SHP's Shep, Jr. Approaches 900 Wins
In Getting Closer To Top On State List

It doesn’t seem too long ago, and it was May 10, 2021, when Seton Hall Prep coach Mike Sheppard, Jr. notched his 800th career win with an 11-2 victory at Millburn.

He was congratulated that day by his Pirates, including longtime assistant coach Frank Gately, and the Millers coaches, led by then head man Brian Chapman, also extended their acknowledgements of a big milestone with handshakes and embraces.

Now, the legendary SHP coach is nearing win No. 900 which should come shortly. Only Ken Frank, the retired Toms River coach (934 wins) remains above the Pirates’ 67-year-old head diamond mentor who has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Shep, Jr. entered the recently-unveiled 2026 season with a career ledger of 893-238-7 (.788). He is in his 40th year as a high school head coach and 39th at SHP. He coached his first season at West Orange High School.

The only other active Essex County coaches with more than 300 wins are Montclair’s Ron Gavazzi (318-218-5) and Bloomfield's Mike Policastro (308-305). 'Poli' continues to move closer to the Bloomfield high mark for baseball victories held by Joe Konn (333-234-3).

Former Montclair and Glen Ridge coach Tim Byron, a cousin of Shep, Jr. and a former scholastic standout at the old Our Lady of the Valley in Orange, is the longtime coach at Old Tappan in Bergen County and entered this season with a record of 591-385-4.

Shep, Jr.’s brother John Sheppard, the longtime coach at Morristown-Beard, was at 504-295-2 as this spring’s season began.

The aforementioned Chapman, who is now the athletic director at St. John Vianney in Holmdel, retired at Millburn last spring with a final record of 291-114. His longtime Essex County rival at Livingston, Mickey Ennis, also retired from coaching last June after putting together a combined record of 246-122 at Newark Academy, Madison and at Livingston.

NJ BASEBALL COACHES VICTORIES LIST ENTERING 2026 SEASON:

900 wins

• Ken Frank, Toms River South - 934-356-3

800 wins

• x-Mike Sheppard, Jr., West Orange/Seton Hall Prep - 893-238-7
• Marty Kenney, Christian Brothers Academy - 832-349

700 wins

• x-Sam Tropiano, Bishop Eustace/St. Augustine – 791-282-1
• Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) - 754-208
• Harry Shatel, Morristown – 752-326

600 wins

• Rich Bender, Delran - 672-349
• Lee Ware, Woodstown – 671-414
• Bob Brewster, Westfield – 655-342-3
• Ray Korn, Elizabeth – 651-308-1
• Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4
• x-Kurt Hommen, Ridgewood/Tenafly – 639-291-1
• x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 631-251-3
• Norm Hewitt, Bridgewater West/ Bridgewater/Hillsborough – 631-326
• Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) – 630-184-1
• Mike Zadroga, Dickinson/North Bergen/Hudson Catholic/County Prep – 611-254
• x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 604-124-1
• Russ Spicer, Haddonfield/Moorestown/Paulsboro/Cinnaminson - 603-287

500 wins

• Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep – 593-137-3
• x-Tim Byron, Glen Ridge/Montclair/Old Tappan – 591-385-4
• Joe Urbanovich, St. Peter’s Prep – 580-272
• Andy Greener, Ewing - 561-244-5
• John Ponchak, Ramsey – 555-342
• Bob Carcich, Emerson – 539-233
• Joe Cervino, Paramus – 538-284-2
• x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford/St. Joseph (Met.) – 527-161
• Butch Servideo, Lyndhurst – 524-265-1
• Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1
• Jack Fletcher, Columbia - 522-227
• Ralph Cobb, Old Tappan/Rutherford – 522-321
• Bill Frank, Toms River East – 520-279-2
• Mike Hogan, St. Mary(J.C.)/St. Anthony/Marist/Ferris – 519-427
• Champ Atlee, Lawrenceville – 519
• x-Rob Christ, Eastern/Gateway 514-217
• x-Gary Sarno, Camden Catholic/CH West/Hammonton/Paul VI/Triton/Bordentown – 512-326-2
• John Brunelli, Cliffside Park – 511-239
• Ralph Pacifico, Montclair Kimberley – 510-325-1
• Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199
• x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 504-184-1
• x-John Sheppard, Morristown-Beard – 504-295-2
• x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 502-156
• Dave Martin, Cherry Hill East – 502-286

400 wins

• Joe Steinhardt, Washington/Warren Hills - 494-251
  x-Jim Maher, Florence/Hamilton West/Nottingham/Lawrence – 493-210-1
  x-Bill Alvaro, Jr., Williamstown/Washington Twp./Kingsway – 482-238-1
  Barry Cook, St. John Vianney – 481
  Mario Diez, Watchung Hills – 476-253
  Jerry Battaglini, Newark Central/East Side/Columbia – 473-310
  Brian Gibney, Shawnee – 469-210
  Tom Trotman, Cherry Hill West – 467-234-1
  John Sheppard, Morristown-Beard - 467-261
  Ted Jarmusz, West Orange/Monmouth Regional – 465-295
  Clary Anderson, Montclair Academy/Blair/Montclair – 464-154
  John Fitzpatrick, South River - 463-197
  Buddy Matthews, Hoboken – 459-234
  x-Bruce Shatel, Roxbury/Delbarton – 450-160-2
  x-Pat Laguerre, St. Peter’s Prep – 450-213-1
  Phil Baccarella, Bayonne – 440-162
  Tom Carney, Buena/Delsea/Lakewood/St. Joseph (Hamm.) - 430-203
  Scott Runkel, Bishop Ahr – 430-270-1
  Joe Policastro, Highland Park – 429
  Pete Hall, Ridge - 423-215
  Gary Herron, Moorestown Friends/Riverside – 423-334
  Vince Ardery, Notre Dame - 421-178
  Rick Sabol, Somerville – 420-298
  Pete Crandall, Park Ridge – 408
  Larry D’Zio Jr., Jackson Memorial – 407
  John Bush, Washington Township - 406-191-1
  Todd Schmitt, Wall – 403-173
  Bill Haessler, Cherokee 403 – 224
  x-Greg Trotter, Roxbury – 403-278
  Marty Flynn, Hamilton West – 403
  Rich Giallella, Steinert – 401-111
  Stephen Nelson, Carteret – 401-243-11
  Bill Lampeter, Livingston – 401

300 wins

• x-Joe Drulis, Notre Dame – 396-166-2
  x-Brian Anderson, Shawnee – 389-198
  Vinnie Bello, Marist/Pope John – 389-240-1
  Brandon Flanagan, River Dell – 385-168
  Rich Veth, Middletown North – 378-189-2
  x-Lou Urbano, JFK-Iselin/St. Joe’s (Met.)/Woodbridge/S.Brunswick – 375
  Fred Kampf, Shore – 374-211-3
  Dave Pasquale, Newark Academy/Gill St. Bernard’s – 370-253-1
  Scott Illiano, West Essex/Caldwell/Wayne Hills – 365-206-1
  John Mazzo, North Bergen/Passaic Valley – 365-347-1
  Frank Malta, Johnson/Jackson Memorial – 364-168-1
  Greg Butler, Demarest/Don Bosco Prep – 361-153
  Craig Mensinger, Ocean City – 360-345-7
  Jeff Falzarano, Bridgewater East/Watchung Hills/Bernards – 358-341-4
  Mickey Hunt, Ramapo – 357-182
  x-Frank Clark, Emerson/Union Catholic/Waldwick/Midland Park – 357-184-4
  Tom Bujnowski, Bayonne - 354-178
  x-Larry Santowasso, Rutgers Prep – 353-289-1
  Al Radano, Gloucester Catholic – 351-101
  Ted Schelmay, Toms River North – 346-181-2
  Jon Block, Freehold/Point Pleasant Beach – 345-319
  Bob Bickel, Haddonfield – 341
  Joe Lang, Pitman – 340-161
  Jake Landfried, Manasquan – 338-172
  Brian Boyce, North Bergen/Manalapan – 337-215
  Mike Raymond, Hunterdon Central – 335-115-1
  x-Bert Giovine, Morris Hills - 335-315
  Stan Liptzin, Lakewood – 334-183
  Joe Konn, Bloomfield – 333-234-3
  Bernie Goldwater, Southern/Freehold/Freehold Township – 331-190
  Roy Hallenbeck, Millville – 330-194-1
  Chuck Rooney, Cherokee/Eastern – 329-221
  x-Glenn Fredricks, Freehold Boro/Spotswood – 327-194-2
  Joe Yurko, Westwood – 324-235
  Al Kunzman, Central Regional – 324
  x-Buddy Hausmann, Red Bank Catholic – 323-119-1
  Hal Lorme, Rumson-Fair Haven – 323
  x-John Passero, Hawthorne – 321-237-2
  Mike Bylone, St. Augustine – 319–105
  x-DJ Gore, Highland - 319-195-2
  x-Ron Gavazzi, Bayley-Ellard/Montclair – 318-218-5
  x-Dan McMaster, Cherry Hill West - 316-157-1
  x-Mike Lepore Jr., South River - 316-330-2
  x-Vinnie Abene, Edison – 315-261
  Bill Chesney, Manchester Regional/Elmwood Park/Ramsey – 312-237
  Jack Lynch, Cedar Grove – 311-155
  Walter Serad, Delsea – 310-182
  x-Carmen Spina, Rutherford – 309-145-2
  x-Tom Blackwell, Ridge – 309-200
  X-Paul Albarella, Northern Highlands/Don Bosco Prep 309-269
  x-Mike Policastro, Bloomfield – 308-305
  Ed Klimek, Teaneck – 307-410
  Chuck Dougherty, Middle Township – 305-246
  Frank Elias, Morris Knolls – 303-202-7
  x-Pete Mueller, Montgomery – 303-273
  x-Brian Nice, Allentown – 300-162-2
  Bill Donoghue, Moorestown – 300-201

200 wins

• x-Jeff Hoover, Wayne Valley – 294-198
  Ken Harrison, Hopewell Valley – 293-178
  Brian Chapman, Millburn – 291-114
  Mike Lepore Sr., Cedar Ridge/South River – 291
  x-Mike Rooney, Don Bosco Prep – 289-81
  Bob Harbison, Nutley – 284-188
  Rick Doppler, Northern Burlington 284-192
  X-Joe Smith, Mainland/Delsea/Williamstown 283-129-1
  Jim Muldowney, Edison – 275-75
  Fred Cole, Old Bridge – 270-210
  Phil Fiore, Lenape - 265-204
  Tony Surace, Millville - 262-170-4
  Mickey Ennis, Newark Academy/Madison/Livingston – 262-184-1
  Dan Dalesandro, Pitman - 260-167
  x-Mike Carcich, Wood-Ridge – 259-182
  x-Max Newill, Bridgewater-Raritan - 258-204
  Mike Novak, Sayreville – 257-241-2
  Jim Sickinger, Kearny – 256
  Ed Rieger, St. James/Pennsville - 253-71
  x-Marc Petragnani, Cherokee – 253-154
  Bill Giglio, Ridge - 251-107
  Frank Tracey, Seton Hall Prep - 251-117
  Steve Paolini, Holy Cross 250-132
  Jerry Smith Sr., JFK-Iselin – 248-119
  x-Rich Hans, Wildwood 247-339-3
  Jim Dietz, Summit - 243-186
  Jack Mott, Parsippany – 243
  x-Chris Banos, Dunellen/Somerville – 227-132
  Fr. Stephen Kilcarr, Seton Hall Prep - 226-112-3
  Brian Fleury, Delbarton – 223-63
  Joe Hartmann, Eastern 223-178
  x-Barry Galasso, Camden County Tech 223-372
  Del Dal Pra, Henry Hudson/Ocean Township/Red Bank Regional - 221-103
  Dennis Hulse, St. Mary (Ruth.) – 212-89
  Jim Hunt, Englewood/Tenafly - 210-83
  Chris Hoffman, Sterling - 205-191
  Mike Carter, Bloomfield – 204-130-1

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