Jurczynski, 23, embarking on coaching career
By Bob Weiner
Gazette Reporter
Jan. 21, 2015
TROY — At a time when most aspiring baseball players haven’t even reached their performance peak, Schenec tady High School graduate Alex Jurczynski is on the fast track as a college coach.
The 23-year-old former catcher for the Patriots, Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY-Oswego is getting a rare opportunity to show his managing and coaching skills as the interim head coach for the Hudson Valley Community College baseball team this spring.
“I’m so excited about this opportunity,” said Jurczynski. “They are giving me a chance to prove myself this year as the interim head coach. After that, they will have a national search, and I’m hoping that I can show them I’m the right guy for the job.”
Jurczynski is not wasting any time. He has honed his skills as an instructor at Mike Serbalik’s All Stars Academy, and he’s getting plenty of help from his local mentor, 56-year-old Al Williams, who is both HVCC’s head of baseball operations and the recruiting director.
Practice for the 2015 season began Tuesday, and Jurzcynski and Williams already had a depth chart posted in Jurczynski’s office in Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
“We have a few returning veterans, but most of this team will be freshmen, and they are a very talented and hard-working group,” said Jurczynski. “If one guy slacks off, the others pick him up. I really like this group of guys.”
Jurczynski still looks like one of his players, so he will need to walk a fine line between discipline and friendship. He said he learned a long time ago from his father, Al, the former mayor of Schenectady, how to be a good politician and to read people.
“I’ve worked with Alex for quite a while, and he knows what these kids are all about, because he came through the junior college system himself before playing at Oswego State,” said Williams.
“He’s going to have to do a little juggling, though, because he’s so close in age to these guys, and he’s going to have to keep his distance a little bit. When it’s time for business, he’s going to have to be all business.”
“I understand how important it’s going to be not to try to be their friend all the time,” Jurczynski said. “When I’m between the lines, I’m as serious as a heart attack.”
Jurczynski acknowledged that most catchers make excellent coaches and managers because they are in on every play and can see the entire field on every pitch. But he still takes every opportunity to pick up as much knowledge as he can.
“I’m a student of the game,” he said. “I’ve learned things from every program I’ve been with.”
One of Jurczynski’s most notable learning experiences came from former Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox outfielder Bernie Carbo, who runs a baseball school in Alabama.
“I lived with Bernie Carbo for two weeks in Mobile, Ala., and I learned so much from him. I still keep in contact with him,” Jurczynski said. “I’ve also learned quite a bit from Mike Serbalik at All Stars Academy. He gave me so many guidelines to follow about how to coach these players.”
Jurczynski, who coaches both hitting and catching at All Stars Academy, was best known for his defense. He once threw out 26 of 29 potential base stealers for Schenectady High School. He led Mohawk Valley CC to an NJCAA final four berth and captained the team as a sophomore. After transferring to SUNY-Oswego, he earned SUNYAC all-conference honors as a junior, when he hit .353 with 19 RBI and caught 17 runners trying to steal. As a senior, he led the Lakers to the conference championship and a school record for wins while throwing out 12 runners.
“I excelled at throwing out runners as a player,” Jurczynski said. “I love catching, and I just love every part of the game. But the key is controlling the pitching staff. That’s what makes you a good catcher, and I think that’s what can make you a good coach or manager.”
After he graduated, he worked as a hitting coach and a catching coach at SUNY-Oswego.
“I think Alex is on the cutting edge, as far as coaches are concerned, because he’s not afraid to bring in current players who have made it big, like Branden Cogswell [Shenendehowa, University of Virginia infielder chosen 222nd by the Oakland Athletics in last summer’s Major League Draft], to show his current players how to do something a little better,” said Williams.
Jurczynski, who has also played for numerous local amateur teams, including the Albany Dutchmen, said he knows most of the umpires in the Capital Region and has developed a rapport with numerous coaches.
“At HVCC, you must keep a 2.0 GPA to be able to play, so I’m going to stay on my players. We will have a mandatory five hours per week in the library for studying and doing homework,” Jurczynski said. “I don’t care if you are the star player or not. I’ll treat everybody the same.
“I learned a lot of things from my dad about how to deal with people. When you are around politics so often, you get to know what to say and what not to say. I try to stay out of trouble and not to be controversial. My dad showed me the right route.”
Published: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:08:55 +0000 by d.gardner