Former STAC player and coach, Rich Cesca, makes his return to the Spartans for 2019.

As a transfer and 2-year starter, Cesca was a solid player at both catcher and first base. Coach Muscat would remark about his defensive prowess, “Cesca was our best defensive and catcher and first baseman, unfortunately we could not play him at both simultaneously.”. As a result he split time at both and attesting to his “team first” mentality, played wherever the team most needed him. As a hitter during his junior year, he hit .267 with 30 RBIs, second on the team in doubles with 14 and help lead the 2015 to a runner-up finish at the East Region Tournament. The following year added some power, blasting 5 home runs.

After finishing his playing career at STAC in 2016, he immediately joined the staff and had an immediate impact.The 2017 team broke a school record for wins and won the East Region Championship, eventually finishing #3 in the nation at the DII National Championship. His primary responsibilities included coaching first base along with working with the catchers and first basemen.

Following his success at STAC, he was hired as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach at SUNY New Paltz. The 2018 New Paltz team saw improvement in batting average, doubles, triples and home runs. His coaching responsibilities included coaching third and working with hitters. The 2018 New Paltz baseball team set a single season stolen base record and went on to win a playoff game for the first time in over 10 years.

In his new role as the STAC Pitching coach, he will rely heavily on his many playing years as a catcher and his two years of working with catchers as a coach. From his catching perspective he will be able to give the STAC pitchers unique and valuable instruction.