enabled me to be around something that I love and be in an ideal situation as well," Messer said. "This sport has been very good to me."
