Josh Epstein enters his second season as a graduate assistant at Bloomsburg University where he serves as the Huskies pitching coach. Prior to joining the Bloomsburg coaching staff, Epstein served as the pitching coach for Ramapo College of New Jersey for three seasons. Along with pitching responsibilities, Epstein coordinated Ramapo’s recruiting efforts for four seasons. In total he spent six full years on the Ramapo coaching staff.
The Huskies went 28-19 in 2014 including a school-record 20-8 record in the PSAC East. Much of the team's success was due to its strong pitching as the Huskies ranked among the leaders in the PSAC throughout the season, finishing the year with a 3.16 team ERA while handing out only 100 walks in 347.1 innings of work. The Bloomsburg pitching staff also only surrendered four home runs to opponents during the year, the fewest among all conference teams. Starters Casey Cooperman and Tyler Hill were both named All-PSAC following the season with Cooperman becoming the first player in Bloomsburg program history to be named First Team Daktronics All-Atlantic Region after finishing the year with a 1.67 ERA and nine complete games in 12 starts. Cooperman was also named All-Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) as well as Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association.
During his tenure at Ramapo, Epstein oversaw a pitching staff that set numerous school records and led the Roadrunners to compete on a national level. The team won 95 games in three seasons (95-45-1 overall record), made the New Jersey Athletic Tournament three times and competed in three NCAA Regional Tournaments. The work Epstein put in on the recruiting trail showed up not only in team accomplishments, but in individual recognition as well. Overall 15 Roadrunners earned spots on All NJAC teams, 22 earned spots on All NJCBA teams including the 2012 and 2013 Players of the Year; four players earned spots on the ABCA All Region Team, and one player earned Division 3 All-American Honors. Along with those awards, PJ Cerreto became the first Ramapo College Roadrunner to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft since 2004, and the first RCNJ pitcher to be drafted since 1982.
In Epstein’s first season as pitching coach, the Roadrunners went 30-14 and compiled a 3.44 team ERA – down from 5.76 the previous season – good for 4th in the NJAC. The team earned a spot in the NJAC Tournament, and a berth in the NCAA New York Regional Tournament – the college’s first trip since 1988. The pitching staff was led by a pair of talented sophomores who earned post- season awards – Travis Zilg (2nd team NJAC, 2nd team NJCBA, 6-3 2.93 ERA) and PJ Cerreto (3rd team NJCBA, 6-2, 2.15 ERA).
Ramapo built off the previous season’s success in 2012, as the team went 35-15, qualifying for the NJAC Tournament – finishing as runner’s up, and the NCAA Mid Atlantic Regional Tournament – finishing as runner’s up as well. The Roadrunners again finished 4th in the NJAC in ERA, posting a 3.63. Zilg (NJAC Honorable Mention, NJCBA 3rd Team, 7-3, 2.66 ERA) and Cerreto (NJAC 2nd Team, NJCBA 1st Team, 7-2, 2.77 ERA) once again led the staff.
In Epstein’s final season with the Roadrunners, Ramapo posted a 30-16-1 overall record, again earning trips to both the NJAC and NCAA Mid Atlantic Regional Tournaments. The team again finished as the NJAC runner’s up. The Roadrunner’s posted a 3.24 team ERA, good for 2nd in the conference. Zilg was the lone Roadrunner pitcher to garner any post-season awards, earning NJCBA 2nd Team for his efforts (6-2, 2.11 ERA).
Epstein spent the summer of 2013 coaching the pitchers of Sag Harbor Whalers in the Hampton’s Collegiate Baseball League. The Whalers won the league’s regular season championship, led the league in ERA, and were led by Jonathan Mulford (Pitcher of the Year) and Jacob Bodner (set the league record in saves). In previous summers he worked with the Bayside Yankees organization, coaching with teams throughout their club.
Prior to his coaching career, Epstein played one season professionally with the Petach Tikva Pioneers of the Israel Baseball League. He spent his collegiate career playing for Ramapo College, where he was the team’s captain as a senior as well as the school’s SAAC President.
Epstein is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and now resides in Bloomsburg.
