Celano Named ABCA/Diamond Sports Company Regional Coach of the Year

Oakdale, NY - After earning the program's first ever trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series, Head Coach Chris Celano was named the American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond Sports Company East Region Coach of the Year.

In 2009, Celano led the Golden Lions to a program record 35 wins and their first ever NCAA Division II East Regional championship. At the World Series, the Golden Lions finished 1-2 with the victory coming over then No. 1 nationally ranked, UC San Diego. Dowling finished the season under Celano's guidance with a No. 12 national ranking, the first national ranking in program history. The 35 wins on the year brought Celano's record in 5 years at the helm to 141 - 88, good for a .616 winning percentage.

Celano, a former East Coast Conference Coach of the Year, will be honored along with other Region of the Year coaches at the ABCA Annual Convention in Dallas, TX, January 7 - 10th.

-Provided by Dowling Sports Information department.