Weehawken native and former Union Hill coach tackles new challenge
When he was a kid growing up in Weehawken, Jimmy Walsh never dreamed he could actually become a NCAA Division I college baseball coach.
"I was saying something like that to someone the other day," said Walsh, the new head baseball coach at St. Peter’s College. "Here’s a kid coming out of Weehawken, who went to Upsala College, who just wanted a chance to play baseball. He could never have thought about getting the chance to run a Division I baseball program. When you think about it, you have to say, ‘Wow.’"
Walsh, who spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Union Hill, was hired by the school affectionately known as "Harvard on the Boulevard" last week, replacing Dan Olear, who was forced to resign after three tough seasons, winning only 22 games and losing 116.
Walsh, the former Weehawken High pitching standout, who later became the New Jersey Pitcher of the Year at Upsala, knows that he has a huge challenge ahead of him.
"I think it’s a challenge we can overcome," said the 35-year-old Walsh. "I’m familiar with the area and the school, so I should be able to handle the recruiting. I have a lot of fire and I have a hard working mentality. With the kids that we already have, I don’t see a reason why we can’t put it all together."
Walsh said that he is very familiar with some of the players on the Peacocks’ roster. It’s an array of Hudson County standouts like Josh Piniero of Hoboken, Danny Cainas of Memorial, Jack Baker and Nick Edwards from St. Peter’s Prep, Ryan Knapp from Hudson Catholic and Danny Suarez from St. Mary’s.
"It’s like the All-Hudson County team from two years ago," Walsh said. "They have some talented players, guys I’ve seen play in high school. I know that they have the toughness and the determination. Maybe all they need is a little bit of confidence now. After losing, their confidence level has to be down. It will be my job to get them to believe."
Walsh is aware of some of the obstacles that plagued Olear during his tenure.
"I think there’s a fine line between being a coach and a friend," Walsh said. "You have to earn the players’ respect. It’s all going to be a new beginning and I can’t wait to get it going. I know I have the ability to communicate well with the players. It’s a new challenge, a new beginning and I’m ready."
Walsh said he can not overlook what has happened in the past, especially the 4-46 season that the Peacocks endured in 2001.
"It’s funny, though, because when I took the job, I didn’t even think of the problems that they had," Walsh said. "I’m confident in what I can do. I don’t want to even think about the past. I can’t overlook it, but I don’t want to think of it. If we can do the little things, like run, bunt, hit and run, execute the little things. If we can work on the little things, then work on the togetherness of the team, I think we can compete."
Walsh believes that the key to success will be a strong mental approach.
"I think the first obstacle will be believing in ourselves and thinking positive," Walsh said. "I know that’s something that Hudson County kids do well. They believe."
Walsh said that he will spend the rest of the summer watching and evaluating the Peacock players.
"I know they have the talent," Walsh said. "We have a chance to be competitive. This is a great opportunity for me, which basically came in from left field. I knew I wanted to be a college coach some day. I want to make the most of this chance."
Count on the kid from Weehawken to do exactly that.