Robert Bellizzi, head coach of the baseball team for 28 years, founded the program in 1979, successfully guided it from club to varsity status in 1985 and into one that became synonymous with success in the Northeast. During the NAIA era (1985-1992), Bellizzi was a four-time conference and District 31 Coach of the Year and was twice-named Area 8 Coach of the Year. His 300th win came during the 1990 season when the team won the conference, District and Area titles and earned a trip to the NAIA World Series. Bellizzi successfully guided Saint Rose into NCAA Division II with a 30-12 record and the NYCAC regular-season title in 1992. The program earned three regular-season NYCAC titles, captured the 1995 NYCAC Tournament Championship, and collected four NCAA Tournament bids and a trip to the NCAA World Series in 2000. Bellizzi coached his 1,000th game in 2001 and collected his 700th victory in 2003. He was inducted into the Saint Rose Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003
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