Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Bishop Eustace baseball coach Sam Tropiano set to become South Jersey leader in career victories

He wasn't going to coach. He was going to be a college professor. And then he decided to take a shot at leading the freshman basketball team at St. Augustine Prep. The rest is about to be South Jersey baseball history.

Bishop Eustace Prep baseball coach Sam Tropiano has 671 career victories in 34 seasons, including the last 30 with the Crusaders.
Bishop Eustace Prep baseball coach Sam Tropiano has 671 career victories in 34 seasons, including the last 30 with the Crusaders.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

What soon will become the winningest baseball-coaching career in South Jersey history began in a strange place: at a freshman basketball practice in 1981.

Sam Tropiano didn’t know all that much about baseball in those days. He knew even less about basketball. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to coach in the first place.

“My life was going in a different direction,” Tropiano said. “I thought I was going to get my master’s, get my doctorate, and maybe become a college professor.

“I wasn’t thinking about becoming a coach.”

Tropiano has a 672-246 record in his 34th season as a varsity baseball coach, including the last 30 at Bishop Eustace Prep.

WIth his next victory, Tropiano will pass former Delran coach Rich Bender for first place on South Jersey’s all-time list.

And it all started when Tropiano, a first-year English teacher at St. Augustine Prep fresh out of Villanova University, joined Paul Rodio’s basketball coaching staff in charge of the Hermits’ freshman team.

“I didn’t know much,” Tropiano said. “I helped a little with the varsity. I think I was in charge of the [water] cups.”

At the time, Rodio was in his fifth season as the Hermits’ head coach. He was just beginning to build the program into a state power.

“We were still this little back-woods school,” Rodio said.

Rodio is South Jersey’s all-time leader in career coaching victories in basketball with 931. And his freshman coach from the 1981-82 season is about to become the all-time leader in career coaching victories in baseball.

“Sam works his craft,” Rodio said. “I couldn’t be happier for him.”

During Tropiano’s first of two seasons with the St. Augustine basketball program, the Hermits won the Non-Public B state title in 1982.

“I was hooked,” Tropiano said. “I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to coach.”

Tropiano said his two seasons with Rodio were instrumental in his understanding of what it takes to build a successful program.

“I learned everything,” Tropiano said. “Just how hard he works, how to develop players, the conditioning, the drill work. Everything off the field, building the program, creating a culture.”

In 1984, St. Augustine needed a new baseball coach. Tropiano took over a program that had gone 8-72 the previous four seasons.

“I remember when he became our baseball coach,” Rodio said. “I walk in and there’s one of his pitchers with his arm in a big tub of rice.

“I’m like, ‘What is this?’

“Sam said it strengths your arm, your wrist, your fingers. That’s the way he was. He always was looking for ways to help his team be successful. He never stopped working, never stopped learning.”

Tropiano was born in Calabria, Italy. He moved with his family to South Philadelphia at age 6, attending Bishop Neumann High School and Villanova.

He played a little baseball in independent leagues as a youngster, focusing far more on soccer.

“That was my sport,” Tropiano said.

Tropiano spent four seasons as St. Augustine’s baseball coach. Among his players were current Hermits head coach Mike Bylone and athletic director Mike Rizzo.

Tropiano moved to Bishop Eustace and was an assistant baseball coach there in 1988 and 1989. He became the Crusaders’ head coach in 1990 and has built one of South Jersey’s top programs, with five state titles and six Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic crowns.

“It makes you reflect on how blessed you have been,” Tropiano, 59, said of his pending ascension to the top spot in South Jersey’s all-time list. “I have so many great players, the Nick Italianos, the Marc Sauers, the Blaine Neals. Just so many great players.”

Rodio said he reflects with pride on the distance Tropiano has traveled since taking over the St. Augustine freshman basketball team in the fall of 1981.

“I hope he wins 1,000 more,” Rodio said.

But since St. Augustine and Bishop Eustace are perennial contenders for the Non-Public South A title, Rodio added, “I only want him to lose one game a year.”

South Jersey Baseball Coaches 500-Win Club

Rich Bender Delran 672-349

Sam Tropiano St. Augustine/Bishop Eustace 672-246*

Lee Ware Woodstown 654-406*

Russ Spicer Haddonfield/Moorestown/Paulsboro/Cinnaminson 603-287

Rich Horan Audubon 525-203*

Dave Martin Cherry Hill East 502-286

*-active coach (records through Monday)