BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- John Byrne arrived at Moravian in the fall of 1978 as a freshman baseball student-athlete, and after 44 years on the Bethlehem campus that has seen the school go from a College to a University, Byrne has called it a career, retiring as a Greyhound after spending the last 29 years as Head Softball Coach.
"After 40 years of service to Moravian College and University, I have decided to step down from my current position of Head Softball Coach, which I have held over the past 29 years," stated Byrne. "Including my four years as a student, I have spent the last 44 years on this campus in various administrative and coaching positions. Time has certainly passed by quickly. It seems like only yesterday I was playing baseball on Gillespie Field for legendary coaches Gus Garcsar and Rocco Calvo.
"I was hired by President Herman Collier in July of 1982 to work in the Admissions office as a recruiter," Byrne continued. "It was at that time that my coaching career began as a volunteer assistant baseball coach under Coach Garcsar and Coach Ed Little. During that time at Moravian, I also had the opportunity to work with two of the finest coaches any young person could learn from, Track Coach Doug Pollard and Football Coach Scot Dapp. Coach Pollard was the best recruiter I have ever been around, and Coach Dapp was the best teacher and x-and-o coach I have seen. The lessons I learned shaped my coaching career forever. These two coaches along with my father and North Penn High School Coach Carl Guirrana were the biggest influences in my development as a coach. Also, during that time, I was able to secure a position as an Associate Scout for the Cincinnati Reds under scout Bo Trumbo. This experience was invaluable in learning how to evaluate and recruit talent. My first head coaching position was as Head Women's Volleyball Coach for one season as an emergency fill in during the fall of 1988. I helped with football during the early 1990's as kicking coach/recruiter before I had the opportunity to take the reins of the softball program in 1994."
Byrne steps away after he became the fifth active and ninth overall NCAA Division III coach to reach 900 career victories, hitting the milestone back on March 2 with a 2-1 win over No. 11 Milwaukee School of Engineering. He finishes his career with an overall record of 923-257, a .782 winning percentage that ranks as the eighth best in NCAA Division III history. Byrne guided Moravian to the postseason in 27 seasons including three NCAA Division III Championships appearances with the program playing for the national championship in 2004, 18 NCAA Division III playoff berths, 25 conference playoff appearances and 17 conference championships during his tenure. He posted a 46-39 record in NCAA Tournament action. The only two seasons that Byrne failed to coach the Hounds into the postseason was his first year in 1994 and in 2020 when the postseason was cancelled by the pandemic.
"It is a difficult task to express in a few sentences what John Byrne has meant to Moravian University, the Athletic Department and our softball program over the past 40 years," commented Director of Athletics & Recreation and Head Women's Basketball Coach Mary Beth Spirk, who has worked with Byrne for over 35 years. "The love for the institution is clear and his dedication for the softball program is evident. He is an exceptional recruiter, excellent teacher and knows how to motivate his players to achieve success on and off the field. I am grateful to have had John as a colleague all these years. I know I speak for all the coaches and staff in the Athletic Department that we wish John all the best, we are thankful to have had him as a colleague and we all realize that his retirement is a huge loss for all of us."
Byrne and his staff were named the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, and Byrne and his staff were named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Byrne was the Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year four times, and he was the ECAC Division III South Coach of the Year in 2016.
Over the years, Byrne has coached eight players to a total of 12 NFCA Division III All-America honors, an NFCA Division III Catcher of the Year and 56 student-athletes to a total of 98 NFCA All-Region accolades. His tutelage also includes 16 Conference Pitchers of the Year, 11 Conference Players of the Year, 10 Conference Rookies of the Year and 191 All-Conference selections including 122 First Team honorees.
"For the last 29 years, I have had the pleasure to work with some of the best student-athletes a coach could ask for," Byrne said. "Their talent, dedication, and love of the sport of softball made this livelihood so fulfilling and enjoyable every day. There are so many players, assistant coaches, and support people to thank. It takes all these folks to create a championship culture both on and off the field. I am very proud of our former players who have become so successful both in their professional and personal lives. My former assistant coaches that have moved on to their own successful head coaching careers is very gratifying. My longtime and loyal assistants have been the heart and soul of our program. No program succeeds without support staff that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Thank you all!"
Byrne, a 1982 graduate of Moravian, served as Athletic Recruiting Coordinator from 1985 to 1998. He also served as Associate Athletics Director for the Greyhounds. A four-year starter on the baseball team, Byrne was an assistant baseball coach from 1983 to 1992, head volleyball coach in 1988 while leading the Hounds to a 24-16 record with a pair of First Team All-Middle Atlantic Conference Southeast League selections and assistant football coach from 1989 to 1997.
Byrne served as associate head coach of the Philadelphia Force in the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2007 and worked as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds.
"As I transition to the next chapter, which will include being able to watch my daughters, Rachel and Jamie, compete in their collegiate careers, I leave with my health, a softball program that is in a great place and many fond memories! The years have been filled with both tears of joy and tears of sadness. I have always taught my players to respect the game and the game will pay you back. I tried to give everything I had to this program and hopefully I have been able to make a positive difference in some small way in the lives of the people I have coached. The number of wins and championships pale in comparison to the number of exceptional people I have had the opportunity to coach, work with and compete against. I thank you all for this amazing ride," finished Byrne.
