LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University Baseball Head Coach Barry Davis has announced the hiring of Mike Petrowski '09 as the new Bronc pitching coach.

Most recently, Petrowski spent the 2018 campaign serving as the head baseball coach at Rowan College at Burlington County. He guided the team to the Region 19 tournament for the first time in three years as he helped the team's ERA drop from 4.76 to 2.86.

"I feel Mike is a great fit for us as we are starting over in a sense with eight and possibly nine new pitchers," Davis said. "I am confident Mike will adapt quickly to this role having been a pitcher at this level and in this league. He has had the opportunity to build a philosophy on how he wants to oversee a pitching staff. He is motivated and excited to get to work. It is a good hire for us."

Petrowski played professional baseball for the New Jersey Jackals, Brockton Rox and Newark Bears.

Collegiately, he starred at Rider where he earned his Bachelor of Communication.  In his time in Lawrenceville, the team captured the MAAC Championship in 2008.  During the MAAC-Championship run, he beat the one seed Canisius in game one and closed the final game on one day's rest to win the MAAC championship. In his first collegiate start, he tossed eight innings and scattered three hits to earn a victory against Washington State. During his freshman campaign, he made 22 appearances out of the bullpen for Rider and went 3-4 with one save and a 2.27 ERA in 43 and two-thirds innings of work.

He also has served as the pitching/assistant coach at both Hamilton West and Nottingham High schools were in both instances helped lead teams to sectional titles within three years, including Nottingham earning their first-ever sectional crown.

Petrowski has also been the pitching coach for Trenton Generals of the ABCL collegiate league and won the league title in his only year in 2014.

He served as the Manager for the Broad Street Park American Legion Post 313 Team, which recently won the 2018 NJ American Legion State Championship. In his tenure there the team has a 110-52 record in seven years after taking over for a team that was 8-20 in year before he took over.  During his six years with the team, Petrowski has been named Manager of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Petrowski takes over pitching coach duties for the Broncs from John Crane '96. Crane spent four years in charge of Rider's pitching staff.

"I want to thank John Crane for his commitment to our program for the last four years," Davis noted. "He was a true professional representing Rider with the highest regards. We wish him well as he pursues the next chapter in his life."