Baseball: Head Coach Anthony Perry stepping down

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

NASHUA, N.H. – It was announced this morning that longtime Head Baseball Coach Anthony Perry has decided to step down from his position.

Perry was in his 10th season as the head coach for the Raiders Baseball program. Throughout his tenure, he helped transform the overall image of the team and created the RivBaseball Family that it is today.

"I am tremendously thankful and appreciative for the opportunity that I have had here at Rivier," said Coach Perry. "This place will always be a special place for me. I would like to thank Joanne (Merrill, Rivier Athletic Director) for taking a chance on a young 26-year old and allowing me to grow and learn under her tutelage."

Over the nine seasons in Nashua, Coach Perry directed his teams to two Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament appearances and 58 wins, the most ever by a Rivier Head Baseball Coach. He also helped break barriers during his tenure as in his first class he recruited Mauro Da Silva '16 and in his final class he brought in Marika Lyszczyk. Da Silva, who is in his 5th season as an assistant coach, has Asperger's syndrome – a form of autism, while Lyszczyk was the first recruited female position student-athlete in NCAA history.

"Those two student-athletes will always hold a special place in my heart." Coach Perry remarked. "The battle, albeit different, that they have gone through and persevered to get to play college baseball is unbelievable. Mauro is one of my first student-athletes and to see his development not only during his four years as an undergrad, but the four years with me as an assistant coach is outstanding. He has come a long way from his freshman year and I'm proud of him and proud to be his friend."

"Marika… what can I say about her? She continues to be a role model for young women around the world. Her infectious personality, smile and determination will carry her to new heights for females in the game of Baseball. She is an extremely hard worker and is eager to learn from anyone she gets an opportunity to learn from. I am excited to see where she takes her career after Rivier."

More importantly, Coach Perry was a key cog to the Rivier Athletic Department – serving as the Sports Information Director along with being an assistant coach for Field Hockey, Women's Soccer and Men's Basketball during his time. He also was the department's scheduling coordinator, ensuring that game contracts were executed and games were timed correctly, along with being a resource for new coaches to lean on and learn from. Coach Perry also helped in maintaining Raider Diamond, the University's softball complex, and Harvey Woods Field during the summer months.

"I am going to miss the relationships that I have developed within the Rivier community and especially with my student-athletes," Coach Perry continued. "I am extremely proud of every student-athlete that I had the pleasure of coaching. The bonds will live on forever and I know that we will always be in touch."
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Coach Perry departs Rivier to return to Fisher College in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been hired as the Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information, a promotion in the world of college athletics. Perry is no stranger to Fisher as he graduated from the college in 2008 after a successful four-year career as a starter for the baseball program. He helped lead his teams to four consecutive Sunrise Conference championships and four straight NAIA Region X championships along with four trips to the NAIA Super Regionals. Upon graduation, he became the first former Falcon to play professionally when he signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League.

Coach Perry was also an assistant coach for the Fisher Baseball team after graduation where he helped the program to another three conference, region championships and appearances in the NAIA post-season along with being the college's first-ever Sports Information Director. He also helped out and coached both Men's and Women's soccer for close to two seasons.

"The opportunity to return to Fisher and reinvigorate the athletic department was something I could not pass up," Coach Perry spoke about returning to his Alma matter. "I've been asked to help change the culture of the department just like I changed the culture of the Rivier Baseball program. Being a proud alumnus, I feel as I am ready for this next challenge in my life. It also gives me comfort knowing that the RivBaseball program is left in good hands."
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Associate Head Coach Louie Bernardini has been elevated to Head Coach of the Rivier Baseball program, effective immediately. More on that announcement tomorrow (Tuesday 1/26) on www.RivierAthletics.com.